Apple iMessage ideas and methods

Messages is Apple’s messaging app out there for iPhone, iPad, iPod Contact and Mac, however it is not only for SMS messages and iMessages, there are a large number of options throughout the app, and extra coming when iOS 17 launches later this yr.

Messages can be utilized throughout a number of units, syncing between all of them when signed into the identical Apple ID. Listed below are our greatest ideas and methods that can assist you get essentially the most out of iMessages and its platform.

Our prime seven finest iMessage methods

The best way to reply to a selected message

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread of the individual with the message you need to particularly reply to > Press and maintain on the message you need to particularly reply to > Faucet on Reply > Enter your message > Press ship.

Your message will seem with the unique message above it.

The best way to flip off learn receipts for a selected contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to flip learn receipts off for > Faucet on the contact identify on the prime of the message thread > Scroll down and toggle off ‘Ship Learn Receipts’.

The best way to leap to the primary message on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to see the primary iMessage despatched from > Faucet on the time stamp on the prime of your show and you will be taken to the primary message.

This trick additionally works to get you again to your most up-to-date message threads when you’ve got scrolled down.

Pin your hottest messages to the highest

Open the Messages app > Press and maintain on the message thread of the individual you need to pin > Faucet pin. Your message thread with this individual will seem in a circle on the prime. You may pin as much as six message threads.

To unpin a thread, maintain down on the circle of the individual you need to unpin and choose unpin.

The best way to ship a GIF in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the thread of the individual you need to ship a GIF to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the enter discipline > Faucet on the App Retailer icon > Faucet on the pink icon with the magnifying glass within the bar above the keyboard > Kind within the search field the form of GIF you need or scroll down the choices > Choose your GIF > Press the arrow in the best nook of the message field to ship.

The best way to cease notifications from a selected message thread iMessage

Open the Messages app > Swipe proper to left on the message thread you need mute notifications from > Faucet the bell image > A Do Not Disturb image (half moon) will seem on the left of the message threads you will have stopped notifications from.

To get alerts again, swipe proper to left on the message thread once more and press faucet the bell image once more.

The best way to ship your present location with a contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to share your location with > Faucet on the contact identify on the prime of the message thread > Ship my Present Location.

Basic iMessage ideas and methods

The best way to edit your identify and photograph in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with three dots within the prime proper nook > Choose Edit Identify and Photograph > Faucet on ‘Edit’ beneath picture to vary your photograph > Change your identify by tapping on first identify and surname.

The best way to handwrite a message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to ship a handwritten message to > Flip your iPhone horizontal > Press on the squiggly line within the backside proper nook of the keyboard if the white house would not seem right away > Begin drawing or choose one of many pre-written messages > Press ‘Finished’ within the prime proper nook > Faucet on the arrow to ship.

The best way to delete a single message thread in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Swipe proper to left on the message thread you need to delete > Faucet the crimson bin icon > Verify delete.

The best way to delete a number of message threads in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with the three dots within the prime proper nook > Faucet on Choose Messages > Choose the message threads you need to delete > Faucet ‘Delete’ within the backside proper nook.

The best way to delete a person message in a message thread on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread you need to delete a person message from > Press and maintain the person message you need to delete > Faucet ‘Extra’ on the backside of the pop up menu > Choose every other messages you need to choose to delete, if any > Faucet on the bin icon within the backside left nook of the app.

The best way to ship a brand new message in Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s identify > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Begin typing your message within the message field above the keypad > Press the arrow to the best throughout the message field to ship.

The best way to ship a gaggle message on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s identify > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Kind one other identify and choose the contact > Repeat till you will have added all of the contact names you need to be within the iMessage group.

The utmost quantity, or iMessage group chat restrict, is 32.

The best way to make a FaceTime name from iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to FaceTime > Faucet on the video image within the prime proper nook. The image will solely seem if the individual you are attempting to name has an Apple system related to Messages.

The best way to make an audio name from iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to name > Faucet on the contact identify on the prime of the message thread > Faucet on ‘Name’.

The best way to share your location with a contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to share your present location with > Faucet on the contact identify on the prime of the message thread > Share my Location > Choose between ‘Share for One Hour’, ‘Share Till Finish of Day’ and ‘Share Indefinitely’.

If you happen to select ‘Share Indefinitely’, you may seem in that contact’s Find My app, and they’ll additionally see your location on the prime of their show after they faucet on the knowledge image beneath your contact identify in your message thread of their Messages app.

The best way to see photographs and attachments inside a message thread on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to see the pictures and attachments despatched from and to you > Faucet on the contact identify on the prime of the message thread > Scroll down and you will see Images, hyperlinks and attachments seem on the backside.

What is the distinction between inexperienced and blue messages in Apple Messages?

A message will seem in blue for an iMessage and inexperienced for an SMS textual content message. Sometimes any message despatched between iOS units might be blue (if the recipient has iMessage turned on) however as iMessages additionally require an web connection, sometimes you may see them seem in inexperienced should you or the recipient would not have an lively web connection.

Messages despatched between an iOS device and Android or Home windows system will all the time seem in inexperienced.

The best way to ship a brand new audio message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s identify > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Press and maintain the audio icon in the best of the message field above the keyboard > Communicate your message.

You may then have the choice to playback your recorded audio message by hitting the play button throughout the gray bar on the best of the message field, ship it by urgent the arrow on the prime of the gray bar on the best, or cancel by urgent the ‘x’ throughout the circle on the left of the message field.

The best way to ship an image in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to ship an image to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the digicam icon to the left of the message field above the keyboard > Take a photograph and faucet the arrow within the backside proper should you’re comfortable or faucet on the gallery icon within the prime left of your display screen and choose the image you need to ship > Add any feedback > Press the arrow on the best of the message field to ship.

Alternatively, if it is a image you will have already taken you need to ship, you need to use the iMessages Apps. As soon as within the message thread of the individual you need to ship the photograph to > Faucet on the Apple Photos icon above the keyboard and under the message field > Search by way of your photographs by scrolling up and down or swipe up on the gray bar to entry a full display screen view of the Images app and all of your albums > Choose the photograph > Press the arrow on the best of the message field to ship.

The best way to dictate a message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to ship a message to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the microphone icon within the backside proper nook of the app beneath the keyboard > Begin speaking and what you say will begin to seem within the message field above the keyboard.

You may say issues like “Full Cease” and “Comma” for punctuation or you may add it earlier than you hit the arrow to ship the message.

The best way to mark a number of message threads as learn in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with the three dots within the prime proper nook > Faucet on Choose Messages > Choose the message threads you need to mark as learn > Faucet ‘Learn’ within the backside left nook.

The best way to search in Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Swipe down from the highest to see the search bar > Kind what you are on the lookout for within the search bar on the prime of the message threads > Any messages referring to what you search will seem under the bar.

The best way to ahead a person message in a message thread iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread you need to ahead a person message from > Press and maintain the person message you need to ahead > Faucet ‘Extra’ on the backside of your display screen > Choose every other messages you need to ahead, if any > Choose the curved arrow within the backside proper of the display screen.

The contents of the forwarded message, or messages, will then seem in a brand new message the place you may add a recipient’s identify on the prime and hit the arrow on the best of the message field to ship.

The best way to ship an Animoji on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to ship an Animoji to, or create a brand new message > Choose the Animoji icon within the bar above the keyboard (Memoji with yellow body) > Scroll horizontally to pick out the Animoji you need to ship > Convey your face into view > Press and maintain the crimson button within the backside proper nook of the Animoji to file a message as much as 30-seconds lengthy > Press the arrow to ship while you’re comfortable.

The best way to ship an Memoji on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual you need to ship an Memoji to, or create a brand new message > Choose the Animoji/Memoji icon above the keyboard > Choose your Memoji or press the three dots within the circle to create a brand new Memoji > Press the arrow to ship.

The best way to react to a person message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the individual that despatched you the person message you need to ‘react’ to > Press and maintain the person message you need to react to > Choose between a coronary heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, Haha, double exclamation mark or query mark.

The best way to ship a message as SMS if iMessage is not out there

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle on ‘Ship as SMS’.

The best way to hear audio messages rapidly on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Audio Messages part > Toggle on ‘Increase to Pay attention’. When on, audio messages might be performed as quickly as you elevate your iPhone to your ear.

The best way to activate or off MMS messaging on Apple Messages

Whereas sending an image as an iMessage is free, it is not should you ship one as a textual content message – you are higher to make use of a service like WhatsApp between iOS and Android units if you wish to ship an image.

Nonetheless, if you wish to be sure to all the time obtain image messages after they aren’t despatched by way of iMessage:

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to Messages > Scroll all the way down to SMS/MMS part > Toggle ‘MMS Messaging’ on, or off relying in your desire.

iMessage notifications ideas and methods

The best way to flip previews on or off for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Lock Display screen Look part > Faucet on ‘Present Previews’ > Select between ‘At all times’, When ‘Unlocked’ or ‘By no means’.

The best way to group Message notifications for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Lock Display screen Look part > Faucet on ‘Notification Grouping’ > Choose between ‘Computerized’, ‘By App’ or ‘Off’.

When on, a number of message notifications will seem as a layered group of notifications to permit for different notifications from completely different apps in your locked display screen.

The best way to activate or off notifications for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘Enable Notifications’ on or off.

The best way to cease iMessage notifications showing in your notification centre

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Notification Centre’ field beneath the Alerts part.

The best way to cease iMessage notifications showing in your lock display screen

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Lock Display screen’ field beneath the Alerts part.

The best way to cease banner alerts for iMessage notifications when your telephone is unlocked

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Banners’ field beneath the Alerts part.

The best way to repeat alerts for iMessage notifications

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Customise Notifications > Faucet on ‘Repeat Alerts’ > Select between ‘By no means’, ‘As soon as’, ‘Twice’, ‘3 Instances’, ‘5 Instances’ or ’10 Instances’.

iMessage privateness ideas and methods

The best way to flip Learn Receipts on or off on iMessages

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle on or off ‘Ship Learn Receipts’.

When Learn Receipts is on, individuals will see ‘Learn’ in gray under the message they’ve despatched you while you open it.

The best way to flip iMessage off

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘iMessage’ off.

iMessages will be despatched between iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac units.

The best way to flip iMessage again on

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘iMessage’ on.

The best way to flip contact photographs on or off on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘Present Contact Images’ on or off.

The best way to edit which accounts you ship and obtain iMessages from

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Faucet on ‘Ship & Obtain’ > Choose which accounts you need to obtain iMessages to and reply from > Choose which accounts you need to begin new conversations from.

The best way to block a contact on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Blocked Contacts’ > Add the contact or quantity you need to block.

Notice: If you happen to block somebody, you will not obtain telephones calls, messages or FaceTime calls from the individuals on the block listing.

The best way to change how lengthy messages are saved for on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Message Historical past part > Faucet on ‘Hold Messages’ > Choose between ’30 days’, ‘1 yr’ and ‘Eternally’.

The best way to flip off notifications for iMessages from individuals not in your contact listing

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Message Filtering part > Faucet on Unknown & Spam > Toggle on ‘Filter Unknown Senders’.

Messages from individuals not in your contact listing will then be sorted right into a separate listing.

The best way to change how lengthy audio messages are saved for on Apple Messages

Open Settings > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll all the way down to the Audio Messages part > Faucet on ‘Expire’ > Choose between ‘After 2 Minutes’ or ‘By no means’.

iMessage Apps ideas and methods

The best way to obtain iMessages apps in Apple Messages

Apple built-in the App Retailer into Apple Messages in iOS 10, permitting customers to obtain apps like Citymapper, Google Photos and Dropbox, in addition to video games, to be used inside iMessage. You may read more iMessage apps and the best ones to download in our separate characteristic.

To obtain an iMessage app: Open the Messages app > Faucet on a message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon to the left of the message field > Faucet on the App Retailer icon within the bar on the prime of the keyboard > Seek for the app you need or scroll by way of the really useful choices > Obtain.

The best way to delete an iMessage app on Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Faucet on any message thread > Scroll by way of the app bar above the keyboard till you get to the ‘Extra’ icon with the three gray dots in a white oval > Press ‘Edit’ within the prime proper nook > Swipe proper to left on the app you need to delete or toggle it off if you wish to briefly take away it from the app bar.

The best way to rearrange iMessage apps on Apple Message

Open the Messages app > Faucet on any message thread > Scroll by way of the app bar above the keyboard till you get to the ‘Extra’ icon with the three gray dots in a white oval > Press ‘Edit’ within the prime left nook. You may reorder the highest six apps by shifting them up and down in response to your desire.

To alter which apps seem within the prime six, you may have to press the crimson circle to the left of the app throughout the prime eight to take away it and the inexperienced circle to the left of the app within the listing under you need to add.

The best way to play video games on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open any message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon above the keyboard > Faucet on the search icon to the best of the App Retailer textual content > Kind within the recreation you need to play > Obtain.

Open up the message thread of the individual you need to play a recreation with > Faucet on the icon of the sport within the app bar above the keyboard > Play the sport.

The best way to play Phrases with Associates in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open any message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon above the keyboard > Faucet on the search icon to the best of the App Retailer textual content > Phrases with Associates > Obtain Phrases for iMessage Sport.

Open up the message thread of the individual you need to play Phrases with Associates with > Faucet on the Phrases app within the bar above the keyboard > Play away.

iMessages ideas and methods for Mac

The best way to present your SMS textual content messages in your Mac or iPad

iMessages are robotically synced to a Mac or iPad signed in on the identical Apple ID and with iMessage toggled on, however textual content messages aren’t. To see textual content messages despatched to the quantity related along with your iMessage account:

Open Settings (on iPhone) > Scroll all the way down to Messages > Faucet on Textual content Message Forwarding > Toggle the units within the listing you need to permit to ship and obtain textual content messages out of your iPhone.

How flip off iMessage notifications on Mac

Faucet on the Apple within the prime left of your show > Open System Settings > Faucet on ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle off ‘Enable Notifications from Messages’.

The best way to flip off iMessage previews on Mac

Faucet on the Apple within the prime left of your show > Open System Settings > Faucet on ‘Notifications’ > Scroll all the way down to ‘Messages’ > Select your desire by turning the toggles alongside the choices on or off.

The best way to flip learn receipts on or off for iMessages on Mac

Open the Messages app in your Mac > Open the Messages menu within the prime left of your show > Open Settings > Choose the iMessages tab > Tick or untick the learn receipts field on the backside of the preferences field.

If you happen to preferred this, you may read our Apple Photos tips and tricks to grasp the Images app too.