iMessage
Use iMessage to send and receive messages with other iMessage users.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to:
• Access messaging
• Compose a message
• Use Digital Touch
• Share music or GIFs
• Save an attachment
• Reply or react to a message with TapBacks
• Forward a message
• Delete a message or thread
• Pin a message thread
• Edit a message
• Unsend a message
• Mark message as unread
• Schedule sending a message
• Turn iMessage on and off
• Use iMessage with Dual SIM
SMS/MMS lets you send text messages and photos to other cell phones or devices. iMessage lets you send text messages, photos, and videos to other iOS devices or Macs over Wi-Fi. iMessages are billed as data usage when sent over a cellular data connection. Messages will be billed as text messages when sent to other device types, or to iOS devices using an earlier version of iOS. You need a valid phone number or Apple ID to use iMessage on iPhone. With iMessage you can also see when someone is replying to you with the 
Bubble icon. With iOS 18, iMessage now supports RCS messages. RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages bring richer media and delivery and read receipts for those who don’t use iMessage.
Note: You can tell which type of message you're sending by the color of the 
Send icon and text bubble. SMS/MMS: Send icon and text bubbles are green. iMessage: Send icon and text bubbles are blue.
Access messaging
From the home screen, select the 
Messages app.
Compose a message
1. Select the 
Compose icon.
2. Enter a phone number or email address, or select the Add icon to choose a contact. Type your message in the iMessage field.
Note: To send messages to a group, enter multiple recipients. Type a name to direct a message to someone specifically within a group message. When you are mentioned, your name will be highlighted. Customize an active group so you only receive notifications when you are mentioned. You can reply directly to a specific message within a group conversation. You can view replies in the full conversation or as their own thread for a more focused view. Learn more from the Apple support article Send a group message with your iPhone.
3. With iOS 18, iMessage receives all-new text effects that bring conversations to life by amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearances. To stylize your text message, select and hold the desired word then select Text Effects. Select the desired text effect.
4. Select the 
Add icon then select the desired option to attach a photo or video, Audio message, Sticker or Location. Select More, then select the desired option to explore Memojis or apps to add to your message.
Note: When sharing your location, you can also share the battery life of your iPhone, give your friends your ETA to wherever you are headed. If you don't make it on time, the location of your last iPhone unlock can be shared with family members and it can automatically call emergency services for you. You can also request someone to share their Check-in location with you in the messages app.
4. Select the Send icon.
5. An exclamation mark appears if your recipient didn't get the message. Select the Exclamation mark, then select Try Again to send the message again.
Use Digital Touch
Select the Add icon > More > 
Digital touch icon to draw messages or pictures.
Share music or GIFs
Select the Add icon > More > 
Music to share songs. Select 
#images to share GIFs or other recently used images.
Save an attachment
Select the Save icon next to the desired attachment.
Note: Alternately, select and hold the desired attachment, then select Save. Attachments are saved according to their file type. To view saved photos and videos, from the home screen, select the 
Photos app.
Reply or react to a message with TapBacks
To reply to a message, from the desired message thread, compose your message. Select the Send icon when you are finished.
Note: You can swipe right on any message to send a reply to an individual message. From the desired message thread, select the 
catch-up arrow to jump to the first message you haven't read in a conversation.
To react to a message with a TapBack, select and hold the desired message then select the desired reaction. Select Add Sticker to react with a sticker.
Note: With iOS 18, you can now react with any emoji or sticker.
Forward a message
1. Select and hold the desired message, then select More.
2. Select the desired message(s), then select the Forward icon. Enter the desired contact or phone number, then select the Send icon.
Delete a message or thread
To delete a message, select and hold the desired message then select More. Select the desired message(s), then select the 
Delete icon. Select Delete Message to confirm.
To delete an entire message thread, from the Messages screen, select and drag the desired message thread to the left. Select the Delete icon, then select Delete to confirm.
Note: Alternately, select and hold the desired message thread then select Delete. After you delete a conversation, you can recover it only by restoring from a backup. Learn more from the Apple support article Send messages with your iPhone. If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, click here.
Pin a message thread
To pin a message thread, from the Messages screen select and hold the desired message thread then select Pin.
Note: To unpin a message thread, select and hold the desired pinned message thread then select Unpin.
Edit a message
1. Select and hold the desired message, then select Edit.
Note: Messages can only be edited within 15 minutes of initially being sent.
Unsend a message
Select and hold the desired message then select Undo Send. The message will be unsent.
Note: Undo Send is available for 10 seconds after sending a message. If the recipient has not updated to iOS16, they may still see the message.
Mark message as unread
From the Messages inbox, swipe right on the desired message thread then select the Unread icon.
Note: Alternately, swipe right on the desired message thread to the right edge of the screen and release.
Schedule sending a message
1. Select the Add icon, then select Send Later. Select the time to set the desired time.
2. Enter the desired message, then select the Send icon.
Turn iMessage on or off
1. From the home screen, select the 
Settings app. Scroll to and select Apps.
2. Scroll to and select Messages, then select the 
iMessage switch to turn it on or off.
Note: If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage, click here.
Use iMessage with Dual SIM
When composing a new message with Dual SIM enabled, you will have the option to switch between sims before sending a new message. From the new message screen, enter the desired contact. Select current line, then select the desired line. 