Send & Receive Messages

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
• Forward a message
• Delete a message or thread
• Turn iMessage on and off
• Pin or unpin a conversation
• Add an image to a group message
• Edit or unsend a message
• Mark message as unread

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 iPadOS 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. To send and receive text messages on your iPad, you must set up NumberSync. With iMessage you can also see when someone is replying to you with the "..." bubble icon.

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.

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. You can also customize an active group so you only receive notifications when you are mentioned. 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 iPad.



3. Type your message in the message field. Select the Microphone key to send an audio message. Select the Add icon then select the desired option to attach a photo or video, Audio message, Sicker or Location. When ready, select the Send icon.



4. 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 icon to share songs. Select the  Search icon to share GIFs or other recently used images.

Save an attachment

Select and hold the desired attachment, then select Save.

Note: 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

To reply to a message, from the desired message thread, compose your message. Select the Send icon when you are finished.

Note: With iPadOS 17, 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, select and hold the desired message then select the desired reaction.

Forward a message

1. Select and hold the desired message, then select More....



2. Select the desired message(s), then select the Forward icon.



3. Enter the desired contact or phone number, then select the Send icon.

Delete a message or thread

1. To delete a message, select and hold the desired message then select More....



2. Select the desired message(s), then select the Delete icon. Select Delete Message(s).



3. To delete an entire message thread, from the Messages screen select and drag the desired message thread to the left. Select the Delete icon.

Note: 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, iPad or iPod Touch. If you can't send or receive messages on your iPad, click here.

Turn iMessage on or off

1. From the home screen, select the  Settings app.

Note: 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 iPadOS devices using an earlier version of iPadOS. You need a valid phone number or Apple ID to use iMessage on iPad.

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.

Pin or unpin a conversation

PIN A CONVERSATION: With iPadOS 14 or later, you can pin up to 9 conversations at the top of your conversation list for easy access.

1. To pin a conversation, select and hold the desired message thread.



2. Select Pin. 



UNPIN A CONVERSATION

1. Select and hold the desired contact icon.



2. Select Unpin. 

Add an image to a group message

With iPadOS 14 or later, you can give your group conversation a visual identity by adding a photo or Memoji, or choose an emoji.

1. From the group message thread, select the Contacts icon at the top of the screen.



2. Select Change Name and Photo. 



3. Enter the desired name. Select the Camera icon to take a photo. Select the Gallery icon to choose a photo from the gallery. Select the Emoji icon to add an emoji. Select the Text icon to create a text icon.



4. Scroll to and select a preloaded emoji or Memoji, or select the  Add icon to add a custom emoji or Memoji.

Edit or unsend a message

To edit a message, select and hold the desired message, then select Edit. When finished, select the Checkmark icon. To unsend a message, select and hold the desired message, then select Undo Send.

Note: A message can only be unsent for up to 10 seconds after sending it. The receiver may still get the message if they have not yet updated to the most current software version.

Mark message as unread

Select and hold the desired message thread, then select Mark as Unread.