- iMessage is built into iOS versions 5 and later, and allows you to send unlimited text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts using Wi-Fi or cellular data from your iPhone or iPad. To turn iMessage on or off, from the Home screen, tap Settings.
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 iOS devices using an earlier version of iOS. You need a valid phone number or Apple ID to use iMessage on iPhone. - Tap Messages.
- Tap the "iMessage" switch to turn on or off.
Note: If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage, get help. - To send an iMessage, from the Home screen, tap Messages.
- In 'Messages', tap the New Message icon.
- Then enter a phone number or email address, or tap the Plus button and choose a contact.
Note: To send messages to a group, enter multiple recipients. Learn more from Apple support article: Send a group message with your iPhone. - Type in your message, or tap the Camera icon to attach a photo or video, or tap the Microphone icon to send an audio message.
- Tap Send to finish.
- iMessage lets you send text messages, photos, and videos to other iOS devices or Macs over Wi-Fi. SMS/MMS lets you send text messages and photos to other cell phones or devices.
Note: You can tell which type of message you're sending by the color of the Send button and text bubble. iMessage: Send button and text bubbles are blue. SMS/MMS: Send button and text bubbles are green. - A red exclamation mark appears if your recipient didn't get the message. Tap the exclamation mark to try to send the message again.
- To forward a message, tap and hold the message bubble, then tap More.
- Tap to select the message you want to forward, then tap the Forward icon and select the person to send it to.
- To delete a message, tap and hold the message bubble, then tap More.
- Tap Delete All to delete all the messages. Or tap to select the messages you want to delete, then tap Trash can icon.
Note: After you delete a message, you can recover it only by restoring from a backup. - To delete an entire conversation, open the list of conversations. Then swipe from right to left on the conversation you want to delete.
Note: After you delete a conversation, you can recover it only by restoring from a backup. Learn more from Apple support article: Send messages with your iPhone If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, get help.