Apple iMessage tips

Messages is Apple’s chat app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and it’s not just for sending texts and iMessages. There are many features within the app, and more arrived iOS 17 too. But, many of Apple’s biggest Messages features are hidden in swipe gestures or buried inside the Settings app. Understanding a few key iMessage tips and tricks can both save time and limit unwanted interruptions.

Messages can be used across multiple devices, syncing between them all when signed into the same Apple ID. That means that, while most will use these tips on an iPhone, many of the tricks below work with your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch too. Here are our best tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Apple’s messaging platform.

Use replies to create different threads in the same conversation

How to reply to a specific message

Messages include a reply feature that can make it easier to follow different threads within the same conversation.

1. Open Messages.
2. Swipe left to right on a message.
3. Enter your message.
4. Tap the Send button.

Or:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap and hold a message.
3. Tap Reply.
4. Enter your message.
5. Tap the Send button.

Improve privacy by turning off read receipts

How to turn off read receipts for a specific contact on iMessage

Like many modern chat platforms, iMessage offers read receipts. And while it can be a useful way to let friends and family know you’ve seen their text, you may not want everyone to have that privilege. To disable read receipts for a specific contact:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to turn read receipts off for.
3. Tap the contact name at the top of the interface.
4. Toggle off Send Read Receipts.

Designating your favorite people keeps them at the top of the Messages app

If you message with a friend or family member frequently, you can pin their name and photo to the top of Messages for easy access. As an added bonus, conversations with your besties won’t get lost when other people message you.

1. Tap and hold the message thread associated with the person you want to pin.
2. Select Pin.
3. To unpin a conversation, tap and hold the photo belonging to the person you want to remove from your favorites and tap Unpin.

Customize iMessage apps

Prioritize your most-used iMessage tools to access them in fewer taps

You probably don’t need an explanation on how to send photos in Messages, but what you might not know is that iOS 17 introduced a shortcut that will save you multiple taps the next time you want to send your latest snaps to a contact. When sending a photo, instead of tapping “+”, tap and hold the button. Doing so will automatically bring up your camera roll and image picker. You can also double-tap the “+” icon to jump directly to the second page of iMessages Apps menu. It’s also possible to edit the order in which iMessage apps appear. Here’s how:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Select a thread.
3. Tap the “+” button.
4. Tap, hold, and drag the app you want to move up or down the list.
5. To move an app between pages, tap, hold and drag it to the bottom or top of the current app list.

You can also remove apps from the list. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Select iMessage Apps.
4. Toggle off any apps you don’t want to appear in your iMessage Apps list.

Silence one conversation, not everyone

How to silence notifications from a specific message thread

Sometimes you want to prevent someone from blowing up your iPhone, without silencing your phone completely. Here’s how:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Swipe right to left on the message thread you want mute.
3. Tap the Bell icon.

Share your location

How to share your current location with a contact in iMessage

We’ve all been there. You’re waiting to meet a friend and the two of you can’t find one another. The next time you find yourself in that situation, instead of sending a flurry of texts attempting to describe where you are, share your location. There are two ways to do this:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person or group you want to share your location with.
3. Tap the “+” icon.
4. Select Location.
5. Tap the Send button.

Or:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person or group you want to share your location with.
3. Tap on the profile profile of the person or group.
4. Tap Share My Location.
5. Select For1 hour, Until End of Day or Indefinitely.

Customize your name and photo

How to edit your name and photo in iMessage

With iOS 17, Apple revamped the operating system to give users more control over how their contact card appears when they text or call someone. Incidentally, the easiest way to edit your card is through Messages. Here’s how:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Select Name and Photo.
4. Tap Edit.
5. Choose your photo by taking an image, selecting a Memoji, selecting Monogram or choosing from your Photo Library.

Create and send art to your friends

How to handwrite a message in iMessage

Did you know you can use Messages to send handwritten notes to your friends and family? It’s not the most practical way to use the app, but it does add a bit of humanity and charm to your messages.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to send a handwritten message to.
3. Turn your iPhone horizontal.
4. Tap the squiggly line in the bottom right corner of the keyboard.
5. Start drawing or select one of the pre-written messages.
6. Tap Done.
7. Tap on the arrow to send.

Clear the clutter by quickly deleting messages

How to delete multiple message threads in iMessage

Most iPhone users know how to delete single conversation threads in Messages, but if I had to take a guess, a lot of people don’t know they can delete multiple ones at once to save time.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Tap Select Messages.
4. Select the message threads you want to delete.
5. Tap Delete.

Start a FaceTime right from Messages

How to make a FaceTime call from iMessage

If you’re chatting with someone and want to jump on a FaceTime call with them, you don’t need to open the FaceTime app. Instead, you can call them directly from Messages.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to FaceTime.
3. Tap on the FaceTime icon in the top right corner, and select FaceTime Audio or FaceTime Video.

Quickly find old photos and attachments

How to find old photos, links and attachments on iMessage

Be honest, you’ve probably sent too much time scrolling endlessly through a message thread to find an image or link someone sent you in the past. There’s a more efficient way to find old attachments.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to see the images and attachments sent from and to you.
3. Tap on the contact name at the top of the message thread.
4. Scroll down and you’ll see Photos, links and attachments appear at the bottom.

Related

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Use talk-to-text

How to dictate a message in iMessage

You can talk instead of typing out a text; here’s how:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to send a message to or start a new message.
3. Tap on the microphone icon in the bottom right corner of the app under the keyboard.
4. Start talking and what you say will start to appear in the message box above the keyboard.
5. Press the mic icon again in the bottom right corner to stop the dictation.

Tap the arrow to forward messages

How to forward an individual message in a message thread iMessage

You don’t have to copy-paste to repeat the same data to friends — use the forward tool instead:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Open the message thread you want to forward an individual message from.
3. Press and hold the individual message you want to forward.
4. Tap More at the bottom of your screen.
5. Select any other messages you want to forward, if any.
6. Select the curved arrow in the bottom right of the screen.

The contents of the forwarded message, or messages, will then appear in a new message where you can add a recipient’s name at the top and hit the arrow on the right of the message box to send.

Customize emojis with your face

How to send an Animoji on iMessage

Using the iPhone’s camera, you can customize your Memoji to mimic your expression in a short video, called an Animoji:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to send an Animoji to, or create a new message.
3. Press the “+” to the left of the input field.
4. Tap on “More.”
5. Select the Animoji icon (Memoji with yellow frame).
6. Scroll horizontally to select the Animoji you want to send.
7. Bring your face into view.
8. Press and hold the red button in the bottom right corner of the Animoji to record a message up to 30 seconds long.
9. Press the arrow to send when you’re happy.

Related

What are Memoji? How to create an Animoji that looks just like you

Memoji allow you to create an avatar that tracks your facial movements like Animoji, but they look like you. Here’s what you need to know.

Or quickly send pre-made Memojis

How to send an Memoji on iMessage

Don’t have the time for a custom Animoji? Memojis are another way to quickly customize your messages:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person you want to send an Memoji to, or create a new message.
3. Tap on the “+” to the left of the input field.
4. Tap on More.
5. Select the Animoji/Memoji icon.
6. Select your Memoji or press the three dots in the circle to create a new Memoji.
7. Press the arrow to send.

Tap for fast reactions

How to react to an individual message in iMessage

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on the message thread of the person who sent you the individual message you want to ‘react’ to.
3. Press and hold the individual message you want to react to.
4. Select between a heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, Haha, double exclamation mark or question mark.

Troubleshoot a failed iMessage

How to send a message as SMS if iMessage isn’t available

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Toggle on Send as SMS.

Automatically playback audio messages

How to hear audio messages quickly on iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to the Audio Messages section.
4. Toggle on Raise to Listen. When on, audio messages will be played as soon as you raise your iPhone to your ear. You can also choose to have them transcribed with iOS 17 rather than listening to them.

Ensure you receive photos from Android phones

How to turn on or off MMS messaging on Apple Messages

Like SMS, MMS is a multi-media messaging format — if this is turned off, you may not be receiving images that aren’t sent from a device using iMessage. If you want to make sure you always receive picture messages when they aren’t sent through iMessage, you can toggle this feature on.

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to SMS/MMS section.
4. Toggle MMS Messaging on, or off depending on your preference.

Show previews of your texts on your lock screen

How to turn previews on or off for iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Messages.
4. Scroll down to the Lock Screen Appearance section.
5. Tap on Show Previews.
6. Choose between Always, When Unlocked or Never.

Prevent text notifications from taking up too much lock screen space

How to group Message notifications for iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Messages.
4. Scroll down to the Lock Screen Appearance section.
5. Tap on Notification Grouping.
6. Select between Automatic, By App, or Off.

When on, multiple message notifications will appear as a layered group of notifications to allow for other notifications from different apps on your locked screen.

Toggle iMessage notifications on or off

How to turn on or off notifications for iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Messages.
4. Toggle Allow Notifications on or off.

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Customize where iMessage notifications appear

How to stop or restart iMessage notifications appearing in your notification center, lock screen, or banners

Message notifications can pop up in three different ways: on your lock screen, inside the notification center, and as banners if the text comes in while you are using your phone. Each type can be toggled on or off to customize how you see your Messages notifications.

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Messages.
4. Tick or untick the Lock Screen,Notification Center, or banners box under the Alerts section according to your preferences.

Keep missing texts? Turn your alerts on repeat

How to repeat alerts for iMessage notifications

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Notifications.
3. Scroll down to Messages.
4. Scroll down to Customize Notifications.
5. Tap on Repeat Alerts.
6. Choose between Never, Once, Twice, 3 Times, 5 Times or 10 Times.

Toggle iMessage on and off

How to turn iMessage on or off

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Toggle iMessage off or on.

iMessages can be sent between iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac devices.

How to turn contact photos on or off on iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Toggle Show Contact Photos on or off.

Rid your texts of unwanted messages

How to block a contact on iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to Blocked Contacts.
4. Scroll down to Add New.
5. Add the contact or number you want to block.

Related

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Automatically delete your old texts

How to change how long messages are kept for on iMessage

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to the Message History section.
4. Tap on Keep Messages.
5. Select between 30 days, 1 year, and Forever.

Separate friends from unknown numbers

How to turn off notifications for iMessages from people not in your contact list

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to the Message Filtering section.
4. Tap on Unknown & Spam.
5. Toggle on Filter Unknown Senders.

Messages from people not in your contact list will then be sorted into a separate list.

Automatically delete audio messages

How to change how long audio messages are kept for on Apple Messages

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down to Messages.
3. Scroll down to the Audio Messages section.
4. Tap on Expire.
5. Select between After 2 Minutes or Never.

Play games and use other apps right from iMessage

How to download iMessages apps in Apple Messages

Apple integrated the App Store into Apple Messages in iOS 10, allowing users to download apps like Citymapper, Google Photos and Dropbox, as well as games, for use within iMessage. You can read more iMessage apps and the best ones to download in our separate feature.

To download an iMessage app:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap on a message thread.
3. Tap on the “+” next to the input field.
4. Tap on More.
5. Select the App Store icon.
6. Search for the app you want or scroll through the recommended options.
7. Download.

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