Instant Messages on iPhone: What You Need to Know

Instant Messages on iPhone can be a convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family, but did you know that you can access them from multiple devices?

You can access your iPhone's instant messages from your Mac or iPad, thanks to the Continuity feature. This feature allows you to start something on one device and pick it up where you left off on another.

Instant messages on iPhone are stored in the Messages app, where you can view and manage your conversations. You can also use the search function to quickly find specific messages.

To use instant messages on iPhone, you'll need to have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and your device must be set up with an Apple ID.

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Instant messages on iPhone have some amazing features that make them a joy to use. iMessage is built into iOS versions 5 and later, allowing you to send unlimited text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts using Wi-Fi or cellular data from your iPhone or iPad.

You can tell which type of message you're sending by the color of the Send button and text bubble. iMessage sends blue, while SMS/MMS sends green.

Here are some of the key features of iMessage:

You can send a variety of multimedia with Messages, including photos, videos, and audio. This is the same as regular SMS text messages.

In iOS 10 and later, some additional features make sending media even more useful. For example, if you send a video or a link to YouTube, the recipient can watch the video right in Messages, without going out to another app.

Links open in Messages rather than Safari, which is convenient. If you share an Apple Music song, the recipient can stream the song right in Messages.

Digital Touch is another feature that lets users send sketches through iMessage. This is a fun way to add a personal touch to your messages.

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Here are some examples of the types of media you can send with Messages:

By sending multimedia with Messages, you can add some personality and flair to your conversations.

You can customize every focus except "Driving" on iOS 16 to filter out unwanted content. This includes specific calendars, emails, and Safari tabs.

You can also add a focus filter to include or exclude conversations in Messages from select contacts. This way, you can prioritize your conversations with important people.

A new bar will appear at the top of the chats list in Messages to let you know it's filtering content by your focus. This makes it easy to see which conversations are being filtered.

You can hit "Turn Off" if you want to see all conversations, and you can always hit "Turn On" to filter the messages again.

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Messaging is a built-in feature on iPhones, allowing you to send unlimited text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts using Wi-Fi or cellular data. iMessage is free to use when sending messages to other iMessage users, but SMS messages still cost whatever your phone plan charges.

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To send an iMessage, select the Messages app, enter a phone number or email address, and type in your message. You can also add photos, videos, or audio messages to your conversation. iMessage lets you see when someone is replying to you with the "..." bubble icon.

You can tell which type of message you're sending by the color of the Send button and text bubble: iMessage uses blue bubbles, while SMS/MMS uses green bubbles.

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Expiring messages are a convenient feature in iMessage, allowing you to send audio messages that disappear after a set time. This can be especially useful for sending sensitive information or for keeping conversations private.

If you want to control the expiration setting for audio messages, you can do so by going to Settings > Messages and tapping Expire in Audio Messages. From there, you can choose a time period for expiration, which can be set to two minutes.

To expire messages, you need to have the expiration setting enabled, which can be done from the Messages settings. Once you've set the expiration time, any audio messages you send will disappear after that time has passed.

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iMessage is built into iOS versions 5 and later, allowing you to send unlimited text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts using Wi-Fi or cellular data from your iPhone or iPad.

Messages supports the iMessage, SMS, and MMS protocols, which can be identified by the color of the Send button and text bubble. iMessage messages appear in blue bubbles, while SMS/MMS messages appear in green bubbles.

If you're having trouble sending messages, you can try turning iMessage on or off by going to Settings > Messages and toggling the "iMessage" switch.

To send an iMessage, simply select the New Message icon in the Messages app, enter a phone number or email address, and type in your message. You can also add photos, videos, or even draw a message using the Digital Touch feature.

Messages also supports Rich Communication Services (RCS), which was introduced in iOS 18. RCS messages appear in green bubbles, just like SMS/MMS messages.

Here's a quick rundown of the different messaging services and protocols supported by Messages:

Marking messages as read or unread is a game-changer for staying organized.

You can mark a message as unread by swiping right on the conversation from the list view, which is a convenient way to flag messages that need your attention later.

This feature only marks the message as unread on your end, so it won't affect when the sender sees that you've read their message if you have "Send Read Receipts" enabled.

You can also long-press a discussion and choose "Mark as Unread" or "Mark as Read", which is a useful option for pinned conversations that you want to keep track of.

Alternatively, you can use the "Edit" button, pick "Select Messages", choose the discussions, and hit "Read" or "Unread" for a more precise approach.

If you accidentally delete a message or change your mind, you can recover it from the "Recently Deleted" section in the Messages app.

Deleted messages are automatically wiped from Apple's servers after 30 days, so it's a good idea to act quickly if you need to recover something.

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To view, delete, or recover deleted content, tap "Edit" in the conversations list, then "Show Recently Deleted".

If you have "Filter Unknown Senders" enabled in your Messages preferences, tap "Filter" and open the "Recently Deleted" folder to see the deleted messages.

You can also manually erase deleted content sooner than 30 days if you need to free up space or keep your messages organized.

Here's a quick rundown of how to access the "Recently Deleted" section:

You'll see the person's name and profile icon in the suggestions on the keyboard when mentioning someone in a group chat.

In iOS 16, the color change animation still appears when you hit enter after mentioning someone.

The name in the text field can also be tapped to show their profile picture.

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The Contacts widget has some cool new features that will make your life easier. It now shows unread messages or missed calls from contacts, giving you a heads up on what you need to catch up on.

This feature is especially helpful for people who get a lot of messages or calls from friends and family. It's like having a personal assistant right on your home screen.

The updated Contacts widget will even tell you if you have any unread messages or missed FaceTime or phone calls from them. This way, you can quickly see who needs your attention.

This feature is a great addition to the Contacts widget, making it more useful and convenient for users.

In iOS 16, the way you record and send audio messages has changed. The audio button in the text entry field of conversation is now for dictation.

To record and send audio messages, you can use the new audio app available from the Messages app drawer. This app is specifically designed for sending audio messages.

You can access the new audio app by tapping the icon from the list of apps in the Messages app drawer. A microphone button will appear, telling you to tap or hold to record.

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If you hold the microphone button, the audio message will send right away. If you tap it, you need to tap the stop button and manually send the file.

Here's a quick summary of the new audio app:

You can now use Siri to send messages automatically, skipping the confirmation step. On iOS 16, this feature is disabled by default, but you can turn it on via Settings –> Siri & Search –> Automatically Send Messages.

If you enable automatic sending, you can still disable it when connected to headphones or CarPlay, and Siri will require confirmation before sending in those instances.

iMessage is considered secure, thanks to its end-to-end encryption, which means that every step of sending messages is encrypted and secure.

This encryption is so strong that not even Apple can break it, making it a safe choice for sending sensitive information.

However, iMessage's security is not foolproof, as researchers from Project Zero presented six interaction-less exploits in 2019 that could be used to take over control of a user's device.

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These exploits have since been fixed, but there are still some undisclosed exploits that will be patched in a future update.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has given iMessage a score of 5 out of 7 points on its "Secure Messaging Scorecard", praising its encryption and documentation, but deducting points for lack of contact verification and open source code.

iMessage's reliance on RSA key exchange also means it doesn't feature forward secrecy, a feature that would protect past communications even if keys are stolen.

iMessage has received a score of 5 out of 7 points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "Secure Messaging Scorecard" due to its encrypted communications and end-to-end encryption, but it lacks user verification of contacts' identities and open source code review.

The EFF initially gave iMessage points for having communications encrypted in transit and with keys the provider doesn't have access to, as well as forward secrecy, but this was later disputed by Matthew Green, who noted that iMessage uses RSA key exchange, which doesn't provide forward secrecy.

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In 2019, researchers from Project Zero discovered six interaction-less exploits in iMessage that could be used to take over a user's device, but these were fixed in iOS 12.4.

iMessage has also been found vulnerable to law-enforcement real-time searches, as revealed in an FBI document obtained by Property of the People, Inc. in 2021.

Apple has dropped plans to encrypt iCloud backups of iMessage data after the FBI complained, despite initially planning to do so.

The founder of Beeper Mini, a third-party iMessage client, has criticized Apple for preventing iMessage access on Android phones, calling it hypocritical to claim iMessage is private and secure while limiting it to only SMS messages when communicating with non-Apple devices.

Anti-SMS/MMS user sentiment has been a growing concern, especially among US teenagers. 87% of US teenagers have iPhones, and the app's use of different colors for iMessage and SMS messages has contributed to social exclusion among some teens.

The issue lies in the fact that iMessage is end-to-end encrypted, while SMS/MMS is not. This difference in security has led to some teens feeling left out when they can't receive iMessage.

Apple has taken steps to address this issue by announcing that Rich Communication Services (RCS) support would be coming to iOS, allowing RCS messages to be sent as a fallback when iMessage is unavailable.

Google has also gotten on board, working with Apple to implement RCS into iOS. This means that RCS messages will be green, just like SMS/MMS, to avoid any further social exclusion.

In September 2024, Apple released iOS 18, which brought RCS to supported iOS devices. This is a step in the right direction, but it's essential to remember that RCS is still not end-to-end encrypted like iMessage.

Here's a comparison of some instant messaging protocols:

iMessage is only available on Apple operating systems, such as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS.

You can't use iMessage on Android or Microsoft Windows devices, and there's no web access interface. Independent apps have tried to bring iMessage to other platforms, but with varying degrees of success.

One such app, iMessage Chat, was released on Google Play in 2013, but it was removed due to security and privacy concerns.

Another app, weMessage, was announced in 2017 and allowed Android users to receive iMessages by routing them through a Mac computer. However, it's no longer available on Google Play and hasn't received updates since 2019.

AirMessage, an independent open-source app, was announced in 2019 and allows users to send and receive iMessages on their Android devices by routing them through a Mac computer. It's available on the web and supports modern web browsers.

BlueBubbles, another independent open-source app, was announced in 2020 and allows users to send and receive iMessages on their Android devices, Windows devices, and Linux devices by routing them through a Mac computer.

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iMessage is based on a proprietary protocol called the Apple Push Notification service (APNs), which sets up a secure connection with Apple servers.

This connection is encrypted with TLS and uses a client-side certificate to ensure the exchange of messages is safe.

Each message recipient's public keys are retrieved from Apple's Identity Service (IDS), which acts as a directory of iMessage public keys.

This allows each message to be individually encrypted for the recipient's device.

Message attachments are stored in iCloud and retrieved separately by the recipient.

Messages are stored on Apple servers for up to 30 days.

The PieMessage project, announced in 2016, aimed to connect iMessage with Android devices, but it has since been abandoned.

The decline of text messaging in the US may be attributed to the rise of alternative free messaging services like iMessage, as noted in a 2012 report by Chetan Sharma.

Accessibility is a top priority for iPhone users, especially for those with visual impairments. Visually impaired users can tap on a message and have it read out to them using Apple's VoiceOver screen reader on both iOS and macOS.

You can also navigate the Messages UI using VoiceOver, making it easy to find and manage your messages. The default font size on iOS Messages is editable under the Accessibility tab in the Settings application.

Siri is a game-changer for users with visual impairments, enabling them to dictate and send messages with just a few commands. It can also read out new incoming messages, keeping you in the loop without having to lift a finger.

iMessage is built into iOS versions 5 and later, allowing you to send unlimited text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts using Wi-Fi or cellular data from your iPhone or iPad.

The Messages app supports the iMessage, SMS, and MMS protocols. If you send a message via SMS, MMS, or RCS, it will appear in a green bubble, while iMessage messages appear in a blue bubble.

iMessage is billed as data usage when sent over a cellular data connection. Messages sent to other device types or to iOS devices using an earlier version of iOS will be billed as text messages.

To send an iMessage, select the New Message icon in the Messages app, enter a phone number or email address, and type in your message. You can also attach a photo or video, draw a message, or send an audio message.

The Messages app gained new features in macOS Sierra, including aesthetic effects like three times bigger emojis and the ability to play YouTube videos and preview links in a conversation.

Here are the messaging services and protocols supported by the Messages app:

Apps are like iPhone apps, but for iMessage. They add new functionality to iMessage, just like how you install apps on your iPhone.

These apps work only when you have iMessage enabled, which is a requirement to use them. You can find examples of iMessage apps, like Square, which lets you send money through iMessage to your friends.

Accessibility features in apps can greatly benefit users with visual impairments. Apple's VoiceOver screen reader can be used on both iOS and macOS to read out messages and navigate the Messages UI.

Visually impaired users can tap on a message and have it read out to them. They can also use Siri to dictate and send messages with just a few commands.

Siri can also read out new incoming messages, making it easy to stay on top of conversations. The default font size on iOS Messages is editable under the Accessibility tab in the Settings application.

Apps are like special tools that add new functionality to your messaging experience. Think of them like iPhone apps, but specifically designed for messaging.

You can install these apps to send money, collect group orders, or do other tasks directly within your messaging app. Square is a great example of an app that lets you send money to friends through iMessage.

These apps are only available in iOS 10 and up, so if you're using an older version of iOS, you won't be able to access them.

You can pay people directly just by writing a message that requests money or mentions sending it.

In iOS 11, a tool pops up to specify the amount and you'll be asked to verify the payment using Touch ID.

To send money, you'll need to link a payment account to your Apple Pay.

Money is sent from the payment account linked to your Apple Pay to the other person.

This feature is great for splitting restaurant checks and paying rent.

If you're switching to a new iPhone, you want to make sure your crucial data, like text messages, are transferred from the old phone to the new one when you set it up. Luckily, Apple makes this easy.

You have three ways to make sure your texts come with you to your new phone. One of the options is to use the "How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone" method, which Apple provides.

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If you're tired of unwanted texts, you can block them on your iPhone using a feature that's easy to access. The steps for blocking unwanted texts are outlined in the article section "Tired of Unwanted Texts? Here's How to Block Them on Your iPhone".

Here are the three ways to transfer messages from one iPhone to another:

You can also customize the text message sounds on your iPhone to make it more personalized. The steps for customizing text message sounds are outlined in the article section "How to Customize the Text Message Sounds on Your iPhone".

Marking messages as read or unread is a game-changer for staying organized. You can mark a message as unread to remind yourself to return to it later.

If you mark a message as unread, it only affects your end, so the sender won't know you've read it.

You can mark messages as read or unread by swiping right on the conversation from the list view.

Long-pressing a discussion and choosing "Mark as Unread" or "Mark as Read" is another convenient option. This comes in handy for pinned conversations.

You can view deleted messages on your iPhone by tapping "Edit" in the conversations list and then "Show Recently Deleted". This will take you to a folder where you can view, delete, or recover your deleted texts and iMessages.

Deleted messages are wiped from Apple's servers automatically after 30 days. You can also manually erase deleted content sooner if you prefer.

To recover a deleted message, simply go to the "Recently Deleted" folder and tap on the message you want to recover.

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You can mention someone in a group chat by typing their name, and iOS 15 wouldn't show you anything except the color change animation when you hit enter.

In iOS 16, mentioning someone in a group chat will show you their name and profile icon in the suggestions on the keyboard.

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The updated Contacts widget on iPhone is a game-changer for staying on top of your messages and calls. It now shows unread messages, missed FaceTime calls, and missed phone calls from your contacts right in the widget.

You'll get a clear alert if someone has tried to reach you, so you can quickly respond or catch up. This feature is especially useful if you have a lot of contacts or receive a lot of messages.

Here are some key details about the new Contacts widget alerts:

This feature is a great way to stay organized and avoid missing important messages or calls.

With iOS 16, recording and sending audio messages just got a refresh. The microphone button now appears in the Messages app drawer, where you can tap or hold to record.

To record an audio message, tap the microphone button, and you'll see the option to tap or hold to record. If you hold it, the audio message will send right away.

You can also manually send the audio message by tapping the stop button and tapping the send button. This gives you a bit more control over the process.

The new app for audio messages is available from the Messages app drawer, making it easy to access and start recording.

Apple's Shared with You feature on iOS 15 gives you quick access to content in other Apple apps that was shared with you via Messages.

You can find pictures and videos that contacts sent you in iMessage and MMS conversations in the "For You" section in Photos.

Apple News articles shared with you in Messages will appear in a dedicated section in your feed or from the "Following" tab.

Developers can now integrate Shared with You into their apps on iOS 16, allowing you to see shared content in more places.

For example, the recipe-organizing app Pestle will show you recipes shared with you in Messages from other Pestle users.

Flighty is another app that supports Shared with You, with a section in the app that will show you all of the flights other Flighty members shared with you via Messages.

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You can use Siri to send messages instantly on your iPhone. This feature is disabled by default, but you can turn it on in Settings –> Siri & Search –> Automatically Send Messages.

Siri will automatically send the message if you don't cancel it within about five seconds. A countdown will appear visually on the "Send" button in Siri's interface.

You can disable automatic sending when connected to headphones or CarPlay, and Siri will require confirmation before sending in those instances. Type to Siri will not auto-send messages.

Responding to Screen Time requests on your iPhone is a breeze. You'll receive all requests from your children in the Messages app, where you can instantly approve or decline them.

If you're a parent or guardian, you can manage these requests directly from the Messages app, without having to open the Settings app.

You can customize every focus except "Driving" on iOS 16 to filter unwanted content such as specific calendars, emails, and Safari tabs.

With focus enabled, you can filter conversations in Messages from select contacts by adding a focus filter to include or exclude conversations. This means you can tailor your messaging experience to suit your needs.

A new bar will appear at the top of the chats list in Messages to let you know it's filtering content by your focus. You can hit "Turn Off" if you want to see all conversations.

In the US, 87% of teenagers have iPhones, and some claim that the app's use of different colors for iMessage and SMS messages has contributed to social exclusion among some teens.

The issue is not just about color, but also about functionality. Apple announced that Rich Communication Services (RCS) support would be coming to iOS to be used as a fallback when iMessage is unavailable.

RCS was finally implemented in iOS 18, released on September 16, 2024. This update brought RCS to supported iOS devices, which means users can now use RCS as a fallback when iMessage is not available.

However, RCS messages will remain green, just like SMS messages. This is a deliberate design choice, and it's not clear why Apple made this decision.

The introduction of RCS in iOS 18 is a step towards reducing social exclusion among iPhone users. By providing a more functional alternative to SMS, Apple hopes to make its devices more inclusive.

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