How to use iMessage: The ultimate guide

iMessage is the name of Apple’s proprietary instant messaging (IM) service that lets you send and receive free text, photo, video, and audio messages from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac to any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. Not only does iMessage let you send free simple messaging service (SMS)-style and multimedia messaging service (MMS)-style messages, but also create and manage group messages, share location instantly, temporarily, or persistently, and more. Here’s everything you need to know about iMessage!

How to set up, configure, and secure iMessage

iMessage is super easy to start using right out of the box but you’ll need to configure a few things first. Whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac you’ll only have a few steps to complete before you’ll be sending all kinds of content via iMessage. The process may be slightly different depending on what device you’re setting up so make sure to check out our guides on getting it configured.

• How to enable and activate (or re-activate) iMessage
• How to add additional email addresses to iMessage
• How to enable or disable read receipts for iMessage
• How to copy or forward iMessages
• How to delete iMessages on iPhone and iPad
• How to set messages to automatically delete on iPhone and iPad
• How to save space on your iPhone or iPad by setting iMessage videos to automatically delete
• How to edit the expiration of audio messages in iMessage
• How to increase privacy with iMessage

How to turn on read receipts in iMessage

Read receipts allow your contact to see whether or not you’ve viewed a message yet. While some people may consider read receipts to be a bit stalker-ish, others may find them useful for work and business situations.

• How to turn on read receipts in iMessage

How to quickly reply to an iMessage using interactive notifications

Ever get an iMessage or text from someone while you’re in the middle of doing something? We all have and we’ve all faced the dilemma of pausing our game or interrupting another activity in order to hop into the Messages app to respond. Luckily, if you’re running iOS 8 or higher, you can respond to a message without having to close out of what you’re doing.

• How to quickly reply to an iMessage using interactive notifications

How to mute individual conversation threads with iMessage

There are times when we need to receive some notifications but not others. Perhaps you’re waiting for an important text from your boss but don’t really feel like receiving notifications from others at that moment, or a certain person just won’t stop messaging you. Since Do Not Disturb extends to message threads as well, you can do just that. Simply silence the threads you don’t want notifications for and the others will continue to alert you like they normally would.

• How to mute individual conversation threads with iMessage

How to leave a group message with iMessage

Sometimes muting a message thread just isn’t enough. Ever been stuck in an annoying group message you just can’t seem to get out of? We’ve all been there and wished that just deleting the thread would make the madness stop. Luckily, if you and everyone in the thread are running iOS 8 or higher, you can now leave a group message at your own discretion.

• How to quickly leave group messages with iMessage

How to send photos using iMessage

More often than not, your iPhone is always on you which means you probably use it to capture a lot of moments. You’ll most likely want to share them with friends and family. iMessage makes it super simple to do so and you can use it on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. If the other person isn’t using iMessage, they’ll just receive a standard SMS (messaging rates will apply). Whether you want to share pictures from your iPhone or from iPhoto on your Mac, we can help you start sharing your images in no time.

• How to send photos using iMessage

How to quickly delete multiple images at once with iMessage

iMessage is a great way to share photos and videos quickly with others. Unfortunately that also means it can be a huge storage hog if you let it. So if you have threads with certain people that you know you share lots of files with, it’s a good idea to go through occasionally and clean them out. Luckily, it’s a pretty easy task if you use the attachments section of an iMessage thread.

• How to quickly delete multiple images at once with iMessage

How to send videos using iMessage

iMessage works with other iOS devices and Macs to let you easily send all kinds of content without paying your carrier for a special messaging plan (data rates will still apply if you aren’t on Wi-Fi), including any videos you’ve recorded on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. iMessage is built right into the same Messages app and Share Sheet that sends SMS and MMS to your non-iPhone using friends, so you don’t have to do anything extra to use it either.

• How to send videos using iMessage

How to send photo and video selfies with iMessage

Sending a selfie photo or video from your iPhone or iPad is literally just a swish and a flick away if you’re running iOS 8 or higher. Just hold down on the camera icon and flick your photo or video away when you’re done. You can even use the same mode to quickly take photos and videos using the rear facing camera too!

• How to take photo and video selfies faster than ever with iMessage

How to send voice messages with iMessage

Sometimes we can’t always type a response to an iMessage when we need to. But if you absolutely have to respond, you could always send a voice message in its place. Not only is it easy, it takes half the time that typing out a long text string would take. And the person on the other side can just raise their iPhone to their face in order to listen, it’s that easy!

• How to send a voice message with iMessage

How to quickly share your location using iMessage

Since iMessage is one of the easiest ways to communicate from your iPhone or iPad, it makes sense to use it for location data. As of iOS 8, you can share your location with any iMessage contact or group for a specific period of time, or indefinitely. That way people can easily get directions to your location and even send you directions on how to get somewhere, without ever even needed your actual address.

• How to share your location for a period of time with iMessage
• How to share your location one time with iMessage

How to send contact cards using iMessage

iMessage, and even traditional SMS makes it super simply to quickly send contact information from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. As long as you have the information listed in your iOS Contacts app, you’re always only a few taps away from sharing a vCard file (vcf) containing phone numbers, email, street addresses, and much more.

• How to send contact cards using iMessage

How to send map locations using iMessage

You can quickly share your location with friends, family, and colleagues using iMessage. Whether you’re lost or need someone to give you directions, or you’re waiting and want to help someone find you, iMessage is as simple as hitting the share button and sending. The person on the other end will be sent your location instantly.

• How to send map locations using iMessage

How to send Voice Memos with iMessage

The iPhone and iPod touch have a built-in Voice Memo app that can be handy for recording lengthy thoughts or instructions. Whether you need to dictate instructions to someone or want to share lecture notes from a class, iMessage makes it easy. Once they receive it they’ll be able to play it directly through the Messages app.

• How to send Voice Memos with iMessage

How to report iMessage spam to Apple

If you receive and unwanted iMessage, you can report them to Apple by sending a screenshot of the message, the sender’s email address or phone number, and the date and time that the message was received. It’s a great way to take back control of your communications!

• How to report iMessage spam to Apple

How to block iMessage on the iPhone or iPad

If you’re getting harassed, spammed, stalked, or otherwise subjected to unwanted iMessages, you can block the person and preventing them from contacting you again. It’s like an infinite iPhone or iPad time out for jerks. And best of all, it’s easy to do.

• How to block iMessage on the iPhone or iPad

How to block iMessages on the Mac

If you’re being stalked, spammed, pranked, or otherwise abused over iMessage, you can block that contact and prevent them from bothering you ever again, even on your Mac. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s oh-so-gratifying. If there’s an especially annoying someone you’ve been waiting to ignore, here’s how to do it!

• How to block iMessages on the Mac

How to turn off iMessage if you stop using your iPhone

If, for whatever reason, you stop using your iPhone and are forced to use a regular cellphone, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, or Android phone, there are some steps you need to take to make sure the iPhone friends you leave behind can still reach you. iMessage works by routing iPhone-to-iPhone messages through Apple’s servers instead of sending them as actual text messages. Unfortunately, unless you tell it to stop doing this, iMessage has no way of knowing you’ve left, at least until it times out after a couple weeks, and that’s beyond frustrating. Luckily, deactivating it is easy. Here’s how!

• How to turn off iMessage if you stop using your iPhone

How to fix issues with regular texts on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

If you have an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus and you can only receive blue bubble iMessages and not green bubble regular SMS messages, you aren’t alone. That’s why we have some troubleshooting steps to help you get things in working order again!

• Receiving iMessages on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus but not regular texts? Here’s how to fix it!

How to get more help with iMessage

If you need more help setting up, using, or trouble-shooting iMessage on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac, head on over to our iMessage forum and ask away!

Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!

How to Change the iMessage Phone Number on iPhone

One of the best examples of Apple’s integration with almost all of its devices is iMessage (besides iCloud). Although iMessage is also known to go berserk often, it’s one of the most popular tools a lot of people use.

When you change your carrier, or when you change the number with the same carrier, you will have to re-register with iMessage in order to get it working with the new number. As a few people face issues in this process, we wanted to look into the right way of doing things. So here’s to all of you who’re looking to change your iMessage phone number.

1. Turn off iMessage: The first thing you need to do is to turn OFF iMessage. To do this:

• Go to Settings
• Scroll down and tap on Messages
• Switch OFF iMessage

The reason you’re turning OFF iMessage is so as to re-send an SMS activation for iMessage which tells Apple your new number.

2. Power down and wait: Usually, people jump to step #3 from here and it works. But for a good measure, power down your device and wait 5-10 mins before proceeding to the next step.

3. Edit your phone number detail: Once you’ve rebooted the iPhone after step #3, check if Phone number details on your iPhone reflect the new number. They usually do but just to be sure.

Go to Settings → Phone and make sure “My Number”  reflects your new number. If not, edit this.

Also, make sure the time & date settings in your iPhone are set to automatic. (they can be found in Settings → General → Date & Time)

4. Turn On iMessage again: Now, just head over to the Messages settings and turn on iMessage.

• This should usually send an SMS to Apple’s servers. (it happens in the background).
• iMessage should be activated now for the new number. How to check this? Next step.

5. Check ‘Send & Receive As’

In the “Send & Receive as” field, you should see your new number ticked and grayed out. If this field is empty or has your old number, it means the process did not go as expected and you’ll need to repeat it.

If it shows your new number, you’re set.

There are a bunch of issues surrounding iMessage and you can check out our troubleshooting guide here.  Once you’ve changed your iMessage number, you might want to reset things on other devices also (although it should work just fine and automatically since iMessage works over the cloud). Nevertheless, if you’re setting up iMessage on multiple devices, be sure to check this tutorial.

Use iMessage and FaceTime with multiple devices

Learn how to set up iMessage on multiple devices. The same steps apply when you set up FaceTime.

1. Sign in to an Apple ID on your iPhone. You will see all addresses verified with the account.
2. Tap an address to enable it on the device. The telephone number will be dimmed when you view these settings on an iPhone.
3. If you don’t want to use iMessage with your iPhone telephone number, tap Settings > Messages and turn iMessage off.

   

4. You can sign in to the same Apple ID on another device. These images show the iMessage settings on an iPad and OS X using the same Apple ID.

   iPad:

   

   OS X:

   

   After signing in to the Apple ID on another device, the iPhone will receive a notification. The notifications below explain that you used the Apple ID and phone number with iMessage on a MacBook Pro. You will receive a notification for every address or phone number you enable on each additional device.

   

Unlink a phone number

To remove a phone number from an Apple ID, sign out of FaceTime and Messages on your iPhone:

• Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.
• Settings > FaceTime. Tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

This should remove your phone number from other devices using the same Apple ID with FaceTime and Messages. If the phone number is still available on other devices after you sign out of FaceTime and iMessage on the iPhone, you may need to sign out of iMessage and FaceTime on all your devices, then sign in to FaceTime and Messages again on devices you want to use.

Note: If you no longer have access to the iPhone that is using the number you want to remove, reset your Apple ID password.