Try these steps first
SMS messages are only sent over cellular networks. IMessages can be sent over cellular networks or Wi-Fi. SMS messages are not encrypted, while iMessages are protected with end-to-end encryption. This means that they can't be intercepted and read by third parties like phone companies, employers, or law enforcement agencies.
- You can switch from iMessage to SMS mode instantly and start sending text messages to the recipient. It doesn’t matter if the recipient has iMessage enabled or not because it will send the message to the recipient as an SMS. You don’t need an internet connection to send an SMS.
- To send a message as iMessage or MMS, you need a cellular data or Wi-Fi connection. To send an SMS message, you need cellular network connection. If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you can send SMS messages over Wi-Fi. Check with your carrier to see if the type of message you’re trying to send, like MMS or SMS, is supported.
- Traditional SMS text messages have green shading around them. But even if you and your recipient have iMessage enabled on your Apple devices, it’s possible that a message will be sent as an SMS. This can happen if iMessage is down, or if there is a network issue on the part of the sender.
- Restart your device:
- Check your network connection. To send a message as iMessage or MMS, you need a cellular data or Wi-Fi connection. To send an SMS message, you need cellular network connection. If you turn on Wi-Fi Calling, you can send SMS messages over Wi-Fi.
- Check with your carrier to see if the type of message you’re trying to send, like MMS or SMS, is supported.
- If you’re trying to send group MMS messages on an iPhone, go to Settings > Messages and turn on MMS Messaging. If you don't see an option to turn on MMS Messaging or Group Messaging on your iPhone, then your carrier might not support this feature.
- Make sure that your device has enough space to receive images and videos.
- Make sure that you entered the correct phone number or email address for the contact.
If you see a Waiting for Activation alert, learn what to do.
If you still need help, find your issue below to learn what to do next.
If you see a red exclamation point
If you try to send a message and you see with an alert that says Not Delivered, follow these steps:
- Check your network connection.
- Tap , then tap Try Again.
- If you still can’t send the message, tap , then tap Send as Text Message. Messaging rates may apply. Contact your carrier for more information.
If you see a green message bubble
If you see a green message bubble instead of a blue one, then that message was sent using MMS/SMS instead of iMessage. There are several reasons for this:
Imessage Sms
- The person that you sent the message to doesn't have an Apple device.
- iMessage is turned off on your device or on your recipient’s device. To check if iMessage is turned on for your device, go to Settings > Messages > iMessage.
- iMessage is temporarily unavailable on your device or on your recipient’s device.
Learn the difference between iMessage and MMS/SMS messages.
If you receive messages on one device but not the other
If you have an iPhone and another iOS device, like an iPad, your iMessage settings might be set to receive and start messages from your Apple ID instead of your phone number. To check if your phone number is set to send and receive messages, go to Settings > Messages, and tap Send & Receive.
If you don't see your phone number, you can link your iPhone number to your Apple ID so you can send and receive iMessages from your phone number. You can also set up Text Message Forwarding so you can send and receive MMS and SMS messages on all of your Apple devices.
If you have issues with a group message
If you’re in a group message and stop receiving messages, check if you left the conversation. Open Messages and tap the group message. If you see a message that says you left the conversation, then either you left the conversation or you were removed from the group message. You can rejoin a group message only if someone in the group adds you.
To start a new group message:
- Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message.
- Enter the phone numbers or email addresses of your contacts.
- Type your message, then tap the Send button .
If you have other issues with a group message, you might need to delete the conversation and start a new one. To delete a group message:
- Open Messages and find the conversation that you want to delete.
- Swipe left over the conversation.
- Tap Delete.
When you delete a message, you can't recover it. If you want to save parts of a message, take a screenshot. To save an attachment in a message, touch and hold the attachment, tap More, then tap Save.
Learn more
- If you still can't send or receive messages, contact Apple Support.
- If you don't receive SMS messages, contact your carrier.
- If you switched to a non-Apple phone, learn how to deactivate iMessage.
- Learn how to report unwanted iMessages.
You can use the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to send messages. Those messages are sent as iMessage or SMS/MMS. Learn more about the difference between the message types.
iMessage
Imessage/sms Blocking Ourpact
iMessages are texts, photos, or videos that you send to another iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac over Wi-Fi or cellular-data networks. These messages are always encrypted and appear in blue text bubbles. To turn iMessage on or off, go to Settings > Messages.
SMS/MMS
If you aren’t using iMessage, you can use SMS/MMS. These messages are texts and photos that you send to other cell phones or another iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. SMS/MMS messages aren't encrypted and appear in green text bubbles on your device.
To use SMS/MMS on an iPhone, you need a text-messaging plan. Contact your wireless carrier for more information. You can also set up your other Apple devices to send and receive messages from any Apple device.
Imessage Small
If Wi-Fi is unavailable, iMessages will be sent over cellular data. Cellular data rates might apply.