iMessage

iMessage is a secure messaging service that you can use to send and receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.

If someone sends a message to your email address or phone number using iMessage, you receive the message on all your Apple devices that are set up to receive messages sent to that email address or phone number. When you view an iMessage conversation, you see all messages sent from any device, so you can keep in touch with your friends wherever you are. See the Apple Support article Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch.

You need an Apple ID to use iMessage. If you’ve made purchases from the iTunes Store or App Store or you’ve signed in to iCloud, you have an Apple ID.

A group conversation in Messages, with blue bubbles indicating that the messages were sent with iMessage rather than SMS/MMS, Tapbacks, and a file shared for collaboration.

Some things to know about communicating in iMessage:

  • You can send texts over Wi-Fi or cellular service.

  • When you communicate with others who also use iMessage on an Apple device, the texts appear in blue bubbles. (SMS/MMS messages appear in green bubbles and aren’t encrypted.)

    Your message will be sent with iMessage when you see a blue the Send button send button; a green send button indicates the message will be sent with SMS/MMS or your cellular service.

  • You can see when other people are typing.

  • You can use more apps and features, like collaboration, read receipts, Tapbacks, inline replies, undo send, audio messages, message effects, Memoji, Apple Pay, junk reporting, group conversation management, and more.

  • For security, messages sent using iMessage are encrypted before they’re sent.

  • When you use iMessage, you can report spam messages to Apple.