Set up Messages on iPad

In the Messages app , you can send text messages as SMS/MMS messages through your cellular service, or with iMessage over Wi-Fi or cellular service to people who use iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or a Mac. Texts you send and receive using iMessage don’t count against your SMS/MMS allowances in your cellular messaging plan, but cellular data rates may apply.

iMessage texts can include photos, videos, and other info. You can see when other people are typing, and send read receipts to let them know when you’ve read their messages. For security, messages sent using iMessage are encrypted before they’re sent.

iMessage texts appear in blue bubbles, and SMS/MMS texts appear in green bubbles. See the Apple Support article About iMessage and SMS/MMS.

Sign in to iMessage

Go to Settings > Messages.
Turn on iMessage.

Sign in to iMessage on your Mac and other Apple devices using the same Apple ID

If you sign in to iMessage with the same Apple ID on all your devices, all the messages that you send and receive on iPad also appear on your other Apple devices. Send a message from whichever device is closest to you, or use Handoff to start a conversation on one device and continue it on another.

On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Messages, then turn on iMessage.
On your Mac, open Messages, then do one of the following:
- If you’re signing in for the first time, enter your Apple ID and password, then click Sign In.
- If you signed in before and want to use a different Apple ID, choose Messages > Preferences, click iMessage, then click Sign Out.

With Continuity, you can send and receive SMS/MMS messages on iPad using the cellular connection on your iPhone. See the Apple Support article Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch.

Use Messages in iCloud

Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then turn on Messages (if it’s not already turned on).

Every message you send and receive on your iPad is saved in iCloud. And, when you sign in with the same Apple ID on a new device that also has Messages in iCloud turned on, all your conversations show up there automatically.

Because your messages and any attachments are stored in iCloud, you may have more free space on your iPad when you need it. Message bubbles, whole conversations, and attachments you delete from iPad are also deleted from your other Apple devices (iOS 11.4, iPadOS 13, macOS 10.13.5, or later) where Messages in iCloud is turned on.

See the Apple Support article Use Messages in iCloud.

Note: Messages in iCloud uses iCloud storage. See Manage Apple ID settings on iPad for information about iCloud storage.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Set up Messages on iPad

Sign in to iMessage

Sign in to iMessage on your Mac and other Apple devices using the same Apple ID

Use Messages in iCloud