What is the difference between a text message and an iMessage?
iMessages are in blue and text messages are green. iMessages only work between iPhones (and other Apple devices such as iPads). If you are using an iPhone and you send a message to a friend on Android, it will be sent as a SMS message and will be green.
iMessage: An iMessage is a type of text message that can only be sent from an Apple device to another Apple device, like an iPhone or an iPad. An iMessage can include standard text like an SMS message, but also photos, videos, and other add-ons like GIFs.
The Recipient Wasn't Using an Apple Device at the Time
So, if your family or friend switches from an iPhone to an Android smartphone, for example, your iMessage will automatically be sent as a text message to them.
With iMessage, you can send texts, photos, videos, and emojis to other Apple devices with Wi-Fi or cellular-data networks. The messaging app on your iPhone allows you to create group chats, send multimedia files, and more to other iMessage users. iMessage has a benefit that stands above all: Apple Business Chat.
If you backup or synchronize your phone to iCloud then anybody who has the details for that account, or even has their phone connected to the same account (a family member, for example), could potentially see your personal text messages.
iMessage users will show a blue iMessage icon alongside their name.
“I” messages are most simply explained as a way of expressing our thoughts and emotions about a specific experience or interaction using a soft voice and a statement that often begins with, “I feel…” Other examples include: “I'm upset because...” “I get angry because…” “I am excited that…” This style of communication ...
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Completely seamless. If the text bubble is blue, it's being sent securely. | If an iMessage doesn't send, the iPhone will send it through SMS as the fallback, potentially allowing it to be sent unencrypted. However, this can be disabled. |
If you switch from iPhone to Android, you must turn off iMessage. Otherwise, texts from your iPhone friends won't be delivered to your new phone since your number is still registered on iMessage. You will have to create a new group chat with your iPhone friends on your Android phone.
On your iPhone, go to Settings. Tap Messages. Set iMessage to Off.
Are iMessage texts safe?
iMessage is tailor-made for iPhone: texts between two Apple devices with iMessage enabled are always end-to-end encrypted. However, there will be no encryption if an iMessage user sends a text to an Android device.
If the person who you sent a message to has their read receipts enabled, then they will automatically send a read receipt when they open the message. Some people don't have receipts enabled, and it's usually pretty easy to tell.

- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Notifications.
- Tap on Messages.
- Scroll down and toggle the Show preview option to the Off setting. This will let you see that a message has arrived and who sent it, but it won't display any part of the message itself.
With macOS 11 or later, you can mention other people in a conversation to call their attention to a specific message. Depending on their settings, they're notified even if they muted the conversation. Note: To send mentions, you need to use iMessage.
With watchOS, iOS, and iPadOS, your messages are encrypted on your device so they can't be accessed without your passcode. iMessage and FaceTime are designed so that there's no way for Apple to read your messages when they're in transit between devices.
Messages, the app that sends iMessages, is free and included by default on Mac and iOS devices. The iMessages themselves are sent as data, not SMS, so they would count against any cellular or internet data caps or quotas you might have.
In iOS, the read receipts option can be toggled on or off in the Settings app, under Messages, or within individual conversations by tapping on the person or group at the top, tapping “Info,” and enabling/disabling “Send Read Receipts.”
I-messages are delivered by saying: 'I feel … (name the feeling) when … (describe the behaviour)'. For example, you might say, 'I feel angry when I am expecting a ride home and am forgotten.
For example, on an Apple device, you can choose to keep messages for 30 days, 1 year or forever.
Apple issues emergency security update
The group published a report about it Monday. The malicious software takes control of an Apple device by first sending a message through iMessage, the company's default messaging app, and then hacking through a flaw in how Apple processes images.
What is safer email or iMessage?
The two platforms operate different security: Apple's iMessage is end-to-end encrypted, and while there's less public information on this than with WhatsApp or Signal, it is secure. Google does not—it only encrypts between the device and its server, not end-to-end, although it's reportedly working to address this.
There's also a new option to recover recently deleted messages, and deleted messages can be recovered for up to 30 days after deleting them. Deleted messages are located in the Recently Deleted section under the Filters list. Recently deleted works for both iMessage and SMS messages.
After deleting your messages and activating Apple's code that marks them for permanent deletion, sync your device with iTunes or iCloud. Doing so will remove all marked messages forever from that device. When deleting texts in Apple's Messages app, you can remove entire conversations or individual texts.
No. Your messages are tied to the device specifically, not necessarily the account.
- From a Home screen, tap the. Messages icon. . ...
- Tap the. Compose Message icon. ...
- Enter the phone number in the To field. To send a message to an existing contact, tap the plus symbol then select the contact.
- Enter the message then tap the. Send icon.
“The simplest way to tell if you have been blocked by an Android user is to call,” Lavelle says. Just like with an iPhone, listen for it to be diverted to voicemail or play you a pre-recorded message.
If your iPhone messages are green, it means that they're being sent as SMS text messages rather than as iMessages, which appear in blue. iMessages only work between Apple users. You'll always see green when writing to Android users, or when you're not connected to the internet.
Welcome to Apple Support Communities. If you have not got an iPhone, your iMessage number is an email address. To check what your iMessage address is, open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, and look for the ticked email address or phone number.
If you're thinking your iPhone is protected from potential hacks then you're wrong. Even a simple message received on the iPhone could be enough to get your device hacked. Recently, the iPhone text message hack has surfaced online, making users cautious about their devices' safety.
Hide iMessages using iPhone special feature
Open the Messages app on your iPhone and then select a conversation. After that type your message and then, touch and hold the Send button and select the Invisible Ink option. And it's done!
How do I change from iMessage to text message?
Tap Messages. Set iMessage to Off.
When your text bubble and send button are blue instead of green, you'll know you're using iMessage instead of SMS.
And since iMessage uses your data or Wi-Fi connection to send data, transmitting messages is much faster than traditional messaging that needs to travel through your cellular network. Moreover, the types of media supported by iMessage go beyond just texts.
iMessages is an Apple app that works over WiFi. If you turn it off, you can't send or receive iMessages. You can send and receive standard SMS messages via your wireless cellular provider assuming that you have a plan that includes texting.
In iOS, the read receipts option can be toggled on or off in the Settings app, under Messages, or within individual conversations by tapping on the person or group at the top, tapping “Info,” and enabling/disabling “Send Read Receipts.” If you usually keep read receipts off, you have nothing to worry about.
Send them an iMessage
A red flag that you've been blocked is when you don't see the delivery status or the read receipt at all. The message you just sent will still be in a blue bubble, but it will have no delivery status below it – not even a "Not Delivered."
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Completely seamless. If the text bubble is blue, it's being sent securely. | If an iMessage doesn't send, the iPhone will send it through SMS as the fallback, potentially allowing it to be sent unencrypted. However, this can be disabled. |
If you text someone and the bubble that shows up is green instead of blue, you are using SMS or MMS messages. These kinds of text messages stand for “Short Messaging Service” and “Multimedia Messaging Service,” respectively.
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap Compose .
- In "To," enter the names, phone numbers, or email addresses that you'd like to message. You can also pick from your top contacts or your whole contact list.