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Send and receive text messages on iPhone

Use the Messages app to send and receive texts, photos, videos, and audio messages. You can also personalize your messages with animated effects, Memoji stickers, iMessage apps, and more.

A Messages conversation. Along the top, from left to right, are the Back button, and a photo of the person you’re messaging. At the center are the messages sent and received during the conversation. Along the bottom, from left to right, are the Photos, Stores, Apple Pay, Animoji, Hashtag Images, Music, and Digital Touch buttons.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding distractions while driving, see Important safety information for iPhone.

Send a message

You can send a text message to one or more people.

Tap at the top of the screen to start a new message, or tap an existing message.
Enter the phone number, contact name, or Apple ID of each recipient. Or, tap , then choose contacts.
- On models with Dual SIM, to send an SMS/MMS message from a different line, tap the line shown, then choose the other line. See also Manage your cellular plans.
Tap the text field, type your message, then tap to send.
- An alert appears if a message can’t be sent. Tap the alert to try sending the message again.

Tip: To see what time a message was sent or received, drag the message bubble to the left.

To view conversation details, tap the name or phone number at the top of the screen, then tap . You can tap the contact to edit the contact card, share your location, view attachments, leave a group conversation, and more.

To return to the messages list from a conversation, tap or swipe from the left edge.

Reply to a message

Ask Siri. Say something like:

“Send a message to Eliza saying how about tomorrow”
“Reply that’s great news”
“Read my last message from Bob”

Learn how to ask Siri

Tip: When you wear AirPods Pro, AirPods (2nd generation), or other supported headphones, Siri can read your incoming messages, and you can speak a reply for Siri to send (iOS 13.2 or later). See Listen and respond to messages.

Or do the following:

In the Messages list, tap the conversation that you want to reply to.
To search for contacts and content in conversations, pull down the Messages list and enter what you’re looking for in the search field. Or, choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos, and more.
Tap the text field, then type your message.
Tip: To replace text with emoji, tap or , then tap each highlighted word.
Tap to send your message.

You can quickly reply to a message with a Tapback expression (for example, a thumbs up or a heart). Double-tap the message bubble that you want to respond to, then select a Tapback.

Share your name and photo

In Messages, you can share your name and photo when you start or respond to a new message. Your photo can be a Memoji, Animoji, or custom image. When you open Messages for the first time, follow the instructions on your iPhone to choose your name and photo.

To change your name, photo, or sharing options, open Messages, tap , tap Edit Name and Photo, then do any of the following:

Change your profile image: Tap Edit, then choose an option.
Change your name: Tap the text fields where your name appears.
Turn sharing on or off: Tap the button next to Name and Photo Sharing (green indicates that it’s on).
Change who can see your profile: Tap an option below Share Automatically (Name and Photo Sharing must be turned on).

Your Messages name and photo can also be used for your Apple ID and My Card in Contacts.

Switch from a Messages conversation to a FaceTime or audio call

In a Messages conversation, you can initiate a FaceTime or audio call with the person you’re chatting with in Messages.

In a Messages conversation, tap the profile picture or the name at the top of the conversation.
Tap FaceTime or audio.

Use Business Chat

(Beta) In Messages, you can communicate with businesses that offer Business Chat. You can get answers to questions, resolve issues, get advice on what to buy, make purchases with Apple Pay, and more.

Search for the business you want to chat with using Maps, Safari, Search, or Siri.
Start a conversation by tapping a chat link in the search results—for example, , the company logo, or a text link (the appearance of the chat link varies with the context).
You can also initiate a chat with some businesses from their website or iOS app. See the Apple Support article How to use Business Chat.

Note: Business Chat messages you send appear in dark gray, to distinguish them from iMessages (in blue) and SMS/MMS messages (in green).

Helpful?

iPhone User Guide