Messages

Being able to make hands-free calls and send texts can come in handy when you're trying to keep your eyes on the road. Siri is a common method for dictating texts, but Siri can't function properly when you've got spotty cell reception. Luckily, you can still dictate texts in Messages even if Siri is offline. You can even use this method to make corrections and edit out mistakes. Let's dive in with how to dictate and edit texts on your iPhone without Siri.

If you use Apple's Reminders app to keep on top of your chores, events, and tasks, you'll enjoy a convenient new feature just added with iOS 13. The Reminders app now allows users to tag a contact; when you use the Messages app to text your tagged contact, a reminder notification will pop up on your iPhone. Let's get started learning how to use this new Reminders feature now.

Text message conversations may contain evidence of important memories, and if you’re like me, you probably want to download your iMessages, save your messages, print your messages, or do something, anything, to make those exchanges more secure and accessible. One useful trick to save those interactions is to use the Messages Mac application to download your message history as a PDF file. This will let you keep that conversation on your computer and share it as you like, whether it was a conversation with a friend who isn't around anymore, or with a landlord and you need a record. Read on to find out how to turn an Messages conversation into a document you can save on your computer, or print later.

Since the dawn of Siri, I’ve wanted my iPhone to read my messages to me. Now my wish is fulfilled; with iOS 13 and a compatible set of earbuds, Siri can read your texts to you in the privacy of your earbud audio. When you are sitting in the car, or out on a walk at night, Siri will announce your message contents as they arrive, and save you the trouble of scrambling for your phone and squinting at a bright screen. Let me show you how to turn on the feature and have Siri announce your text messages.

In the past, searching for a specific text in Messages was a headache. Now, Messages in-app search is not only optimized for text but also lets you browse images, screenshots, and links in a gallery view. You can access the search function by opening the Messages app and dragging down from the top of the screen. If you'd like to search Facebook messages or WhatsApp messages, you can also do that! Here’s how to use search in Messages to find the information you need.

One of the new features of Apple's latest operating systems, iOS 13 and iPadOS, are Memoji sticker packs for older iPhones right in the Messages app. It's been possible to send Animoji and Memoji stickers in texts before, but now it's easier than ever for a larger number of iPhones and iPads to send Memoji stickers, even if they can't create and send the animated emoji videos. Let's get started learning about Memoji and Animoji stickers, how to create them, and which devices can send and receive them.

Customize a display picture in your Messages app profile and you’ll be able to share the face you choose with anyone you message. As of iOS 13, you can edit your profile picture and name; simply open messages, tap the three dots at the top of the screen, tap Edit Name and Photo, and swipe left or right to select an option. You can use a memoji or animoji, your initials with a custom color, or any picture on your iPhone. Once it’s set, you can choose whether to make your profile name and image visible to everyone in your contacts list, or only to select contacts. Let’s get started.

If you have iOS 10 or later, you can challenge a friend to a quick game in the Messages app, provided your friend is also using iMessages! Just find a game you like in the iMessaages App Store, tap to get it, and then start playing with your friend. Playing a game via iMessages is great for when you don't have much to talk about, but still want to keep in touch with someone. Here's how to start and play games in iMessages. 

If you're not able to make a phone call, you can send a text! For experienced iPhone users, texting is generally second nature. But other iPhone users are unsure where to get started. This tip is for them. Sending and receiving text messages is quick and convenient. I prefer texting since it's quiet and talking on the phone isn't my favorite thing to do. I can also send a text and maybe get a reply faster than if I had to call and leave a voicemail. Here's how to send a text message on your iPhone. 

Texting can be a quick way to communicate, as long as the other person reads the message. Here's how to see if someone's read your texts, so you can stop worrying your text didn't go through. The people you text will have to be using iMessages and have Read Receipts enabled.

Group texts can help keep everyone in the loop, but sometimes the conversation keeps going when you're done and want to stop being notified of what people are texting. Here's how to leave a group text for iOS or iMessage users, and how to mute the conversation if some members aren't using iMessages, like Android users.

Using predictive text to add emojis, or using the iPhone emoji keyboard, lets you customize your messages with symbols like a kiss, a shrug, a thumbs up, a heart, a smiley face, and even a red-headed emoji. When you type a message, your phone will suggest emojis that you can tap to add to your text. Here's how to quickly find and use the perfect emoji for your text message.

Adding a picture to a text message in Apple's Messages app used to be quick and easy; you just tapped the little camera icon to the left of the text field, chose an image, or multiple images, to attach, and sent your text as usual. If you're stumped, here's how to add a photo to a text message on your iPhone. Starting with iOS 12, the familiar process for sending photos in Messages has changed: The camera icon is still there, but it only offers the option to take a new image to send and accessing your Photos app from there requires a second step. Don't worry though, it's still very simple to send images from the Photos app on your iPhone; let's learn the new way right now!

Have you ever received a text message that's obviously a spam text? We've already gone over how to block a call on iPhone, as well as how to block telemarketers, scammers, and spammers on iPhone calls, but what if you're getting spoof text messages? There is a way to report spam texts right in the Messages app; when you do this, the content and sender's information is sent to Apple. Once you've made your report, you can block the number that the potential text message scam came from, and never receive a call or message from that number again! Let's get started learning how to report fake text messages on iPhone. 

Here's a fun one! Did you know that Apple's animated emojis, Animojis, can not only be sent as video messages but also as stickers in your iPhone's Messages app? While you still need an iPhone with Face ID to send video messages, you can now send Animoji stickers from any iPhone with iOS 13, meaning the iPhone SE and later. Let's get started with learning how to make and use Animoji stickers in Messages right now. 

Lately I've noticed that the app switcher at the bottom of my messages is getting cluttered with icons that I never added. You can remove apps from the app switcher in the switcher's More Options menu. The overabundance of icons on my app bar has made me want to pare down my selection, so I'm not forever scrolling back and forth searching for my favorites. Let's get started learning how to add and remove apps from Messages on the iPhone, so we can have just the ones we need and want available for our texts. 

If you've ever wanted to create your own emoji, then you're going to have a lot of fun playing with Memojis, a feature introduced with iOS 12 and improved with iOS 13. Think of Memoji as an iPhone emojis update that can be used in real-time as live, talking avatars in FaceTime or Messages, similar to Snapchat filters, but better. It's like being able to create your own Animoji, but not just any Animoji, Animojis of yourself or any character you can dream up. You can design as many designer Animojis as you want, some for family, some for friends, and you can customize their features, hairstyles, accessories, and much more. These personalized and animated emoji faces can only be created on the iPhone X and later, since these are the only versions of the iPhone to incorporate the front-facing TruDepth camera. If you don't have or don't plan on buying a new iPhone, you'll still be able to receive Animoji and Memoji messages, although you won't be able to create them. And now, with iOS 13, even older iPhone will be able to create and send Memoji stickers! If you still want some of the fun of custom Memojis, check out this article about a free emoji creator app. Let's go over how Memojis work, so you can make your own avatar.

iOS 11.4 is here, and one of the most long-awaited features included is the ability to store photos and other message attachments in iCloud and sync them across devices. This means, of course, that when you delete a message or attachment it will now be deleted on every iPhone, iPad, or Mac you own (previously, you had to delete the message individually on each device); and when you purchase a new device, all your messages will be there as soon as you sign in to the device. This new capability will offer not only convenience, but also save space on your iPhone and iPad while preserving your privacy with end-to-end encryption. Let's learn more about how messages in iCloud works and what you need to do to use this feature, and how to turn on messages in iCloud, as well. 

Group iMessages allow everyone in the conversation to communicate with each other and share information, mute notifications, or leave the group as they see fit. If you belong to or have started several group text conversations, it's important to be able to see at a glance which chat is which, so you don't send the wrong comment to the wrong group! We've gone over how to create a group message on your iPhone in a previous article; Let's get started learning how to name a group chat on your iPhone so you can keep track of who's who in your group messages. 

Apple announced the Apple Business Chat platform at WWDC 2017 and iOS 11.3 has finally introduced us to the program. The Business Chat platform allows iPhone users to connect with companies through iMessages, or from the businesses' app or website, rather than talking on the phone. Apple is rolling out Business Chat slowly; it's only available as a beta version right now, with a limited number of partner companies. Let's stay ahead of the curve and learn how to use Business Chat on our iPhones.