Messages

Forget package tracking apps! Did you know you can track shipments on your iPhone without ever leaving the app in which you received the tracking number? If you’re worried about porch pirates, one of the best security measures is knowing when a package is supposed to arrive. Your iPhone will automatically detect tracking any tracking number that you receive in Mail or Messages. You can also use the same method to track packages from websites like Amazon by copying and pasting the tracking number into Notes. For an extra layer of security, you can add a unique passcode to Notes. With this tip, you’ll be able to set up tracking from any carrier. Let’s dive in to how to use iPhone package tracking.

Group messages on your iPhone or iPad are a great way to communicate with several people at one time. We've already gone over how to make a group chat, how to name a group chat, and how to add or remove someone from a group chat, but one question remains; how many people can join an iMessage on an iPhone or iPad? We'll go over the difference between a group iMessages chat, SMS, and MMS before learning about iMessages group chat limits. These limits are set by your cell phone carrier, so we'll reveal the limits set by the top four carriers, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. Let's get started!

The Scribble feature makes Apple Watch lets you compose texts by writing the words on your Watch Face with a finger rather than dictating them to Siri. Quiet texts on the Apple Watch make it easier to send and receive texts discreetly. But what happens when your watch fails to correctly translate your scribbling into text? With Scribble on the Apple Watch, you can also edit incorrect words without talking to Siri. Here’s how to text on an Apple Watch and edit texts using Scribble.

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Sometimes you want to see everyone you’re speaking to on your iPhone group calls. Whether you’re using FaceTime with your friends, your family, or your co-workers, Apple makes group FaceTime calls easy to start and easy to add people to your call. Here are your updated instructions for how to group FaceTime in iOS 13.

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.

We've already taught you how to make a group chat and how to name a group text. Now, let's cover how to leave a group chat. A group text is great for keeping everyone in the loop, but sometimes the text conversation becomes annoying, and the text notifications need to stop! Here's how to get out of a group text, or iMessage, and how to mute iPhone notification sounds if some members aren't using iMessage, 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.