How to Switch From Text Message to iMessage

This guide shows you how to make sure your iPhone sends blue iMessage bubbles instead of green SMS text messages. iMessage works over Wi-Fi or cellular data, so it doesn’t use your text message plan, and it supports features like read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality photos. Before you start, make sure your iPhone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or cellular data) and that you’re signed in with your Apple ID.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone (or iPad) with iOS 5 or later
An active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
An Apple ID (free to create if you don’t have one)
The phone number or Apple ID email of the person you’re messaging (they also need an Apple device with iMessage enabled)

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. It’s the gray gear icon on your home screen.
Scroll down and tap “Messages.” This is usually near the top half of the Settings list, between “Phone” and “FaceTime.”
Make sure the “iMessage” toggle is green. If it’s off (gray), tap it to turn it on. Your iPhone will briefly show “Waiting for activation…” while it registers your phone number with Apple’s servers.
Tap “Send & Receive” (directly below the iMessage toggle). Here you’ll see the phone numbers and email addresses that can be used to start conversations with you. Make sure at least one phone number or email address is checked. If none are checked, tap the ones you want to use.
Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted. If you’re not already signed in, you’ll see “Use your Apple ID for iMessage.” Tap it, enter your Apple ID and password, then tap “Sign In.” If you don’t have an Apple ID, tap “Create a New Apple ID” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Check “Send as SMS” is set to your preference. This setting (found back on the main Messages page) controls what happens when iMessage isn’t available (e.g., the recipient has an Android phone or no internet). If you want your phone to automatically fall back to a regular text message, leave it on. If you’d rather it not send a green SMS at all, turn it off.
Open the Messages app and start a new conversation. Tap the compose button (a square with a pencil in the top-right corner) and select a contact.
Type your message and check the send button. If the send button is blue, you’re sending an iMessage. If it’s green, it’s being sent as a regular SMS text message.
If it’s green, try one of these fixes: Make sure the recipient also has iMessage enabled on their Apple device. Check that your phone has an internet connection (open Safari and load a page). Toggle iMessage off and back on in Settings > Messages. Then try sending the message again.

Common Mistakes

Confusing iMessage with SMS. iMessage only works between Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac). If you’re messaging someone with an Android phone, it will always be a green SMS, no matter what you do.
Not being signed into your Apple ID. iMessage requires an Apple ID. If you’re not signed in, the feature won’t activate properly. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive to check.
Turning off “Send as SMS” and then wondering why messages fail. If iMessage can’t be delivered (e.g., the recipient has no data), and you’ve turned off the SMS fallback, the message will simply fail to send. You’ll see a red exclamation mark.
Forgetting to check the recipient’s status. Even if your settings are perfect, the other person must have iMessage enabled on their device. If they recently switched from an iPhone to Android, their number may still be registered with Apple, causing messages to hang.
Assuming iMessage works without any internet. iMessage requires a data connection. On Wi-Fi, it works fine. On cellular, it uses your data plan, not your SMS allowance.

Tips

Use Wi-Fi when your cellular signal is weak. iMessage can send over Wi-Fi even when you have no cell service, which is handy in basements or rural areas.
Set up your email address for iMessage. In Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, you can check your email address. This lets people reach you via iMessage at that email, and lets you start conversations from it.
Turn on “Read Receipts” if you want. In Settings > Messages, you can toggle “Send Read Receipts.” This lets the other person see when you’ve read their message. You can also turn this on per-conversation in the Messages app by tapping the “i” icon at the top right of a chat.
Check your data usage. iMessage uses your data plan. If you have a limited data plan, be mindful of sending large photos or videos. You can enable “Low Data Mode” in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options to reduce background data usage.
Keep your Apple ID and phone number linked. If you get a new iPhone, sign into the same Apple ID and your iMessage history and settings will carry over.

Troubleshooting

Messages are still green after following all steps: First, confirm the recipient is using an Apple device. If they are, ask them to check their own iMessage settings. If they recently switched from iPhone to Android, they need to deregister their number from iMessage (Apple has a webpage for this). On your end, try toggling iMessage off, waiting 30 seconds, and toggling it back on.

“Waiting for Activation” message that never goes away: This usually means your iPhone can’t reach Apple’s servers. Make sure you have a strong internet connection. Try turning on Airplane Mode for 30 seconds, then turning it off. If that fails, restart your iPhone. In rare cases, it can take up to 24 hours for activation to complete.

Messages fail to send with a red exclamation mark: Tap the red exclamation mark and choose “Try Again.” If it still fails, check your internet connection. If you have “Send as SMS” turned off, turn it on temporarily to see if the message goes through as a text. If it does, the problem is iMessage delivery, not your phone.

iMessage works on Wi-Fi but not cellular: Go to Settings > Cellular and make sure the toggle next to “Messages” is enabled. If it is, try resetting your network settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings). Note: this will forget saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings.

You can’t send or receive messages from your email address: Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Make sure your email address is checked under “You can receive iMessage at.” Also, verify that the person you’re messaging has your email address in their contacts, or they may not see it as an option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the difference between iMessage and SMS?
A: iMessage is Apple’s free messaging service that works over the internet (Wi-Fi or data). SMS is the standard text message protocol used by all phones, which uses your cellular voice network. iMessage appears blue; SMS appears green.

Q: Does iMessage cost money?
A: No, iMessage itself is free. However, it uses your cellular data plan if you’re not on Wi-Fi. If you have a limited data plan, sending lots of photos or videos could use up your data allowance.

Q: Can I send an iMessage to an Android phone?
A: No. iMessage only works between Apple devices. When you message an Android phone, your iPhone automatically sends a standard SMS (green bubble) instead, provided “Send as SMS” is turned on.

Q: Why do my messages turn from blue to green?
A: This happens when the recipient’s device can’t receive iMessage at that moment (e.g., they have no internet, or they’ve turned off iMessage). Your iPhone then falls back to SMS. It can also happen if you or the recipient have poor connectivity.

Q: How do I know if someone has read my iMessage?
A: You’ll see “Delivered” under the message when it reaches their device. If they have “Send Read Receipts” enabled, “Delivered” will change to “Read” along with the time they saw it. If they have it disabled, you’ll only see “Delivered.”

Q: Will my iMessage history transfer to a new iPhone?
A: Yes, if you back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer and restore from that backup on your new device. You can also enable “Messages in iCloud” (Settings > your name > iCloud > Show All > Messages) to keep your entire history synced across all your Apple devices.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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