How to Send a Message With Confetti on iPhone 13

This guide shows you how to send an iMessage with a full-screen confetti effect on an iPhone 13. The effect is built into the Messages app, so you don’t need to install anything. You just need an iPhone 13 running iOS 15 or later and a recipient who also uses iMessage (blue bubbles). If the message sends as a green SMS bubble, the confetti effect won’t appear.

What You’ll Need

• iPhone 13 with iOS 15 or later
• The Messages app (preinstalled)
• An active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) for iMessage
• The recipient must have iMessage enabled on their Apple device

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone 13. It’s the green icon with a white speech bubble.
2. Tap the compose button (square with a pencil icon) in the top-right corner, or open an existing conversation with the person you want to message.
3. Type your message in the text field at the bottom of the screen. You can add emoji, photos, or anything else you’d normally include.
4. Press and hold the blue send button (the upward arrow) on the right side of the text field. Do not tap it — hold it for about one second.
5. A black overlay will appear with a list of effects. Swipe left or right through the options until you see Confetti. It’s usually the first or second option, shown with colorful dots.
6. Tap the Confetti preview to select it. The screen will show a quick animation of confetti falling so you know what the recipient will see.
7. Tap the send button (the blue arrow) that appears in the bottom-right corner of the overlay.
8. Your message will now send with the confetti effect. The recipient sees the message with confetti bursting across their screen.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping instead of holding the send button: If you just tap it, the message sends normally with no effect. You must press and hold for about a second until the effects screen appears.
• Using SMS (green bubble): If the recipient’s phone number or email isn’t registered with iMessage, your message sends as a green SMS text, and the confetti effect won’t work. Make sure both you and the recipient have iMessage enabled in Settings > Messages.
• Choosing “Screen” instead of “Confetti”: The effects menu has two tabs: “Bubble” and “Screen.” Confetti is a screen effect. If you don’t see it, swipe left on the black overlay or tap the “Screen” tab at the top.
• Releasing the send button too early: If you lift your finger before the overlay appears, the message sends without effects. Keep holding until you see the black screen with effect options.
• Sending from an iPad or Mac: This guide is for iPhone 13, but the same steps work on other iPhones. On iPad or Mac, the process is slightly different — you right-click or long-press the send button there.

Tips

• Preview before sending: The effect overlay shows a live preview. Use this to confirm you selected confetti and not another effect like “Echo” or “Spotlight.”
• Combine with a long message: The confetti effect works with any message length, but it’s especially fun for congratulations, birthdays, or good news. Try adding a few emoji to make it more festive.
• Use it in group chats: Confetti works in group iMessage conversations too. Everyone in the chat will see the effect on their own screen.
• Check your iOS version: If you don’t see the effects menu at all, go to Settings > General > Software Update and make sure your iPhone 13 is running iOS 15 or later. Older versions may not have all screen effects.
• Reduce motion setting: If you have “Reduce Motion” enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Motion, some screen effects may be reduced or replaced with a simpler animation. You can turn it off temporarily to see the full confetti.

Troubleshooting

Confetti doesn’t appear in the effects menu: Make sure you’re holding the send button, not tapping it. If you see only bubble effects (like “Slam” or “Loud”), tap the “Screen” tab at the top of the overlay. If confetti still isn’t there, restart your iPhone by holding the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off and turn it back on.

Message sends as green bubble: This means iMessage isn’t active. Go to Settings > Messages and make sure the “iMessage” toggle is on. Also check that you’re connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. If the recipient’s device isn’t an Apple product or has iMessage disabled, the effect won’t send.

Recipient says they don’t see confetti: Ask them to check their own iOS version and whether they have “Reduce Motion” enabled. Also confirm the message was sent as a blue bubble on your end. If it was green, the effect was never sent.

Effects overlay appears but send button doesn’t work: Close the Messages app completely (swipe up from the bottom and pause, then swipe the app card away) and reopen it. Try again with a shorter message first. If the problem persists, restart your iPhone.

Confetti sends but recipient sees a different effect: This can happen if the recipient has “Reduce Motion” on, which may convert screen effects to a simpler version. It’s not something you can fix from your side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does confetti work when sending to Android phones?
No. The confetti effect is an iMessage feature. Messages to Android phones send as SMS/MMS (green bubbles) and don’t support screen effects.

Can I send confetti with a photo or video?
Yes. Type or attach your photo/video, then press and hold the send button. The confetti effect will apply to the whole message bubble, including media.

How do I send confetti without any text?
Just skip typing and hold the send button with an empty text field. You can still select confetti and send it as an empty bubble with the effect.

Will the confetti effect play on the recipient’s Apple Watch?
On Apple Watch, the effect may appear as a simple animation or not at all, depending on the watch model and watchOS version. It’s best viewed on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Can I send confetti in a group chat?
Yes, as long as the group chat is an iMessage group (all participants use Apple devices with iMessage enabled).

Is there a way to send confetti automatically for every message?
No. You must select the effect manually each time. There’s no setting to make confetti the default for all outgoing messages.

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