iMessage is 📝Apple's messaging service for sending and receiving messages in the Messages app on 📝iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro and Apple Watch. Apple Support says iMessage sends messages to another iPhone or Apple device over Wi-Fi or cellular-data networks, and Apple's Messages privacy page says messages sent over iMessage don't count against a carrier messaging plan. Messages sent with iMessage appear in blue text bubbles, and Apple states that iMessage is end-to-end encrypted, shown by a lock icon at the top of the conversation.
Apple Support presents iMessage as one of three message types in the Messages app, alongside RCS and SMS/MMS. RCS and SMS/MMS messages can reach non-Apple devices and appear in green bubbles; RCS is a carrier-provided service whose encryption depends on carrier support, and SMS/MMS messages aren't end-to-end encrypted. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, iMessage sends over cellular data, and cellular data rates might apply. Beyond text, iMessage carries high-resolution photos and videos, documents, links, Tapbacks, text effects, Live Stickers and message effects. Apple says it designed iMessage so there is no way for Apple to decrypt the content of conversations while they are in transit between devices, and that attachments sent over iMessage are encrypted. iMessage is turned on or off in the Settings app under Apps, then Messages.
Key Features
- Receipts and typing indicators — iMessage supports delivery receipts, read receipts and typing indicators, per Apple Support.
- Undo Send — A recently sent message can be unsent for up to 2 minutes, which removes it from the recipient's device.
- Edit a sent message — A recently sent message can be edited up to five times within 15 minutes; SMS, MMS and RCS messages can't be edited.
- Phone number across devices — A phone number can be used to send and receive iMessages on iPhone, iPad and Mac.