PUBLISHED BY THE MARK
The following information has been compiled, edited, and formatted for those reading with either a screen reader, screen magnifier, or refreshable Braille device.
For important information about driving safely, see the Important Product Information Guide.
Messages lets you exchange text messages with anyone using an SMS-capable phone. Messages also supports MMS, so you can send photos, video clips (iPhone 3G S only), contact information, and voice memos to other MMS-capable devices. You can enter multiple addresses and send a message to several people at the same time.
NOTE: MMS is available only on iPhone 3G or later. SMS or MMS support may not be available in all regions. Additional fees may apply for use of Messages. Contact your carrier for complete information.
You can use Messages whenever you’re in range of the cellular network. If you can make a call, you can send a message. Depending on your phone plan, you may be charged for the messages you send or receive.
Send a message:
Tap , then enter a phone number or name, or tap and choose a contact from your contacts list. Type a message, and tap Send.
The Messages icon on the Home screen shows the total number of unread messages you have.
Your conversations are saved in the Messages list. Conversations that contain unread messages have a blue dot next to them. Tap a conversation in the list to see that conversation or add to it.
iPhone displays the 50 most recent messages in the conversation. To see earlier messages, scroll to the top and tap Load Earlier Messages.
Send a message to more than one person:
Tap , then add recipients. If you enter a phone number manually (instead of selecting it from Contacts), tap Return before entering another entry.
Replies from any of the recipients are sent only to you, not to the other people you texted.
Reply or send a message to a person (or group) you’ve texted before:
Tap an entry in the Messages list, then type a new message in the conversation and tap Send.
Send a message to a favorite or to a recent call:
From the Home screen tap Phone, then tap Favorites or Recents.
Tap next to a name or number, then tap Text Message.
If multiple phone numbers appear, tap the one you want to text.
When MMS is available, Messages allows you to include a subject in your text messages. You can turn this feature on or off in Messages settings. It is turned on by default.
Include or remove the subject field:
In Settings, tap Messages, then tap Show Subject Field to turn it on or off.
NOTE: The subject field and the Show Subject Field setting don’t appear if MMS isn’t supported by your carrier.
Turn MMS messaging on or off:
In Settings, tap Messages, then tap MMS Messaging to turn it on or off. You may want to turn MMS Messaging off, for example, to prevent sending or receiving attachments when fees apply.
NOTE: The MMS Messaging setting doesn’t appear if MMS isn’t supported by your carrier.
You can take a photo or make a video (iPhone 3G S only) from within Messages and include it in your conversation with another MMS-capable device.
Send a photo or video:
Tap and tap “Take Photo or Video” (iPhone 3G S only; on earlier models, tap “Take Photo”) or “Choose Existing” and select an item from a photo album and tap Choose.
The limit to the file size of attachments is determined by your carrier. If necessary, iPhone may compress the photo or video. See Camera to learn about taking photos and video.
NOTE: The button doesn’t appear and you can’t send photos or videos if MMS isn’t supported by your carrier.
You can send voice memos you record in Voice Memos in a message (to another MMS-capable device only).
Send a voice memo:
In Voice Memos, tap , tap the voice memo you want to send, then tap Share and tap MMS. Address the message and tap Send.
If you want to keep a conversation but not the entire thread, you can delete the parts you don’t want. You can also delete entire conversations from the Messages list.
Edit a conversation:
Tap Edit. Tap the circles along the left side to select the parts of the conversation you want to delete, then tap Delete. When you’re finished, tap Done.
Clear all text and files, without deleting the conversation:
Tap Edit, then tap Clear All. Tap Clear Conversation to confirm.
Forward a conversation:
Select a conversation, then tap Edit. Tap the circles on the left side of the screen to select the parts of the conversation you want to include, then tap Forward, enter one or more recipients, and tap Send.
Delete a conversation:
Tap Edit, then tap next to the conversation and tap Delete. You can also swipe left or right over the conversation and tap Delete.
Call or email someone you’ve texted:
Tap a message in the Text Messages list and scroll to the top of the conversation. (Tap the status bar to scroll quickly to the top of the screen.)
To call the person, tap Call.
To email the person, tap Contact Info, then tap an email address.
Follow a link in a message:
Tap the link.
A link may open a webpage in Safari, initiate a phone call in Phone, open a preaddressed message in Mail, or display a location in Maps. To return to your text messages, press the Home button and tap Messages.
Add someone you’ve texted to your contacts list:
Tap a phone number in the Messages list, then tap “Add to Contacts.”
Send contact information:
In Contacts, tap the person whose information you want to share. Tap Share Contact at the bottom of the screen, then tap MMS. Address the message and tap Send.
Save contact information received:
Tap the contact bubble in the conversation and tap Create New Contact or “Add to Existing Contact.”
By default, iPhone displays a preview of new messages when iPhone is locked or you are using another application. You can turn this preview on or off in Settings. You can also enable alerts for text messages.
Turn previews on or off:
In Settings, choose Messages and tap Show Preview.
Repeat previews:
In Settings, choose Messages and tap Repeat Alert. If you don’t respond to the first preview of a new message, the preview will be displayed twice more.
Set whether an alert sounds when you get a text message or preview:
In Settings, choose Sounds, then tap New Text Message. Tap the alert sound you want, or None if you don’t want an audible alert.
IMPORTANT: If the Ring/Silent switch is off, text alerts won’t sound.