How to switch from text message to imessage explained
Last Updated on May 28, 2023 by Kennedy
Ever wondered the reason why you are sending sms text message instead of iMessage especially to a fellow iPhone user?
I got you covered here in this article as we’ll look at how to switch from text message to iMessage.
On iPhone, there are two types of text messaging and which are the sms text message which is green in color, and the iMessage which is blue in color.
Normally, when you are sending a text message on your iPhone to a fellow Apple device user like the iPhone, iPad, Mac or the Apple watch user, it will definitely be a blue a text message which indicates that you’re sending an iMessage.
Now there are certain situations whereby you are sending a text message to a fellow iPhone user and the text message is green in color indicating sms text message which uses the cellular network service.
How do you fix this problem and why is this happening, this leads us to the question being asked on;
How to switch from text message to imessage
To switch from text message to iMessage, you have to make sure that you are iMessage is activated on your iPhone and you have an active internet connection.
Now listen;
As long as iMessage is active or activated on your iPhone and which you have an active internet connection on your phone as well, you will definitely send iMessages to a fellow iPhone user.
Where the problem lies is in a situation whereby iMessage is not activated on your iPhone which simply means your phone number is not linked to iMessage including your Apple ID.
So you have to make sure that iMessage is activated on your iPhone. To do so;
Open the settings app and scroll down to Messages and open it.
As Messages opens, right there you will see iMessage and make sure it is turned on. Once iMessage is enabled on your iPhone the button will be green in color as shown on the picture below.
As iMessage is enabled on your iPhone, it should start to activate immediately and that wouldn’t take more than two minutes to get completed. Mostly it will take like five seconds to 30 seconds to have your Apple ID and phone number activated with iMessage.
Once again make sure you have a sim card in your iPhone unless you only want to use your apple ID for iMessages.
Immediately iMessage get activated on your iPhone, you will see two or one addresses for Send & Receive, and you can open the option to select how you want to send iMessages and receive them as on your iPhone.
Once you have gotten everything right, then you’re set to send and receive iMessages on your iPhone.
Related Posts:
- What happens if I turn off SMS on iPhone? Explained
- Can I turn off iMessage and still text? Answered
Sending iMessages
To send iMessages on your iPhone, simply open the message app and tap on the new message button. If you have already had a a conversation with the contact, locate the conversation and open it.
If you haven’t, start a new conversation by tapping on the new message button.
As the new message box opens, kindly select or enter the recipient’s phone number or Apple ID and below you have to enter the text messages in the message box.
Remember to have an active internet connection like the Wi-Fi or cellular data on your iPhone while sending iMessages.
Please Note:
If upon typing text into the message it turns into green indicating the sms green text message please you should stop as it doesn’t go online with the question being asked on how to switch from text message to imessage.
Now the question is why is this happening?
First, instead of trying to send an iMessage to a phone number, get the recipient apple ID and send the iMessage.
Definitely it should be blue in color as you can’t send a green text message to an apple id simply because it is not a phone number but rather an email address.
In some rare cases, the iMessage might say failed not delivered and when you see it, kindly note that the recipient apple id is not activated or linked with iMessage.
In this type of situation you can’t do anything other than to send a green text message or probably call the person and inquire if he or she is using iMessage. If the answer is yes, then request for the phone number or Apple ID linked with the person’s iMessage.
If the answer is no, there’s nothing you can do about it other than to know if the person is using whatsapp or any other instant messaging apps. Mind you, the likes of Google voice is very much okay if you don’t want use cellular network service in sending a text message on your iPhone.
Why you are sending a green text message to another iPhone user
It can be quite surprising when you want to send a text message on your iPhone to w fellow iPhone user and instead of the text message to be blue in color meaning iMessage, but instead it turns green in color indicating the sms text message which is of the carrier network service.
Now the question is why is such happening.
I’m i blocked on iMessage by the recipient? This is one of the question being asked by iPhone and I’m telling you that the answer is no. You are not blocked by the recipient.
If you send a green text message to another iPhone user, it simply means that the phone number is not activated with iMessage or iMessage is unavailable on the recipient iPhone.
Below are some of the reasons you are sending green text message to another iPhone user;
1.1. The recipient phone number is not linked with iMessage
From what I have observed, this is the major reason why iPhone users send a green text message to another iPhone user.
The recipient phone number is not activated or linked with iMessage.
As long as a phone number is not activated or linked with iMessage, it will never be blue in color but instead will be green in color. And this means you can’t send iMessage to the number but rather sms text message.
Remember that to send sms text messages on your iPhone you must have an active sim card and cellular network service on your iPhone. Sms text message doesn’t require or need internet as it is not an instant messaging service.
1.2. The recipient iMessage is disabled
Another major reason why you’re sending a green text message to another iPhone user is because of iMessage being disabled on the recipient phone.
From what I have observed, as long as iMessage is disabled or turned off in an iPhone, sending iMessages will automatically switch over to sms text message simply because iMessage is not active on the recipient iPhone.
For iMessage to be active, it must active on the iPhone, iPad or any other apple device along with an active internet connection.
Irrespective of the fact that iMessage is very popular among ios or Apple users, there are few that don’t fancy using iMessage on their iPhone and I don’t seem to understand the reason for that.
They will go ahead to disable it and on their iPhone.
1.3. Poor internet connection
This is one of the least reasons why text message will turn green for another iPhone user, due to poor internet connection which automatically makes iMessage not be active.
This is not quite common but it does happen especially if you happen to find yourself in a remote area or environment.
Now if you have send as sms when imessage is unavailable enabled on your iPhone, it will automatically switch over to sms text message if iMessage is not working on your iPhone thereby making you to send sms green text message instead of iMessage.
1.4. iMessage bug or error
iMessage bug can be the reason why you’re sending a green text message to another iPhone user.
If there’s a bug on your iMessage, it will automatically make the iMessage not be available or active on your iPhone. This is will in turn remove your phone number and Apple ID from iMessage.
You can easily fix this problem by rebooting your iMessage, update to the latest software if applicable or probably reset your iPhone in order to fix the iMessage problem.
These are the main reasons why you are sending sms green text message to another iPhone user.
How to turn off imessage on iphone?
To Turn off iMessage on iPhone, simply open the settings app, scroll down to messages and open it. Right there you will see iMessage, go ahead and slide the button to turn it off.
Below is a step by step guide on how to turn off imessage on iPhone;
- Open the settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to Messages and open it
- Right there you will see iMessage, go ahead and slide on the button.
- Once you have done that it will turn from green to grey or white.
Anr that’s it. You have turned off iMessage on your iPhone.
How to turn off imessage on ipad
To turn off imessage on ipad, open the settings app, scroll down to messages and open it. You will see iMessage, go ahead and slide the button to turn it off.
The sane way you turn off iMessage on iPhone is also the way you turn off iMessage on ipad as there is no difference in settings between the two Apple devices.
Why is my iMessage sending as a text message?
iMessage sending as a text message occur when iMessage is unavailable on the recipient phone or probably on the sender’s iPhone.
This can be due to the fact that the recipient is not using iMessage or the phone number is not linked with iMessage.
Once you sent a green text message instead of iMessage to another iPhone user, kindly call the person and request for the person’s apple ID or phone number linked with iMessage.
Am I blocked if iMessage says sent as text message?
The answer is no. You are not blocked if iMessage says sent as text message because it occurs when iMessage is unavailable on the thee recipient phone or on the sender’s iPhone.
While sending a text message on your iPhone please be sure that the recipient is using the iMessage and not just the normal sms text message.
Remember, if you’re sending a text message to an android phone user, it will be green in color and also someone using a feature phone as iMessage is only available to Apple users.
Texts won’t go back to imessage
Please make sure you have an active iMessage on your iPhone and your Apple ID and phone number is activated with iMessage. Also make sure that the recipient is using iMessage or the recipient phone number is linked with iMessage.
Now if you happen to already sent the text message and which is green in color, it won’t turn into blue indicating iMessage.
Instead what you have to do is to send another text message and upon typing and you noticed that it is green in color, please stop and check your iMessage settings.
Make sure iMessage is activated on your iPhone and also you’re sending text messages to a phone number activated with iMessage.
And this is where I round it up on the question of the day, how to switch from text message to imessage. I’m open to your questions and suggestions.
