iMessage turns on automatically when you set up an iPhone, but only if you have an Apple ID and an active internet connection
If you are sending regular text messages (SMS) from your iPhone instead of iMessage, the switch usually happens without any action on your part. When you first set up your phone, iOS asks for your Apple ID. Once you sign in, iMessage activates in the Messages app and starts sending encrypted messages to other Apple users automatically. You will see the difference when ready: messages to other iPhone, iPad, or Mac users turn blue, while messages to Android phones stay green.
If your messages are still green when texting other iPhone owners, something is blocking iMessage from working. The most common reason is that iMessage is turned off in your settings, or your phone cannot reach Apple's servers to verify your account. Less often, your Apple ID is not properly linked to your phone number or email address.
Key Takeaways
- iMessage activates automatically on iPhone when you sign in with an Apple ID, but you can turn it off or back on in Settings > Messages.
- Blue message bubbles mean iMessage is working; green bubbles mean you are sending a regular text message instead.
- If messages stay green when texting other iPhone users, sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in, or toggle iMessage off and on again.
- iMessage requires an internet connection (WiFi or cellular data) to send, while regular text messages work without internet.
- If you switch from iPhone to Android, you must turn off iMessage on your old iPhone or new iPhone users will not be able to text you normally.
Check whether iMessage is turned on in your settings
Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Messages. Look for the toggle next to iMessage at the top of the screen. If it is gray and switched to the left, iMessage is off. Tap it to turn it on. Your phone will connect to Apple's servers and set up iMessage on your phone number and any email addresses linked to your Apple ID.
If the toggle is already on (green and switched to the right), iMessage is enabled but something else is preventing it from working. Move to the next section.
Sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in
Go to Settings > Messages and scroll down to find Send & Receive. Tap it, then tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen. Select Sign Out. Wait a few seconds, then go back to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and sign in again with your Apple ID password.
This forces your phone to re-register with Apple's iMessage servers. In most cases, your messages will turn blue within a minute or two. If they stay green, restart your iPhone: hold the power button until you see the power-off slider, swipe it, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
Make sure your phone number and email are registered with iMessage
Open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. You should see your phone number and at least one email address listed under "You can be reached by iMessage at." If your phone number does not appear, tap it and add it. If no email addresses show up, tap Add Another Email and enter the email address linked to your Apple ID.
The phone number must be the one your carrier has on file for your account. If you recently changed carriers or switched phone numbers, wait a few hours for the change to sync with Apple's servers. If you have been on the same number for weeks and it still does not appear, contact your carrier to confirm the number is active on your account.
Check your internet connection
iMessage cannot send without WiFi or cellular data. If you are on airplane mode, iMessage will not work even if it is turned on. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center and make sure airplane mode is off (the airplane icon should not be highlighted).
If airplane mode is off but you have no WiFi or cellular signal, connect to a WiFi network. Once you have internet, wait 30 seconds and try sending a message to another iPhone user. The message should turn blue and send as iMessage.
Turn iMessage off and on again
Go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage off. Wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on. Your phone will reconnect to Apple's servers. This straightforward reset fixes most iMessage problems that are not caused by account or network issues.
If messages still arrive as green text after trying all these steps, the problem may be on the receiving end. Ask the person you are texting to check their own iMessage settings and make sure they have not disabled it.
What to do if you are switching from iPhone to Android
If you are moving to an Android phone, turn off iMessage on your old iPhone before you stop using it. Go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage off. This tells Apple's servers to stop routing messages meant for your phone number through iMessage.
If you do not turn off iMessage, iPhone users will continue sending you messages through iMessage, and you will not receive them on your Android phone. You will only see those messages if you sign back into your Apple ID on a Mac or iPad. This is one of the most common reasons people miss texts after switching phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my messages green when I text another iPhone user?
Your iPhone is sending regular text messages instead of iMessage. This usually means iMessage is turned off in Settings > Messages, or your phone cannot connect to Apple's servers. Try turning iMessage off and on again, or sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in.
Do I need WiFi for iMessage to work?
No, but you need either WiFi or cellular data. iMessage uses your internet connection instead of your text message plan. If you have no internet, your message will not send at all, even if you have cell signal for regular texts.
What is the difference between iMessage and regular text messages?
iMessage is encrypted and works over the internet. Regular text messages (SMS) use your carrier's network and are not encrypted. iMessage shows as blue bubbles on iPhone; regular texts show as green. iMessage only works between Apple devices, while regular texts work to any phone.
Will my contacts know I switched to iMessage?
No. The change happens silently on your end. When you send a message to another iPhone user, it automatically goes through iMessage instead of SMS. The person receiving it will see a blue bubble instead of green, but they do not need to do anything.
Can I use both iMessage and regular text messages at the same time?
Yes. Your iPhone automatically chooses which one to use based on who you are texting. Messages to other Apple users go through iMessage (blue), and messages to Android users go through regular text (green). You do not have to switch between them manually.