You cannot change a text message after you send it, but you can switch to iMessage for future messages

Once a text message leaves your phone, it stays as a regular text message (SMS) forever. You cannot edit it, convert it, or change its type after the fact. What you can do is turn on iMessage so that future messages to other Apple users automatically send as iMessages instead of texts.

The difference matters because iMessage uses the internet instead of your phone plan's text allowance, shows read receipts (if you turn them on), and lets you send photos and videos without the quality loss that comes with regular texting. But iMessage only works between Apple devices — if you message someone on Android, it automatically falls back to a regular text message.

Key Takeaways

  • iMessage is a messaging service built into Apple devices that sends messages over the internet instead of through your phone plan.
  • You turn iMessage on in Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and it applies to all future messages automatically.
  • Messages to other Apple users will show in blue bubbles and send as iMessage; messages to Android users will show in green bubbles and send as regular texts.
  • iMessage requires an internet connection (WiFi or cellular data) to work, while regular text messages work even without data.
  • If you switch from iPhone to Android, you should turn off iMessage on your Apple devices so people can still reach you by text.

How to turn iMessage on or off on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Messages. Look for the toggle next to "iMessage" — if it is gray, iMessage is off; if it is green, iMessage is on. Tap the toggle to switch it.

When iMessage is on, your phone automatically sends messages as iMessage to anyone else with an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac) and as a regular text to anyone with Android. You do not have to choose — your phone figures it out based on the recipient's device.

What the color bubbles mean

In the Messages app, message bubbles come in two colors. Blue bubbles mean the message sent as iMessage — it went over the internet, and the recipient has read receipts on (so you may see "Delivered" or "Read" below the message). Green bubbles mean the message sent as a regular text — it went through your phone plan, and you will not see read receipts unless the person manually tells you they saw it.

If you send a message to someone with an iPhone and it shows as green instead of blue, it usually means iMessage is off on your phone, iMessage is off on their phone, or neither of you has an internet connection at that moment. The message still reaches them — it just goes as a text instead.

Why iMessage might not work even when it is turned on

iMessage needs an internet connection to send. If you are on WiFi or have cellular data turned on, iMessage should work. If you are in airplane mode or have data turned off, messages will send as regular texts instead, and they will show as green bubbles.

Sometimes iMessage fails to set up on a new iPhone or after switching from Android. If your messages keep sending as green bubbles to other Apple users, try turning iMessage off and back on in Settings. If that does not work, sign out of your Apple ID in Settings > Messages, wait a few seconds, and sign back in.

What happens if you switch from iPhone to Android

When you move to an Android phone, iMessage stops working on your new device because Android does not have iMessage built in. But here is the problem: people with iPhones will still try to send you iMessages, and those messages may not reach you as regular texts.

Before you switch phones, go to Settings > Messages on your iPhone and turn off iMessage. This tells Apple's servers to stop treating your phone number as an iMessage account. If you do not do this, messages from iPhone users may get stuck in Apple's system and never arrive on your Android phone.

If you already switched and people say their messages are not reaching you, ask them to delete the conversation thread with you, then start a new one. That forces their iPhone to re-check whether your number uses iMessage, and it should send as a regular text this time.

iMessage on iPad and Mac

You can turn iMessage on or off on iPad and Mac the same way as iPhone. On iPad, go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage on or off. On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Messages, and toggle iMessage on or off.

If you have iMessage on multiple Apple devices, messages you send from any of them will appear in the conversation thread on all your devices. This is useful if you want to message from your Mac while your iPhone is across the room, but it also means you need to manage iMessage settings on each device separately if you want to turn it off on one but not the others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send an iMessage to someone with Android?

No. iMessage only works between Apple devices. If you try to send a message to an Android user, your phone automatically sends it as a regular text message instead, and it will show as a green bubble on your end.

Do I need to pay for iMessage?

No. iMessage is built into Apple devices and does not cost anything. It uses your internet connection (WiFi or cellular data), so you do not use text messages from your phone plan, but you do use data.

Will my read receipts work with regular text messages?

No. Read receipts only work with iMessage. If you send a regular text message (green bubble), you will not see whether the person read it unless they tell you manually. Some Android phones have read receipts, but they do not work with iPhone text messages.

What if someone has iMessage turned off but still has an iPhone?

Your message will send as a regular text message (green bubble) instead of iMessage. You will not see read receipts, and the message will use a text from your phone plan. The person will still receive it normally.

Can I use iMessage without WiFi?

Yes, as long as you have cellular data turned on. iMessage works over any internet connection — WiFi, 4G, 5G, or any other data connection. If you have both WiFi and cellular data off, messages will not send at all until you turn one back on.