iMessage is turned on in Settings, but you need an Apple ID first

iMessage is Apple's messaging system that sends texts over Wi-Fi or data instead of using your phone plan's text messages. On iPhone 16, it is turned on by default if you signed in with an Apple ID during setup. If it is off or you skipped that step, you can turn it on in the Messages app settings in under a minute.

The catch: iMessage only works if you have an Apple ID and an active internet connection. If you do not have an Apple ID yet, you will need to create one before iMessage can send or receive messages. Once it is on, iMessage messages appear in blue bubbles instead of green ones, and you can see when the other person is typing.

Key Takeaways

  • iMessage requires an Apple ID and an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection to work.
  • On iPhone 16, iMessage is usually on already if you signed in with your Apple ID during setup.
  • You can turn iMessage on or off in Settings > Messages > iMessage with just one toggle.
  • If iMessage stays off or shows an error, signing out and back into your Apple ID in Settings usually fixes it.
  • Messages sent over iMessage use your data plan instead of text message limits, so they do not count against SMS allowances.

Check if iMessage is already on

Open the Messages app and look at the compose button (the pencil and paper icon in the top right). Tap it to start a new message. If the "To:" field shows a search box that says "iMessage" or "Contacts", iMessage is already on. If it only says "Enter a phone number or contact name", iMessage is off.

You can also check by opening Settings, scrolling down to Messages, and looking for the iMessage toggle. If it is green and switched to the right, iMessage is on. If it is gray and switched to the left, it is off.

Turn on iMessage if it is off

Open Settings on your iPhone 16. Scroll down and tap Messages. Look for the iMessage toggle at the top of the screen. If it is gray, tap it once to turn it green. Wait a few seconds — your phone will connect to Apple's servers and set up iMessage on your account.

If the toggle is already green, iMessage is on. Close Settings and go back to the Messages app. You should now see the iMessage option when you start a new message. If you still do not see it, try restarting your phone: hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds and press the side button again to turn it back on.

What to do if iMessage will not turn on

If the iMessage toggle stays gray or turns off by itself, your Apple ID may not be signed in on your phone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] at the very top and check that you are signed in. If you see "Sign in with Apple ID" instead, tap it and enter your Apple ID email and password.

If you are already signed in but iMessage still will not turn on, try signing out and back in. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out at the bottom. Tap "Sign Out" again to confirm. Wait 30 seconds, then go back to Settings > [Your Name] and sign in again with your Apple ID. After you sign back in, go to Messages and toggle iMessage on.

If iMessage still does not work after that, check your internet connection. iMessage needs Wi-Fi or cellular data to set up. Make sure Wi-Fi is on or you have cellular service, then try the toggle again. If you are on Wi-Fi, try turning Wi-Fi off and using cellular data instead, or vice versa.

Understand what iMessage does differently from regular texts

When iMessage is on and you send a message to another iPhone user, the message goes over the internet instead of through your phone plan. This means it does not use up your text message limit (if you have one). The message appears in a blue bubble on both phones. If the other person has iMessage off or you send a message to an Android phone, it automatically falls back to a regular text message, which appears in a green bubble.

iMessage also shows when the other person is typing (three dots appear), and you can see when they have read your message. Regular text messages do not have these features. If you are on Wi-Fi but have no cellular signal, iMessage will still send, but a regular text message will not.

Turn off iMessage if you need to

If you are switching to an Android phone or want to stop using iMessage, go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage off. This is important to do before you switch phones — if you do not turn it off first, iMessage messages from iPhone users may not reach your new Android phone because Apple's system still thinks your number is on iMessage.

After you turn iMessage off, wait a few minutes, then go back and check that the toggle is still off. Sometimes it takes a moment for the change to stick. You can also remove your phone number from iMessage on Apple's website at iforgot.apple.com if you want to make sure it is completely deactivated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a phone plan to use iMessage?

No. iMessage only needs Wi-Fi or cellular data. You can use iMessage on an iPhone with no phone plan at all, as long as you have internet. Regular text messages do need a phone plan, but iMessage does not.

Why are my messages green instead of blue?

Green bubbles mean the message was sent as a regular text message, not iMessage. This happens when you send to an Android phone, when iMessage is off on your phone, or when the other person has iMessage off. It can also happen if there is no internet connection at the moment you send.

Can I use iMessage on multiple devices?

Yes. If you sign in with the same Apple ID on an iPad or Mac, iMessage messages will appear on all of them. You can turn iMessage on or off separately on each device in that device's Messages settings.

What happens to my iMessage conversations if I turn it off?

Your message history stays in the Messages app. Turning iMessage off just stops new messages from being sent as iMessage — they will be sent as regular texts instead. All your old conversations remain in the app.

Does iMessage cost money?

No. iMessage is free. It uses your data plan (Wi-Fi or cellular data), but there is no separate charge from Apple. You only pay for the data itself, the same way you pay for any other internet use on your phone.