Key takeaways:
- Green messages on your iPhone mean they were not sent as iMessages.
- This typically happens when you text someone who isn’t using an Apple device or when iMessage is turned off.
- Poor internet connection, iMessage activation issues, or software glitches can also be the cause.
You pull out your Apple iPhone® to text a friend about dinner plans. After typing the message, you hit the send button. A weird thing happens—instead of the message appearing blue, like it normally does, it's green. Why are my messages green, you wonder?
Asurion Experts decipher the nitty-gritty of common iPhone issues. Whether you want to stop your iPhone from sending texts via an email address or want answers to some of the top iPhone message questions, we can help. Here's what to do with green text messages.
Why iPhone messages appear green
When an iPhone text displays in a green bubble rather than the usual blue one, it's sent using a different messaging system than Apple's proprietary iMessage®. That could stem from a few causes.
The recipient isn't using an Apple phone
People using Android-based smartphones (or any other type of non-Apple phone) don't have access to iMessage. Any texts sent to non-Apple smartphones automatically appear green.
iMessage is turned off
If both you and the recipient have an Apple device, but the iMessage functionality is disabled, texts display in green.
iMessage is down
iMessage may stop working for different reasons. The app might go down for a few minutes or be unavailable through your cellular carrier.
You have a new iPhone
New iPhones sometimes require a few settings tweaks to work properly. Changes to your phone number or cellular carrier may cause messages to temporarily appear green.
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iMessage vs. SMS: What's the difference?
Messages that display in green on an iPhone are sent using short messaging service (SMS), multimedia message service (MMS), or rich communication services (RCS). They're not sent via the iMessage platform.
SMS, MMS, and RCS use a carrier's cellular voice network to transport messages. That's different than iMessage, which uses an internet-based data system for texts. While iMessage offers end-to-end encryption, SMS, MMS, and RCS don't. That makes them more susceptible to cybersecurity threats.
Android smartphones automatically use SMS, MMS, or RCS, depending on the user's settings. Here's what each message type's functionality offers.
- SMS: Short texts up to 160 characters. Longer texts are split into multiple messages.
- MMS: Supports lengthier texts up to 1,600 characters, as well as image, video, and audio transfers.
- RCS: Includes all the features of MMS, plus additional support for read receipts and group chats.
iMessage supports unlimited text length. You can use it to share pictures and videos. It also integrates with some Apple apps, such as FaceTime® and Apple Pay®.
How to check and enable iMessage
Enabling iMessage on your iPhone is a simple three-step process.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Messages.
- Tap the iMessage button to toggle it on. It appears green.
Verify your Send & Receive settings, too.
- In Settings, tap Apps > Messages.
- Tap Send & Receive.
- Under "Start new conversations from," confirm it's set to your phone number or email, whichever you prefer.
After enabling iMessage and configuring your settings, future messages should appear blue unless you're texting someone with a non-Apple device.
Other troubleshooting options
If enabling iMessage doesn't resolve the green messages, there are a few other fixes you can try.
Update iOS
Apple releases system updates at least once a year. Newly released iOS updates contain bug fixes and fresh features for your phone. To confirm you have the latest iOS, follow these steps.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General > Software Update.
- If there's an update available, it will display on your screen. Tap Update Now to download and install.
Installing the latest update may clear out any bugs causing your iMessages to appear green.
Confirm iMessage is running
Apple shares the system status for all its services using a dedicated page, https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus. While it's rare for iMessage to go down, if it does, you'll know by checking the website.
An iMessage system failure may affect all users. Once Apple fixes the issue, you should be able to send and receive blue messages again. In the meantime, any messages might appear green. That's because they'll travel via SMS, MMS, or RCS instead of iMessage.
Check the data connection
Problems sending or receiving iMessages could occur when you don't have access to cellular data or a Wi-Fi signal. To confirm you have a data connection, check the right-hand corner of your iPhone screen. Look for bars in a stairstep design. If they appear, you have at least a 3G signal, which is necessary to transmit an iMessage. If you're out of range of cellular data, you can still send an iMessage with a steady Wi-Fi connection.
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