If your iPhone won’t send pictures, it’s likely due to one of a few main suspects. Here’s how to identify and solve the problem in a few quick steps.

Why can’t I send or receive pictures on my iPhone?

If you’ve come face to face with this error, you’re not alone; several users have reported the same problem on the Apple Forum.

There are a number of reasons why you may be unable to send or receive picture messages on your iPhone. So, before we move on to the potential fixes, here are some common reasons behind this issue:

• Errors related to the Messages app or the network settings
• Network-related issues on Apple’s or the carrier’s end
• Insufficient storage capacity for storing new images
• Software-related bugs in iOS or your Apple ID

Now that you have a general understanding of the likely causes, here are the solutions.

15 Ways to fix iPhone not sending pictures

Whether you’re unable to send a photo attachment in iMessage or receive images in MMS format, one of the following solutions will help your iPhone get back on track.

1. Make sure iMessage is enabled
2. Enable MMS for Messages
3. Check network connection
4. Check if the recipient has iMessage
5. Try sending it to a different contact
6. Check the file size
7. Check iPhone storage
8. Restart Messages app
9. Clear your iMessage cache on iPhone
10. Check iMessage’s System Status
11. Disable Wi-Fi Assist
12. Sign out of your Apple ID
13. Install Carrier Updates
14. Update iOS
15. Reset Network Settings

1. Make sure iMessage is enabled

The Messages app sends different types of messages: SMS/MMS and iMessage. iMessage lets you send text, photos, and videos to other Apple devices via cellular data or Wi-Fi.

That said, your iPhone can’t receive or send pictures if iMessage isn’t turned on to begin with. To turn iMessage on, go to Settings → Scroll down to Messages → Toggle on iMessage. Also, tap Send & Receive and select the number to use in Messages.

2. Enable MMS for Messages

You can still send images to non-Apple users through MMS messaging. MMS uses the same technology as SMS to send and receive multimedia content. But you must have an active cellular service plan.

1. To enable MMS Messaging on your iPhone, go to Settings → Messages.
2. Turn on MMS Messaging.

If you don’t see this option, your carrier might not support it. If you’ve seen the option before but it’s not there now, here’s what to do if the MMS Messaging option is missing on your iPhone:

• Remove the SIM card and reinsert it.
• Have someone send you an MMS message.
• Ask your carrier to send you MMS message settings.

3. Check network connection

iMessage requires a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection to send media files like images and videos. The app might struggle to send any files if your network connection is poor or unstable.

So, try disabling your cellular data, restart your iPhone, and then enable cellular data again. You can also use Wi-Fi or toggle Airplane mode on/off to have a more stable network connection.

4. Check if the recipient has iMessage

If you’re sure your iMessage is activated and working well, the next step is to check if the person you’re sending an image to has iMessage.

iMessage only works with Apple devices, so if your text messages go seamlessly as green message bubbles, the recipient may be a non-Apple user. In that case, try using iMessage alternatives to send your pictures instead.

5. Try sending it to a different contact

To check if the issue is limited to a particular contact and is not an iMessage issue, try sending an iMessage to another Apple user. If it works, then the problem is with the contact.

Here are some potential reasons why you can’t send pictures from your iPhone to another user via iMessage:

• iMessage is turned off on the recipient’s device.
• iMessage is temporarily unavailable on their device.
• You have the wrong contact number.
• Your contact changed their number.
• Your connection is using a different device.

6. Check the file size

Check your file size by going to Photos, selecting the image, and swiping up to see the metadata. The maximum file size for iMessage attachments is 100MB.

If the file size is too large, reduce the image’s file size first. Also, you may send lower-quality images automatically,

1. Go to Settings → Messages.
2. Scroll down and toggle on Low Quality Image Mode.
   
   

7. Check iPhone storage

A full iPhone storage will prevent you from receiving pictures on your iPhone.

To check your storage, go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage.

Check out our guide on clearing up iPhone storage for tips on saving storage space.

8. Restart Messages app

As simple as this sounds, force quit the app can help fix glitches and bugs that might be the reason why you can’t send or receive pictures on your iPhone.

Swipe up from your iPhone’s Home screen to open the App Switcher, find the Messages card, and swipe up on it to force quit Messages. Then, wait for a few seconds and relaunch the Messages app.

9. Clear your iMessage cache on iPhone

Sometimes, clearing your iMessage cache can solve the problem. To do so:

1. Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages.
2. Here, you’ll see the items that take up space on your Messages app.
3. You can see large attachments and delete them manually or enable Auto Delete Old Conversations to delete messages and attachments you sent or received over a year ago.

10. Check iMessage’s System Status

There’s also a chance that it’s a server issue on Apple’s end. Visit Apple’s System Status page to see if iMessage’s server currently works well.

11. Disable Wi-Fi Assist

Another feature that might cause problems, especially if you’re trying to send large files, is the Wi-Fi assist feature. This automatically switches to cellular data when it detects a poor Wi-Fi connection.

However, your cellular data might be insufficient to send the picture files over iMessage, leading to the “Not Delivered” error.

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Scroll down and toggle off Wi-Fi Assist.
   
   

12. Sign out of your Apple ID

Signing out and signing back into your Apple ID may help reset any connection error that prevents your iPhone from sending and receiving pictures. To do so:

1. Open Settings → Tap your name.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out → Enter your password.
   
   

After a few minutes, sign back in and check if your iPhone still isn’t sending any pictures. If it’s not, you may need to install a carrier update.

13. Install Carrier Updates

Your carrier service releases occasional updates to improve cellular usage on your iPhone. You may face the problem of an iPhone not sending picture messages if you don’t update your iPhone to its latest carrier settings.

Go to Settings → General → About. If updates are available, you will see a popup asking you to update the settings. If not, they’re up to date.

14. Update iOS

Apple consistently updates the iPhone’s software to ensure apps and features run smoothly. Using an outdated iOS might hinder app functionality, particularly when interfacing with other Apple devices running a more recent iOS version.

1. To update iOS, Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Tap Update Now if an update is available.
   
   

15. Reset Network Settings

If this is a sudden issue, there may be an issue with some cellular settings on your iPhone. Resetting your Network Settings may help fix the problem.

Note: Write down or save your Wi-Fi passwords since resetting your network settings will reset all Wi-Fi networks and passwords, including VPN and APN settings and cellular settings.

1. Go to Settings → General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone → Select Reset.
3. Tap Reset Network Settings.
4. Enter your passcode to confirm → Tap Reset Network Settings.
   
   

Wrapping up…

These were all the possible ways to fix an iPhone that won’t send picture messages. We hope one of them helped you resolve it.

If none of the above solutions worked, the underlying problem may be more complex and could be a hardware issue. In this case, it’s best to contact Apple Support for professional assistance.

Read more about iMessage:

• Best iMessage tips and tricks for iPhone users
• How to send text message (SMS) instead of iMessage on iPhone
• How to fix “Tap to Download” not working in iMessage

The post How to fix iPhone not sending pictures issues appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

But before we get there, let me address a few queries many of you may have.

Can you schedule a text message on iPhone?

Yes, you can schedule text messages on your iPhone using the Shortcuts app. This method allows you to create a convenient way to send birthday wishes or reminders at a pre-determined time.

Further, if you wish to use advanced customization options to schedule texts, you can take the help of various third-party apps.

Can you schedule an iMessage?

Unfortunately, no. While you can use the Shortcuts app or third-party apps to create text messages beforehand, you can’t use the same for iMessage.

This is because, unlike text messages, iMessages requires an internet connection. Also, both the sender and receiver must use an Apple device, which is a limitation in itself.

Now that we have cleared up that confusion, let’s look at how to send a delayed text message from your iPhone.

How to schedule a text message on iPhone using Shortcuts app

Shortcuts is an incredible app native to iOS devices that allows you to automate various tasks on your iPhone, including scheduling text messages.

1. Open the Shortcuts app → Pick the Automation tab at the bottom.
2. Tap New Automation → Choose Time of the day.
   
   
3. Now, based on your requirements, adjust the task’s Time and Repeat parameters.
4. Once done, hit Next.
5. Pick Send Message under the Get Started section.
   
   
6. Tap the faded Message bar (in blue) → Enter your desired text.
7. Next, pick Recipients and add the receiver. You can add multiple contacts.
8. Tap Done to save your preferences.
   
   

That’s it! Now, at your chosen time, a message will be sent to the recipient. Further, if you have enabled Notify When Run while creating the Shortcut, you will get a status update notification as well.

The best part is that since the text will be sent as an SMS, you can send it to any contact on your iPhone!

How to delete a scheduled text message on iPhone

There may come a time when the scheduled text has served its purpose, or maybe you don’t want to send it anymore. In that case, here’s how you can delete the scheduled message.

1. Open the Shortcuts app → Head to the Automation section.
2. Swipe left on the Send message automation.
3. Tap the red Delete button that appears.
   
   

Best third-party apps to send scheduled text on iPhone

While you can use the Shortcuts app for text scheduling, the schedule will repeat until you manually delete the automation. Personally, I consider this a major drawback.

So, like me, if you don’t wish to get into this hassle, you can use third-party apps that provide better customization options to schedule texts.

There are many third-party apps, such as AutoSender, SMS Scheduler, and Scheduled on the App Store, that are tailored to schedule text messages from the iPhone.

All you need to do is install and set up the app on your iPhone, and you are good to go.

Happy texting!

And that’s it; this is how you schedule text messages on your iPhone. You can create automation using the native Shortcuts app or prefer a simpler approach via third-party apps. 

Do you think Apple should provide this feature natively for at least iMessage? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Please share them below!

The post How to schedule text messages on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

I have solutions for various situations. Whether you want to delete heavy attachments, single or multiple messages, or entirely remove conversations from your Mac, this guide has you covered. Dive in and declutter your inbox!

Before you delete text messages on Mac

Your Mac receives messages because the iCloud sync is enabled. So, when you make any changes to chat threads on Mac’s Messages app, it will sync across all your Apple devices. If you want to delete the messages from all devices, skip this section.

However, if you want to delete messages only from your Mac without deleting them from your iPhone or other devices, here’s what you need to do first.

1. Launch Messages on your Mac.
2. Click Messages from the top menu → Select Settings.
   
   
3. Go to the @iMessage tab.
4. Uncheck Enable Messages in iCloud.
   
   
5. In the pop-up, click Disable This Device.
   
   

After you disable iCloud for messages, any change done henceforth will only apply to your Mac.

Note: If you enable messages again, everything will sync to the previous settings (as on the iCloud backup), so be cautious.

How to delete messages on Mac

Before I show you the steps to clear text messages, here are the basics. The Messages app on Mac has two sections:

• Conversations: The side of the Messages window that lists all the conversations.
• Transcript: All messages received in a conversation, including text, photos, videos, audio clips, emojis, etc., are shown on the right-hand side.

Now that you understand the Messages app interface, let’s jump into the steps.

Delete single text messages on Mac

1. Open the message thread.
2. Right-click or control-click the message bubble.
   It will change to a dark blue color.
3. Select Delete.
   
   
4. Click Delete again to confirm the action.
   
   

How to delete a conversation on Mac

Deleting a conversation will remove all the text messages and attachments sent or received from the selected recipient. Here’s how to do it:

1. In the Messages app, right-click or control-click the conversation.
2. Select Delete from the dropdown list.
   
   
3. Confirm the action, click Delete.
   
   

Alternatively,

• Slide left the conversation with two fingers (from the trackpad or Magic Mouse) and select the Delete icon. Click Delete to confirm.
  
  
• Select the conversation, click Conversation from the menu bar, and choose Delete Conversation. Click Delete.
  
  

How to delete multiple messages on Mac

1. Click a conversation in Messages.
2. Now, press and hold the Command key (⌘) and click multiple items to select them.
   Note: Press and hold the Shift key (⇧) and click the last item to select all adjacent conversations.
3. Right-click the conversation.
4. Select Delete from the dropdown list.
   
   
5. Confirm the action, click Delete.

How to delete messages on Mac at once using Terminal

1. Go to Finder → Applications → Utilities → Terminal
2. To delete:
   • Chat: Use the command: rm –r ~/Library/Messages/chat
   • Attachments: Use the command: rm –r ~/Library/Messages/Attachments/??

Notably, the result of these commands is permanent and will delete all chat transcripts and attachments respectively.

How to delete all messages on Mac using Finder 

1. Open Finder → Click Go from the menu bar.
2. Select Go to Folder or press⇧ (Shift)+ ⌘ (Command)+ G.
   
   
3. Paste ~/Library/Messages in the text field.
   
   
4. Select the following files and move them to Trash:
   • chat.db
   • chat.db-wal
   • chat.db-shm
   • Attachments folder (if you want to delete all attachments)
     
     
5. Open the Trash and empty it.

Delete attachments from messages on Mac

If Messages have occupied significant storage on your Mac, that’s probably because of the large attachments sent or received on chats.

So, rather than deleting all messages, you may only remove attachments to free up space on Mac.

1. Go to the Apple icon → System Settings.
   
   
2. Select General → Storage.
   
   
3. Click the info icon beside Messages.
   
   
4. Here, you’ll see all the message attachments.
5. Select
   • One: Click it.
   • Multiple: Click and drag or press and hold Shift (⇧)/Command (⌘) and click.
   • All: Press Command (⌘) + A or click and drag from the first to the last.
     
     
6. Click Delete → Delete again to confirm.
   
   

How to automatically delete messages on Mac

Once you’ve cleaned your unwanted messages from the Messages app, you can schedule them to auto-delete, so you don’t have to repeat these processes.

1. In the Messages app, click Messages → Settings.
2. Go to the General tab.
3. Click the Keep Messages menu and select either option:
   • 30 Days
   • One Year
   • Forever
     
     

This way, you don’t have to repeat these processes of deleting messages from your Mac.

Signing off…

Decluttering surely takes some time, but there is no going back once you’ve adopted digital minimalism. Whether your target is minimalism or privacy, I hope you found a suitable way to delete messages on Mac.

Learn more:

• How to sign out of iMessage on Mac
• How to delete attachments in Messages on iPhone
• How to sync iMessage between iPhone, iPad, and Mac

The post How to delete messages on Mac (2024 guide) appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

I spent some time exploring SharePlay on FaceTime and Messages. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn everything about SharePlay on iPhone. 

• What is Apple SharePlay?
• Which devices and services support SharePlay?
• How to SharePlay in Messages on iPhone
• How to use SharePlay on FaceTime on iPhone
• Can I use FaceTime SharePlay with Android and Windows?

What is Apple SharePlay?

SharePlay enables you to watch or listen to content together on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac during a FaceTime call or via Messages. You can binge movies and shows, listen to the same playlist, and even share your screen.

Remarkably, everyone can control what’s playing, so a person on the call can play, pause, or skip forward according to their convenience.

While SharePlay in FaceTime or Messages isn’t offering some novelty, the essence of this feature lies in its deep integration within the Apple ecosystem. Thus, you can conveniently share and enjoy various types of content in real-time with your friends.

Which devices and services support SharePlay?

Compatible devices

FaceTime SharePlay is available for devices running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey and above.

However, SharePlay via Messages is a relatively new feature available with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and macOS Ventura.

Compatible apps and services

SharePlay supports Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+, Disney+, TikTok, HBO Max, NBA, Paramount+, SHOWTIME, TikTok, Twitch, and many more apps and games.

However, compatibility is one part; the next big step is a subscription. Remember that you will need an active subscription to the app/content being SharePlay.

How to SharePlay in Messages on iPhone

1. Open the app you want to share.
2. Tap on the Share button.
3. Now tap More Option.
4. Tap SharePlay.
   
   
5. Select a contact.
6. Tap Messages.
7. Hit send.
   
   
   Now, wait for the other to accept the SharePlay request. Notably, they simply have to tap the received link to initiate SharePlay.

How to use SharePlay on FaceTime on iPhone

As mentioned above, you can share music, watch movies/shows, and share screens via FaceTime SharePlay. So, let’s see how it’s done.

Like Spotify Group Sessions, you can now listen to music with your friends on FaceTime. Here’s how.

How to share music on FaceTime

1. Open FaceTime and call any of your contacts.
2. Now, Open SharePlay menu in the FaceTime call.
3. Select an App you want to use SharePlay with.
4. Tap the app to open and play the media.
   
   

This will start playing the song on both devices. Moreover, you can invite more of your friends and listen to the song together in sync, and everyone on the call will have control over the playback. They need to have the app installed on their device and subscribed to the same.

Start a watch party using FaceTime SharePlay

Note: To watch movies or shows together with your friends on FaceTime, you’ll need to have the supported app, and you also need to subscribe to the streaming service being used during the call.

1. First, open the FaceTime app.
2. Now, call or share the invite link with your friends.
3. Open any supported app, and play whatever you want to watch together.

The movie or TV show will start playing in sync on everyone’s device. You will also be able to chat with each other. In addition, every user on the call will have playback controls.

Note: You can also use your Apple TV to stream the content while chatting with your friends on your iPhone.

How to Screen Share via FaceTime

As you may already know, screen sharing refers to the ability to present your screen and enable others to watch it in real-time using video conferencing apps like Zoom. FaceTime now enables you to do this and beyond using its SharePlay feature (as explained above).

1. Open FaceTime on your iPhone.
2. Next, tap the Share My Screen button at the top right of the FaceTime interface.
3. Now, start a video call with any contact.
   
   
   You can also create a FaceTime link and share it with your contacts.
   (if the Share my screen button is not available, then go to tap the screen to show the controls, and In there, tap on the Share My screen option)

Can I use FaceTime SharePlay with Android and Windows?

As of now, SharePlay is exclusive to Apple devices. Sharing screen, music, or streaming content with Android or Windows devices over FaceTime is not possible.

However, you can now FaceTime call your friends on Android or Windows devices using the FaceTime link; hopefully, a future update might bring the feature to our iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

I hope this guide helped you understand everything about SharePlay and how to use it on your iOS device. What do you think about this feature? Share in the comments below.

You may also like:

• How to Collaborate on projects using Messages
• How to use FaceTime Handoff on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• How to use SharePlay on Apple TV

The post How to use SharePlay on Facetime and Messages on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

How to send SMS instead of iMessage on iPhone

iMessage indeed provides several benefits, however, in some situations you need to send an SMS text to an iPhone user. We will discuss them later in the post. Let’s learn the steps first. Here, I will share three different methods to force send text messages Instead of iMessage to a contact.

Method 1: Manually send messages as SMS

1. Open an inbox in the Messages app.
2. Type your message → Tap the blue arrow to send it.
3. Immediately tap and hold the text bubble → Select Send as Text Message.
   
   

Method 2: Send SMS when iMessage is unavailable

iMessage uses your internet connection to send texts. So, your message will not be delivered if you have limited or no internet connectivity.

That’s why I have enabled the following feature, so it automatically attempts to send text messages as SMS when iMessage is unavailable. 

1. Go to Settings → Messages.
2. Toggle on Send as SMS.
   You must have iMessage enabled.
   
   

Method 3: Send all messages as SMS text

1. Open Settings → Messages.
2. Toggle off iMessage.
   
   

It will disable the iMessage service, and all your messages will be forced to be sent as regular text messages. 

When do you need to send iMessage as a text message on your iPhone?

While iMessage offers a range of features and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, there are specific situations where I prefer to force sending SMS text messages on an iPhone. Here are a few common scenarios: 

• Limited or no internet connectivity: iMessage relies on an internet connection. In areas with poor network coverage, access to the internet may be limited or nonexistent. Therefore, sending an SMS ensures that your message reaches the recipient. 
• Non-Apple users: iMessage is an exclusive messaging service for Apple devices. So, you must send SMS to communicate with someone who doesn’t own an iPhone or Apple device. SMS is a universal messaging service that works across all mobile phones. 
• Avoiding additional charges: SMS services are typically included in mobile phone plans and does not incur additional charges. If you are concerned about data usage or want to avoid extra internet charges, sending an SMS can be cost-effective. 
• Ensuring message delivery: When sending essential messages, using SMS provides a higher chance of successful delivery as it deliveries directly through cellular networks. Unlike iMessage relies on the sender and recipient’s active internet connection.

What to do if iPhone won’t send SMS messages?

In case you encounter issues while sending SMS messages, try the following troubleshooting steps: 

• Send the text message to the phone number of your contact rather than the email address. 
• Ensure that you have cellular network coverage with sufficient network signal strength.  
• Restart your iPhone to refresh the device’s network settings. 
• Set the correct date and time. 
• Contact your mobile service provider to verify if there are any network-related issues. 
• If the problem persists, you may consider resetting your network settings or contact Apple Support.

Send messages in every situation!

While iMessage offers a range of convenient features, there are circumstances when sending a regular text message (SMS) becomes necessary. You can effortlessly send text messages on your iPhone using the abovementioned methods.  

Do you enjoy using iMessage? Let me know in the comments below!

Explore more…

• iMessage vs. SMS on iPhone – What are the differences?
• How to use Messages app on iPhone: Ultimate guide! 
• How to change iMessage bubble color on iPhone and iPad
• How to fix Messages app keeps crashing and freezing on iPhone 

The post How to send a text message instead of iMessage on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

You may not be able to send regular text messages better known as SMS from your iPhone and see a red Exclamation mark icon due to an unusual bug or temporary glitches. Before you contact your carrier or visit an Apple Store, look at all these straightforward fixes to this issue. By the end, you will get the answer to ‘why is my iPhone not sending text messages?’

How to fix iPhone not sending text messages

First of all, make sure you are allowed to send SMS from your carrier’s end. If you are a prepaid user, ensure you have enough balance. And if you are on a postpaid plan, make sure there are no outstanding bills or limitations on your account.

If these fixes solve your issue, that’s great. If not, check these troubleshooting steps to identify why your iPhone can’t send text messages and fix the same.

1. Restart your iPhone

If your iPhone’s text messages are not getting delivered, a simple restart can often fix the issue.

To restart an iPhone X or later, hold the Side button and the Volume button. Then slide to power off. However, if you have an older iPhone, you have to hold either the Top or Sleep/Wake button to access the power off menu.

2. Quit and reopen Messages app

If you’re having trouble sending text messages from your iPhone, a simple fix may be to close and relaunch the Messages app. This can sometimes clear up minor glitches or issues that are preventing messages from being sent.

On iPhone with Home Button, double press it to see all open apps. On iPhone without Home Button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause.

Now, drag the Messages app card to top to force quit it. You may also close other running apps. Reopen the Messages app and try sending a text messages.

3. Turn on/off Airplane mode

If you have poor cellular reception on your iPhone, you can try moving to a different room or location to see if that helps.

But if you keep experiencing issues, follow the steps below to reconnect your iPhone to cellular services.

1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone.
2. Tap and enable Airplane mode for a few seconds → Then turn it off.
   
   

4. Check recipient’s phone number

Chances are slim, but I would advise that you check the phone number of the person whom you are sending the text. If you see a wrong country code or digits missing from the number, please correct it and try to send the text message again.

5. Delete the conversation and start a new message

If your iPhone can’t send text messages to a specific contact, deleting and starting a new message thread might be the solution.

1. Open Messages → Tap the three-dot menu → Select Messages.
2. Select the message threads you would like to restart → Tap Delete.
   
   
3. Tap the Compose button in the top right corner → Add the recipients.
   
   

6. Ensure the correct SIM is selected

Suppose you are using dual SIM on your iPhone, wherein only one SIM supports texting and the other SIM is only reserved for data. In that case, you should ensure that you’ve selected the correct SIM or conversation line that can be used for sending texts.

If the wrong line is selected, your iPhone’s text messages won’t be delivered.

1. Open the Messages app → Then, open any message thread.
2. Tap the contact’s name at the top.
   
   
3. Tap Conversation Line → Select your preferred SIM.
   
   

7. Ensure SMS are turned on

It is a good idea to ensure that your iPhone can send a message as a regular text message when iMessage isn’t available. To do that:

1. Go to Settings → Messages.
2. Scroll down and toggle on Send as SMS.

8. Turn off Text Message Forwarding on iPhone

This feature allows you to receive and send SMS/MMS messages from your iPhone on connected Apple devices like Macs or iPads. However, this feature can be glitchy and prevent you from sending texts.

1. Navigate to Settings → Messages.
2. Scroll down and tap Text Message Forwarding.
3. Turn off the toggle next to the connected Apple devices.
   
   

9. Check date and time settings on iPhone

While this may seem trivial, Incorrect date and time settings on iPhones can also prevent you from successfully sending text messages.

This is because cellular services rely on accurate date and time settings for delivering text messages and ensuring proper synchronization between the devices.

1. Navigate to Settings → General.
2. Select Date & Time → Toggle on Set Automatically.
   
   

10. Check for carrier updates

Outdated carrier settings can also result in your iPhone not sending text messages.

You should regularly install these updates as they affect various aspects of your cellular network, including SMS/MMS functionality.

1. Navigate to Settings → General → About.
2. If a Carrier Settings Update dialog pops up → Tap Update.
   
   

11. Remove and reinsert the SIM card

Struggling to send or receive text messages on your iPhone? A simple trick that often works wonders is removing and re-inserting your SIM card. This can sometimes resolve issues caused by poor contact between the card and your iPhone’s internal reader, leading to communication disruptions.

Apart from the iPhone 15 and 14 models sold in the United States, all iPhones have a physical SIM card slot on the left side. Use the ejector tool or a pin to remove the SIM card. Then, clean it with a soft, dry cloth before reinserting it.

In case your iPhone uses an eSIM, follow these steps to delete and re-add it:

1. Go to Settings → Cellular.
2. Select the eSIM you want to Delete → Tap Delete eSIM.
3. Tap Delete eSIM again to confirm the action.
   
   
4. Tap Add eSIM → Follow the instructions to set up the eSIM again.
   
   

12. Install the latest iOS update

Installing the latest iOS update can be a convenient solution to make the iPhone send text messages again.

Updates include bug fixes and improvements that address various issues, including those related to text messaging.

1. Navigate to Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Tap Update Now if a software update is available.
   
   

13. Reset your iPhone’s network settings

Resetting the network settings will reset all network-related settings to their default values, which can sometimes resolve issues caused by incorrect network configurations.

1. Navigate to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
   
2. Tap Reset → Reset Network Settings.
3. Enter your iPhone’s passcode.
4. Tap Reset Network Settings again to complete the process.
   
   

14. Erase all content and settings on iPhone

If your iPhone is still unable to send text messages, erasing all content and settings might be your last resort.

This will restore your iPhone to its factory state and wipe away all your data. While it’s not ideal, it can be a powerful solution for resolving issues caused by software glitches or corrupted files.

1. Navigate to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
   
   
3. Tap Continue → Type the iPhone Passcode.
4. Follow the given instructions once the iCloud backup is complete.
   
   
   ‍

Contact Apple or the carrier for support

If you’ve tried all the fixes and your iPhone is still not sending text messages, it’s time to call in the experts. Contacting Apple or your carrier’s customer support can provide the expertise needed to diagnose and fix the issue.

Wrapping up…

By following the tips in this guide, you should have successfully revived your iPhone’s texting capabilities. Now, you can continue sending and receiving messages without any hiccups. If this guide was able to help you resolve the problem, we would love to hear which solution did the trick for you.

Also read:

• Live Voicemail not working on iPhone? 9 Ways to fix it!
• How to rearrange and delete iMessage apps on iPhone or iPad
• How to turn on iMessage Contact Key Verification on iPhone

The post Is your iPhone not sending text messages? Here’s how to fix the issue appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Want to share a funny meme or keep someone in the loop on Messages? Fortunately, Apple lets you forward text messages without the sender and receiver knowing. Here, I’ll show you how to forward text messages on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

• How to forward text messages on iPhone and iPad
• How to forward text messages from Mac to others
• How to forward text messages on Apple Watch
• Automatically forward text messages from iPhone to your other Apple devices

How to forward text messages on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Messages app → Select the contact to whose message you want to forward.
2. Tap and hold the text bubble → Choose More.
   
   
3. Select the Forward icon at bottom.
   
   
4. Select the contact to whom you want to forward the message.
5. Hit the Send button next to the message.
   
   

How to forward text messages from Mac to others

Since the Messages app is available on Mac, you can forward messages from your Mac. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Messages from Spotlight, Launchpad, or the Applications folder.
2. Select the contact from which you want to send the message.
   
   
3. Right-click the message → Select Forward.
   
   
4. Enter the name and select the contact you want to forward the message to.
   
   
5. Click the text box → Press the Return key on your keyboard.
   
   

How to forward text messages on Apple Watch

1. Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
2. Select the conversation → Tap and hold the message you want to forward.
3. Select Share.
   
   
4. Select Messages → Choose the contact to whom you want to send the message.
   Tap the suggested contact if it’s the same person.
5. Tap Send to forward the message.
   
   

Automatically forward text messages from iPhone to your other Apple devices

There are instances where you don’t have your iPhone handy but want to access the messages you received. In that case, you may forward text messages from your iPhone to your own devices connected to your Apple ID:

1. Navigate to Settings → Messages on your iPhone.
2. Select Text Message Forwarding or SMS Forwarding.
3. Toggle on devices where you want to receive the messages from your iPhone.
   
   

Note that the selected device must have two-factor authentication enabled. If it’s not, you will receive a verification code on that device. Simply type the code on your iPhone.

Now, whenever your iPhone is turned on and connected to the internet, you can send/receive messages from the enabled devices.

FAQs

Final thoughts…

There you have it! Although Apple doesn’t offer a way to forward messages automatically from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, you can manually forward texts when needed. I hope this guide was helpful.

If you’ve any further queries or suggestions on this guide, please leave them in the suggestions below.

Read more:

• How to send text message (SMS) instead of iMessage on iPhone
• How to schedule text messages on iPhone
• iPhone not sending text messages? Easy Ways to fix It!

The post How to forward text message on iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

This issue is a dealbreaker for many and has caused a major headache for many iPhone users. Is your iMessage search not working, too? Below are some troubleshooting tips and workarounds you may try to find what you’re looking for.

1. Restart your iPhone
2. Wait it out
3. Change Language Settings on iPhone
4. Send message to someone
5. Turn off and on iMessage in iCloud
6. Disable and re-enable Siri & Suggestions
7. Update your iOS or downgrade to iOS 16
8. Backup and restore from a recent backup
9. Check if your iPhone deleted the message
10. Temporary fixes

1. Restart your iPhone

It may sound cliché, but if you haven’t tried it, consider restarting your iPhone before delving into more intricate troubleshooting steps.

A simple reboot can often clear out most glitches and bugs wreaking havoc on your iPhone.

2. Wait it out

The problem behind the iMessage search not working in iOS 17 may be an indexing issue. Updating your OS or restoring your device seems to reset your iPhone’s search index. Unfortunately, it takes a long time for the device to rebuild its search index, and only new and recent messages get added to the search index after the update/restore process.

Some iPhone users who have complained about the issue for over a week, like Redditor jamesmcgill357, noted that after a while, more words could be searched, but results still don’t go as far back as they should. This could be because the iPhone may still be indexing in the background.

3. Change Language Settings on iPhone

One of the things that can help rebuild your search index to include all messages, including the old ones, is changing your language settings.

1. Go to Settings → General.
2. Select Language & Region.
3. Change your current language to another language. 
   In case you don’t have the intended option, select Add Language.
   
   

Give it a few minutes before checking if your message search stretches further back your message history.

4. Send message to someone

If the search result doesn’t include your message history with a particular person, you might want to try sending a message to the person.

Doing so might help add the older message thread with this person to your search index, making them searchable again.

5. Turn off and on iMessage in iCloud

If you’re syncing your messages on iCloud, turning it off will cause your device to download all your messages into your device. Having all your messages stored on your iPhone can help force Messages to index again. 

1. To do this, go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud.
   
   
2. Tap Show All →  Messages → Toggle off Sync this iPhone.
   
   
3. Toggle on Messages in iCloud again once it’s done downloading the messages and performing local indexing.

6. Disable and re-enable Siri & Suggestions

Since Siri uses information from Messages to offer suggestions in Search, Keyboard, and Lookup, deactivating and reactivating Siri & Suggestions for Messages could force Messages to rebuild its search index.

1. Go to Settings → Siri & Search.
2. Scroll down to the apps and select Messages.
3. Toggle off Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, and Suggest App.
   
   
4. After this, exit Settings and turn off your device for a few minutes.
5. Then, go back and toggle on all of the aforementioned settings.

7. Update your iOS or downgrade to iOS 16

Several users mentioned that the issue is already “under investigation” by Apple, and a person in Apple Support stated that the problem will likely be resolved in a future update. That being said, a solution might be available in iOS 17.0.3 or later.

Since the issue is tied to iOS 17, downgrading to iOS 16 might help fix the issue — especially if you only saw the problem after upgrading to iOS 17.

8. Backup and restore from a recent backup

Another drastic measure you might want to try is to restore your iPhone from a backup.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that this will work — but it’s worth a try.

9. Check if your iPhone deleted the message

If you’re confident that the content you’re searching for occurred in the past, it’s possible that the missing history results from either you deleting the message or your iPhone doing it for you. Once a message is deleted, it’s removed from your iPhone and won’t appear in Message searches.

1. You can double-check this by going to Settings → Messages.
2. Under Message History, tap Keep Messages → Select Forever from the dropdown menu.
   
   
3. If you’ve selected 30 Days or 1 Year, probably, the message you’re looking for has already been deleted.
   

10. Temporary fixes

While users generally have no choice but to wait for Apple to resolve the glitch or look for other ways to solve the issue on their own, there are a few things you can do to check your message history.

• Use a different Apple device: Curiously, this phenomenon is limited to iPhones. Macs and iPads updated to macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17 are exempted from the message search glitch. If you sync your messages across the ecosystem, you can still use your Mac or iPad to search your messages.
• Search through Spotlight or Siri: Aside from searching in-app, you can also conduct your message history search through Siri or Spotlight. Siri doesn’t dig deep into your message history, but it can definitely dig up some information from your recent threads, especially if your in-app search yields no results.
  
  You can also do a Spotlight search by tapping the Search button on the Home Screen. Enter a word or a phrase and scroll through the results until you see the Messages section.
• Do a manual search: Lastly, you can do a manual search. While the search bar inside Messages fails to retrieve results due to faulty indexing, you can still manually scroll through your message thread to find what you’re looking for.

Wrapping up…

Given the lengthy nature of message threads, the search function is a lifeline for finding crucial information. Ideally, this function should significantly reduce the time spent manually searching, so it’s naturally frustrating when the results fall short of expectations.  

Were any of the provided solutions effective for you? If not, your best bet is to wait until Apple releases an OS update to fix this bug. We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!

Read more:

• iMessage not working on Mac? 12 Ways to fix it!
• Best iOS 17 features and supported devices
• How to use Messages app on iPhone: Ultimate guide!

The post iOS 17 Message search not working? 10 Ways to fix it! appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

What are Smart Search Filters in the iMessage app?

The Smart Filters in iOS 17 allow you to effectively search through your conversations and locate a specific text or attachment in a jiffy. With the help of on-device machine learning algorithms, this feature categorizes all your texts on various parameters such as sender, date, keywords, attachments, and more.

So, if you only remember one word about the message you are searching for, it will show all texts containing that word. Overall, these intelligent filtering capabilities elevate the Messages app‘s functionality and bring added convenience.

How to use Smart Search Filters in iMessage in iOS 17 on iPhone

1. Go to Messages → Swipe down to access the Search bar.
2. Type a category like Photos or Documents to see all the attachments in iMessage.
   
   
3. Type a word to see contacts, text messages, links, and attachments having that word.
   
   
4. Select See All to get more search results.
5. Tap a search result to jump to the chat.
   
   
6. Type a contact name → Select Messages with: [contact name].
   
   
   • Enter a word to see text messages from that contact containing those words.
   • Type Documents to get document files shared with the contact.
   • Select Photos to see images sent to or received from the contact.
   • Tap Link to go through all the links in the chat.
   • Select Location to see the map links. Further, you may type a word related to the location you are searching. So, you can get the exact map links with that word.
     
     

Besides these new smart filters in the Messages app, there are some default SMS filters.

How to use default Smart Filters in iMessage on iPhone in iOS 17

1. Open Messages → Tap Filters.
2. Here, you can see a series of filter categories as follows:
   • All Messages: Lists all conversations classified in a systematic order.
   • Known Senders: Provides a curated list of conversations with saved contacts.
   • Unknown Senders: Consists of text requests sent from unknown contacts.
   • Unread Messages: Enlists all text messages that are yet to be seen.
   • Recently Deleted: The deleted messages not so long ago are available here for a significant period.
     
     

Furthermore, those who have enabled SMS FILTERING can access the extra filters described below:

• All Transactions: It contains a complete logbook of bank transactions and enlists every message the bank sends.
• Finance: This section further categorizes your messages from different banks or financial apps.
• Orders: The messages sent by food delivery apps, e-commerce apps, and package delivery services are all available here.
• Reminders: It usually contains reminders to pay the bills or messages your bank sends.
• Promotions: This confines every promotional message you receive from third-party services.

How to disable Smart Filters in iMessage in iOS 17 on iPhone

1. Launch Settings → Select Messages.
2. Tap Unkown & Spam.
3. Select None.
   
   

Use the Messages app like never before!

I hope you’ve discovered a new incredible functionality of the Messages app. These smart filters allow you to effortlessly locate essential messages. So, you don’t need to navigate through countless conversations. If you can’t access the Smart Search Filters, update your iPhone to the latest iOS 17 version.

Read more:

• Best iOS 17 tips and tricks you should know!
• How to hide alerts in the Messages app on iPhone
• How to retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone
• iOS 17 Message search not working? 10 Ways to fix it!

The post How to use iOS 17 Smart Search Filters in Messages on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Read on as I show you 6 ways to recover deleted text messages on your iPhone.

How to recover deleted text messages on iPhone in iOS 16

Show Recently Deleted feature is one of the simplest ways to recover text messages that you unintentionally deleted from your iPhone. This feature is made to keep deleted files on your iOS device for 30 days before completely wiping them out.

1. Launch the Messages app on your iPhone.  
2. Tap Edit on the top left corner of the screen. 
3. Choose Show Recently Deleted. 
4. Select the messages you wish to recover.
   
    
5. Tap Recover/Recover All when prompted to complete the procedure. 

Note: If you have turned on Filters for the Messages app, the method is slightly different. Go to Messages app → Tap Filters → Recently Deleted → select the messages you want to recover and tap Recover.

How to retrieve deleted messages using iCloud backup

Performing a backup restore from iCloud is another way to retrieve deleted messages on your iPhone. The probability of recovering them is even high if you frequently back up to iCloud.

This trick will help recover all your files, and these may include text messages from a previous iCloud backup. Nonetheless, there’s no way to filter down to text messages only. But it might be worth it in the end. It requires resetting your iPhone, though.

The advantage of this method is you can restore your iPhone to a chosen date. That way, you’ll be able to retrieve files you backed up before you mistakenly deleted the said text messages. So you might want to check the last time your phone backed up before resetting it.

To see the last time your phone backed up to iCloud, open Settings → tap the Apple ID banner at the top. Next, select iCloud → iCloud Backup. Below the Back Up Now callout, you’ll see the time of the last successful backup.

Next, perform a factory reset of your iPhone. After resetting your iPhone, follow the prompts until you see the Apps & Data screen.

Next, use these instructions to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup:

1. From the Apps & Data section, select Restore from iCloud Backup.
2. Sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID and password.
3. Tap Show all backups and select a relevant one.
   Tip: Use the backup date to decide here. Try not to pick a backup that came after the day you deleted the text messages.

This way, your messages might get restored together with the rest of the files.

Restore deleted text messages on iPhone from iTunes

This recovery method works best if you backed up your iPhone to iTunes or macOS Catalina or later at least before deleting your text messages. Otherwise, if you backed up after deleting the text messages, this overwrites the previous backup, and you might not be able to recover the messages.

iTunes and macOS Catalina or later versions don’t usually require a factory reset. But if conventional restore without reset doesn’t recover your text messages, you might need a factory reset of your iPhone before restoring from iTunes or macOS anyways.

Further, you need a PC or Mac to restore from iTunes. A restore from macOS Catalina or later requires a Mac. This comprehensive guide to restoring data has all the information you need to use this method.

Recover deleted messages from the iCloud website

The iCloud website is another source to recover deleted text messages on your iPhone. Of course, this method requires you to visit the official iCloud website and log in using your Apple ID and password.

Although there’s no specific space for messages on the iCloud website, restoring your files from here might also help recover your text messages. Here’s a guide on recovering deleted files from the iCloud website. However, while I added this as part of the recovery methods, it has a lower chance of success compared to the rest.

Contact your network carrier

While this is a last resort, network providers always have your data on their systems, even if you’ve deleted it. So you might want to contact them if all else fails.

However, this method depends on your network carrier, as the case is always different across regions. Nonetheless, if your network carrier provides solid support, contacting them is one of the best ways to retrieve lost messages.

Retrieve permanently deleted texts using third-party software

Of course, you can use a third-party solution to recover deleted messages on your iPhone. For this purpose, I’ll recommend using the PhoneRescue recovery tool. It’s a paid app, though. And it comes in handy for selectively recovering messages directly from your iOS device without restoring its entire backup.

To use PhoneRescue, launch your browser on your PC or macOS and go to PhoneRescue’s website to download and install the app’s compatible version on your computer. Launch the app and use the following instructions to recover deleted messages:

1. Plug your iPhone into the computer using a USB cable.
2. Select Recover from iOS Device.
3. Next, click the next arrow button at the bottom right.
   
   
4. Select Messages.
   You might want to deselect other options to make the process faster.
   
   
5. Click OK to proceed.
   Wait for the app to load your messages.
6. Once loaded, click the phone symbol at the bottom right to restore your messages.
   
   

That’s about it!

Text messages are hard to recover once deleted. But of course, you should be able to recover your text messages using any of these methods. Let me know if you recovered your deleted messages in the comment section below.

Read more:

• How to send text message (SMS) instead of iMessage on iPhone
• How to know if someone has blocked you on iMessage
• Use Communication Safety Messages on iPhone
• How to forward a text message on iPhone

The post How to retrieve deleted text messages on iPhone (6 Ways) appeared first on iGeeksBlog.