Skip to main content

iMessage

Send texts, photos, videos, and audio messages — all from the Messages app

See All Stories
scheduled iMessage feature

iMessage was announced by Scott Forstall at the WWDC keynote in 2011. When iOS 5 was released in October, it included a version of the messages app that had iMessage built-in. In early 2012, Apple announced that a new Messages app would be included in OS X Mountain Lion which was released on July 25, 2012.

By 2012, Tim Cook announced that over 300 billion messages had been sent using iMessage. In 2016, Eddie Cue announced that 200,000 iMessages were being sent every second. Apple also announced an App Store for the platform in 2016.

When Apple announced its messaging platform, mobile carriers were caught off guard as it took over SMS technology. One of the reasons it was initially so successful is that users didn’t realize they were using something new. The only visual change was that the messages went from green to blue. The box for typing message had a faint iMessage in the box before starting a message as well.

Since its release, Google has tried multiple times to create its own messaging service similar to iMessage, but it hasn’t been able to find the same success. Apple has been applauded for including end-to-end encryption in iMessage.

We use end-to-end encryption to protect your iMessage and FaceTime conversations across all your devices. With watchOS and iOS, your messages are encrypted on your device so that they can’t be accessed without your passcode. We designed iMessage and FaceTime so that there’s no way for us to decrypt your data when it’s in transit between devices. You can choose to automatically delete your messages from your device after 30 days or a year or to keep them on your device forever.

Third-party apps that use iMessage do not have access to participants’ actual contact information or conversations. iOS provides each app with a random identifier for each participant, which is reset when the app is uninstalled. iMessage and SMS messages are backed up on iCloud for your convenience, but you can turn iCloud Backup off whenever you want. And we never store the content of FaceTime calls on any servers.

In iOS 11.4, Apple released Messages in the Cloud. If you enable it, it keeps your entire message history updated and available on all your devices. If you purchase a new device, all of your conversations will be synced over as well.

Banks fined for iMessage use | Wells Fargo offices pictured

Banks fined $549M for using personal iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal accounts

Enforcement action by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has seen Wells Fargo and several other banks fined a total of $549M for using personal end-to-end encrypted messaging accounts to discuss company business.

The SEC said senior bank officials used personal iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal accounts when making business decisions …

Expand Expanding Close

Apple faces March 5 deadline for third-party app stores – but don’t hold your breath

Third-party app stores deadline | iPhone in case with rainbow Apple logo

Apple will have until March 5 next year to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act, which in theory means that it will have to permit either third-party app stores, or sideloading of apps, by that date.

The deadline has been revealed after Apple confirmed that it qualified as having “gatekeeper” status, meaning that it is one of the companies that will be subject to the upcoming law. However, don’t expect much to change on this date …

Expand Expanding Close

iMessage is currently down or partially not working for some users [U: Fixed]

iMessage

If you’re having issues with Apple’s iMessage on Tuesday, it’s not just you. The platform is currently down or partially not working for some users. While in some cases users can send text messages but not media, others have been complaining that iMessage is not working at all.

Update: Apple says the issue was fixed around 11:20 a.m. PT. You can read the original article below.

Expand Expanding Close

Microsoft iMessage on Windows 11, here are the pros and cons [U: Fully rolled out]

iMessage Windows 11 Microsoft Phone Link

Back in February Microsoft started testing iMessage on Windows made possible through its Phone Link app. Now the company says it’s rolling out the feature to everyone running Windows 11. While the news may sound exciting, there are some drawbacks to Microsoft’s iMessage experience. Here’s what you should know.

Expand Expanding Close

NSO zero-click iPhone hack accessed HomeKit, but blocked by Lockdown Mode

NSO zero-click iPhone hack | Screenshot of Lockdown Mode alert

An NSO zero-click iPhone hack worked by gaining access to HomeKit on the device, but it was blocked by those using Apple’s Lockdown Mode security feature, with the phone alerting them to the access attempt.

However, two other NSO zero-click attacks seemingly succeeded – both exploiting vulnerabilities in the Find My app …

Expand Expanding Close
Picture of phone with Google Messages in front of iPhone

Messaging is no longer Android’s mess, it’s an iPhone problem: Talking RCS with Hiroshi Lockheimer

A few weeks ago, at MWC 2023, I had an opportunity to sit down with Hiroshi Lockheimer, senior vice president of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google, to talk about RCS messaging. While there was not a lot into the future of what Google is planning with Google Messages and RCS as a protocol, I did get a good look into how RCS came to be and how Google sees it.

Expand Expanding Close

Gen Z is key to Apple’s dominance, due to their fear of green bubbles

iPhone android text broken

Gen Z is key to Apple’s dominance, according to a new report – which says that fear of being “the green bubble guy”‘ in group chats is a key motivation.

The report also underlines the importance the iPhone plays in hooking people into the Apple ecosystem, spurring sales of AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Expand Expanding Close

iMessage to voice note: Apple patent to play messages in your voice

iMessage to voice note

A new Apple patent application describes a way to transform an iMessage to a voice note. In this way, the recipient can choose to have your message read to them not in Siri’s voice, but in yours.

To do this, you would each need to share a voice file containing the data the iPhone would need to mimic your voice when reading the message aloud …

Expand Expanding Close

How to turn on end-to-end encryption for iMessage, iCloud, iPhone backups

How to turn on iPhone end-to-end encryption

Apple launched a big security enhancement with iOS 16.2 that brings the long-requested feature of full encryption for iMessage in iCloud, iPhone backups, and eight other apps/categories. As part of the process, you’ll need to set up a recovery contact/key – here’s how to turn on iPhone end-to-end encryption for iMessage, iCloud, device backups, Notes, Safari, Photos, and more.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple ‘not currently considering’ adopting RCS, despite EU law requiring iMessage interoperability

iMessage RCS

A new report from Bloomberg today says that Apple is planning to open the iPhone up to third-party app stores for the first time. The report, however, also says that Apple hasn’t made a decision on “how it may open iMessage and its Messages app to third-party services.”

Like the App Store changes, this is something that would be required under the new Digital Markets Act in the European Union.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple debuts Advanced Data Protection to bring end-to-end encryption to Messages in iCloud, Photos, device backups, much more

advanced data protection

Apple today has announced a dramatic expansion of end-to-end encryption for its various cloud services. Called Advanced Data Protection, this initiative expands end-to-end encryption to a number of additional iCloud services, including iCloud device backups, Messages backups, Photos, and much more.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple @ Work: iMessage could be a strong business communication tool if Apple expanded it to other platforms

iMessage

Apple at Work is bought to you by JamfGet complete management and security solutions for your organization that are enterprise secure, consumer simple, and protect personal privacy with Jamf. Plus you’ll get same-day support for the latest Apple OS upgrades, Today, over 62,000 organizations trust Jamf to manage and secure over 27 million devices.

When iMessage launched with iOS 5, it was really a genius rollout design by Apple. There was no signup – it was automatic. There was no app to download – it was built into the SMS/messages app. There was no UI to learn. It worked just like your normal messaging app; Apple has done a nice job evolving the service. It’s no longer the only messaging app out there, and I believe Apple has an opportunity to turn iMessage into a business chat tool if they expand it outside of the Apple ecosystem. Let’s look at how Apple could build an iMessage @ Work tool to compete against Slack and Microsoft Teams.

I

Meta launches ad campaign targeting iMessage: ‘WhatsApp is far more private and secure’

iMessage meta WhatsApp

Meta is launching a new ad campaign targeting Apple’s iMessage platform head-on. The ad campaign unveiled by Mark Zuckerberg today criticizes Apple for only offering end-to-end encryption for iMessage, not standard SMS communication. WhatsApp, on the other hand, offers end-to-end encryption that “works across both iPhones and Android.”

Expand Expanding Close

Edit iMessages: Here’s how the new iOS 16 iPhone feature works and its limitations

edit iMessages iPhone

The Messages app gets some slick upgrades with iOS 16. One of the headlining features is the ability to edit iMessages on iPhone after sending them. Read on for a hands-on look at how the feature works and its limitations.

Brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform. Businesses can automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Request a FREE account to learn how to put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

Expand Expanding Close

Unsend iMessages: Hands-on with the new iOS 16 iPhone feature, how it works, limitations, more

unsend iMessages iPhone how to guide

The Messages app gets some valuable upgrades this year with iOS 16. One of the interesting features is the ability to unsend iMessages on iPhone. Follow along for a hands-on look at how the feature works, its limitations, and what the experience is like for the person on the other end.

Brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform. Businesses can automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Request a FREE account to learn how to put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

Expand Expanding Close

Beeper lets you use iMessage on Android and Windows – but it comes at a price

Beeper lets you use iMessage on Android and Windows

As you probably already know, iMessage is Apple’s instant messaging platform. It was introduced in 2011, and Apple never made it available for Android or Windows. This has frustrated many users, especially those who want to switch from iOS to Android but don’t want to lose access to iMessage. With Beeper, Android users can finally have iMessage on other platforms – but it comes at a price.

Expand Expanding Close

Digital Markets Act passes, could force Apple to allow competing app stores, and more

Digital Markets Act | Purely decorative image of the word 'app' on a wall

Europe’s Digital Markets Act has been approved by the EU parliament, opening the door to Apple being required to allow competing iOS app stores.

The antitrust legislation will also oblige Apple to allow developers to use third-party payment platforms when apps are sold through Apple’s own App Store, and could require it to make iMessage talk to competing messenger apps …

Expand Expanding Close

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications