The Secret Features of iMessage You Probably Didn’t Know About

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The Secret Features of iMessage You Probably Didn’t Know About

The Secret Features of iMessage You Probably Didn’t Know About

iMessage is packed with hidden features that can elevate your messaging experience beyond just sending text. While many people are familiar with the basic functionalities of iMessage, there are several secret features that can make your communication faster, more fun, and more productive. Here are some iMessage tricks and features you might not know about:

1. Send Messages with Special Effects

One of the most fun and engaging features of iMessage is the ability to send messages with special effects. Whether you want to celebrate a birthday, share good news, or add excitement to a conversation, iMessage has you covered.

  • Bubble Effects: When typing a message, press and hold the send button to choose from various bubble effects such as Slam, Loud, Gentle, or Invisible Ink. Each effect alters how the message appears to the recipient.
  • Screen Effects: Swipe left to the Screen tab after holding the send button to choose effects like Confetti, Lasers, Fireworks, Love, and Celebration. These effects take over the entire screen, creating a fun and festive vibe.

2. Send Money via Apple Pay

iMessage has integrated Apple Pay to make sending and receiving money easier than ever. This feature allows you to send money directly within your messages, making it perfect for paying back a friend or splitting a bill.

  • How to Use Apple Pay in iMessage:
    1. Open a conversation and tap the Apple Pay icon.
    2. Enter the amount you want to send.
    3. Use Face ID or Touch ID to authorize the payment.

Both you and the recipient need to have Apple Pay set up to use this feature.

3. Use iMessage as a Collaborative Tool with Shared Notes

You can collaborate on ideas or work projects in iMessage by sharing a Notes document within the app. This is particularly useful for brainstorming or working on a project with a team.

  • How to Share a Note:
    1. Open the Notes app and create a new note.
    2. Tap the Share button and choose iMessage to send it to your contact.
    3. Once shared, everyone in the conversation can edit the note, making it a real-time collaboration tool.

4. Find and Share Your Location

Need to let someone know where you are or find their location? iMessage has a built-in feature to send your current location or find the location of others.

  • How to Share Your Location:
    1. Tap on the i icon in the top right corner of a conversation.
    2. Choose Send My Current Location to share your location instantly, or tap Share My Location to share it for a specified duration (1 hour, until end of day, or indefinitely).

You can also track your friend’s location by tapping their name in the conversation and selecting Share My Location if they’ve shared it with you.

5. Secretly Read Messages with Invisible Ink

Invisible Ink allows you to send messages that are hidden until the recipient swipes over them, adding a layer of secrecy to your texts.

  • How to Use Invisible Ink:
    1. Type your message in the text box.
    2. Press and hold the send button, then choose Invisible Ink.
    3. The recipient will see a blurred message, which they can swipe to reveal.

This feature adds an element of surprise and fun, perfect for teasing or sending a surprise message.

6. Pin Important Conversations to the Top

If you have ongoing conversations that you want to keep at the top of your Messages app for easy access, you can pin them. This is helpful for prioritizing work conversations, family chats, or important projects.

  • How to Pin a Conversation:
    1. In the Messages app, swipe right on a conversation.
    2. Tap the Pin button that appears.

Pinned conversations will always appear at the top of your list, even if they are inactive.

7. Use Siri to Send Messages Hands-Free

If you’re busy with other tasks, you can use Siri to send messages via iMessage without needing to type anything.

  • How to Use Siri for iMessage:
    1. Activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing the side button.
    2. Say “Send a message to [Contact Name]”.
    3. Dictate your message and say “Send”.

Siri can also read your incoming messages aloud, making it a great hands-free option while you’re on the go.

8. Search Within a Conversation

Finding an old message in a long conversation can be tricky, but iMessage has a built-in search feature that lets you quickly locate specific messages.

  • How to Search in iMessage:
    1. Open the Messages app and swipe down to reveal the search bar.
    2. Type in keywords or phrases to search within a specific conversation.

You can even search for photos, links, or attachments by typing in terms like photo or video.

9. Mark Messages as Unread

Sometimes you might want to come back to a message later without forgetting about it. iMessage allows you to mark a message as unread, so it stands out in your list.

  • How to Mark a Message as Unread:
    1. Swipe right on a conversation in the Messages app.
    2. Tap Mark as Unread.

This feature helps you remember to reply or address a message when you have more time.

10. Hide Alerts for Group Chats

Group chats can get noisy with constant notifications. If you’re in a group chat that you don’t need to monitor constantly, you can mute it temporarily.

  • How to Mute Group Chats:
    1. Open the group chat in Messages.
    2. Tap the i icon in the top right corner.
    3. Toggle Hide Alerts to mute notifications.

You’ll still receive the messages, but your phone won’t notify you with a sound or vibration.

11. Customizing Your iMessage with Memoji and Stickers

Memoji and stickers add personality to your messages. You can create your own personalized Memoji and use it to send fun, animated messages.

  • How to Use Memoji:
    1. Open the Messages app and tap the Animoji icon in the app drawer.
    2. Select Memoji and customize it to match your appearance.
    3. You can then send Memoji stickers, or use them for animated messages.

This feature makes iMessage more fun and allows you to express yourself creatively.

12. Type with One Hand

If you’re typing with one hand on a larger iPhone, iMessage offers a one-handed keyboard option for easier typing.

  • How to Use One-Handed Keyboard:
    1. Open Messages and bring up the keyboard.
    2. Tap and hold the globe icon (or emoji button).
    3. Select Left or Right to adjust the keyboard for one-handed use.

Conclusion

iMessage is more than just a simple messaging app. With these hidden features, you can take full advantage of its capabilities, whether it’s for fun, productivity, or managing group conversations. From sending money to using fun effects, iMessage is packed with tools that can enhance your communication experience. Now that you know these secret features, you can start using iMessage like a pro!