iOS 18 Messages app: 5 enjoyable new texting options for iPhone

In iOS 18, Apple’s Messages app features 5 nice new options that may make texting all of the extra enjoyable. New message results allow you to daring and animate textual content. When you’re the forgetful sort, you possibly can schedule your messages to ship later — routinely. You’ll be able to reply to a message utilizing any emoji you want. Lastly, texting will get simpler with your pals on Android — and in the midst of the Gobi desert.

Watch our video or maintain studying to see one of the best new Messages options after you improve to iOS 18. (You could find the brand new iPhone working in Settings > Basic > Software program Replace.)

The 5 nice new options in Messages in iOS 18

Now that texting is the brand new e mail, the Messages app is extra necessary than ever. Apple’s free messaging app at all times let iPhone house owners talk with different telephones by way of textual content messages, however added particular bells and whistles for messages despatched between Apple units.

In iOS 18, Apple begins to slim the hole when texting with Android customers. The Messages app provides help for RCS (quick for Wealthy Communication Companies) in iOS 18. Consequently, many of the finest new options within the Messages app will work with whoever you’re messaging. They need to make your messages extra expressive and enjoyable.

Different new Messages options will enhance the texting expertise throughout. You’ll be able to schedule messages to be despatched prematurely, react utilizing any emoji you need, and ship messages by way of satellite tv for pc wherever you might be (in the event you’ve received a brand new sufficient iPhone).

Desk of contents: 5 nice new options in Messages in iOS 18

1. Wealthy textual content formatting
2. Schedule your messages to ship later
3. Tapbacks with any emoji
4. RCS messaging for Android mates
5. Higher emergency satellite tv for pc messaging

1. Wealthy textual content formatting in iOS 18’s Messages app

Able to make your texts extra expressive? New wealthy textual content formatting choices in iOS 18 allow you to animate the phrases you ship your pals, household and colleagues by way of the Messages app. Above the keyboard, you’ll see a brand new textual content formatting button on the appropriate. Faucet on that and also you’ll see new choices for formatting your textual content.

On high, you’ll see the traditional formatting choices of daring, italicize, underline and strikethrough. Faucet and drag to pick out the textual content you wish to format; faucet a number of of those choices to use the format you need.

Now for the enjoyable half. Under the traditional choices, you’ll see numerous animated textual content results. You’ll be able to apply these to your entire textual content message or to particular phrases in it. You’ll be able to even apply a number of results to totally different phrases in the identical message by choosing totally different phrases or parts. However, understandably, you possibly can’t mix results on the identical choice — you possibly can’t make phrases each large and small. That will be foolish.

2. Schedule your messages to ship later

After I first tried the up to date Messages app in iOS 18, this grew to become an immediate new favourite characteristic: the flexibility to schedule messages to be despatched later. If somebody asks you to remind them of one thing sooner or later — however you, your self, battle to recollect such issues — you possibly can schedule your reminder textual content. This characteristic doesn’t require the opposite particular person to be operating iOS 18, both. You can begin utilizing it instantly, earlier than the opposite particular person updates their iPhone.

Simply hit the + button, then scroll down and faucet Ship Later. You’ll be able to sort in no matter message you need, including hyperlinks and/or pictures. Faucet the schedule button above the textual content field to set a date and time, and the ship button to schedule your message. Messages will be scheduled as much as every week prematurely. To get again to replying in actual time, faucet the × to shut the Ship Later field.

You’ll be able to see all of your scheduled messages by scrolling down, under the present dialog. Faucet Edit for a couple of choices:

• Ship Message will ship it instantly, as an alternative of on the scheduled time.
• Edit Time allows you to change when your message will exit.
• Delete Message will delete your scheduled message.

To edit the contents of the message itself, faucet and maintain on the bubble and faucet Edit. In contrast to modifying messages after they’re despatched, you possibly can carry out a vast variety of edits in your scheduled message. The edit historical past is not going to be proven to the receiver.

3. Tapbacks with any emoji in iOS 18’s Messages app

When you discover the grey, Fb-style Tapback choices at present within the Messages app a bit limiting, you possibly can sit up for iOS 18. It makes rapidly responding to a buddy’s textual content way more fascinating. For starters, the replace makes the primary Tapback icons — coronary heart, thumbs up or down, “Ha Ha,” exclamation marks and query mark — seem in colour. Higher but, you possibly can reply with any emoji, not simply the six inventory pictures.

To make use of an emoji to answer to a message, faucet and maintain on the message. You’ll nonetheless see the identical six Tapbacks as earlier than, now rendered in full colour. Scroll over to the appropriate for among the extra well-liked emoji, or faucet the emoji button to deliver up the complete emoji picker.

As an alternative of the essential “Ha Ha,” prefer it’s 2005, now you can reply to a message with the 💀 emoji. Or, those that wish to confuse folks, can reply with 🕴️ (man in enterprise go well with levitating) or 🚡 (aerial tramway).

4. RCS messaging for Android mates

Each iPhone proprietor has a couple of folks of their lives who make questionable life selections and find yourself with an Android telephone. No judgment — it might probably occur to anyone. However whenever you go to textual content them a video of your cat or your human youngster, it has the decision of a postage stamp.

In iOS 18, common outdated SMS messages get upgraded to RCS, or Wealthy Communication Companies. You’ll be able to ship footage and movies in greater high quality, and even recordsdata and audio messages. Additionally, learn receipts and typing indicators will work, in the event you allow them. (To allow or disable learn receipts, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and alter Ship Learn Receipts. Or you are able to do it per-conversation by tapping on the particular person’s title on the high of the display screen.)

The brand new emoji Tapbacks talked about above work in RCS messages, too. RCS messages will ship over Wi-Fi as properly, not simply mobile, so sending media recordsdata could be a lot sooner.

Messages despatched to your Android acquaintances nonetheless will seem as inexperienced bubbles, although, not blue. A couple of conveniences will stay unique to iMessage and Apple units: iMessage is securely end-to-end encrypted, and helps in-line replies, named group conversations and iMessage apps like GamePigeon.

5. Higher emergency satellite tv for pc messaging for iPhone 14 and newer

When you ever get misplaced in a spot with no cell sign, like in the event you’re tons of of miles into the desert or in New York Metropolis, with iOS 18, you possibly can ship full textual content messages by way of satellite tv for pc. Satellite tv for pc connectivity will work wherever you possibly can see the sky.

This characteristic is simply accessible for the iPhone 14 and newer (since iPhone 14 first launched satellite tv for pc connectivity). Earlier than iOS 18, you may ship temporary messages and speak to emergency companies. Now, you’ll be capable to ship strange textual content messages with emoji and Tapbacks and all the things. Nicely, not fairly all the things — you gained’t be capable to ship footage or movies due to the restricted bandwidth of satellite tv for pc connections.

Whereas this characteristic is at present free for iPhone 14, 15 and 16 house owners, Apple indicated it can develop into a part of a paid service sooner or later. The corporate didn’t elaborate on what the options and costs might be, or how billing could be dealt with in the event you wished to modify on the characteristic whenever you’re abandoned. Hypothesis is that emergency messages will proceed to be free, whereas sending regular textual content messages could be put behind a paywall.

Extra nice options in Messages

Extra high options in iOS 18

And try the complete listing for much more.