Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. or continue shopping if you're happy.
Accept & close
How to use iMessage features you might not know about
iMessage is great for a quick catchup, but there’re loads of extras it can do to brighten your day.
You might send a blanket “on my way” or a quick thumbs up when you’re busy, but there are loads of fun tricks, handy shortcuts, and clever features on iMessage that’ll have you thinking “who knew it could do that?” Stick with us, and we’ll show you how.
Message effects
Sometimes words just aren’t enough. Get the message across better with built-in animations.
How to use:
- Type your message
- Press and hold the blue send arrow
- Choose from:
Bubble effects – slam, loud, gentle, invisible ink
Screen effects – confetti, balloons, lasers, fireworks, and more - Tap send
If you type certain words like “Happy Birthday” or “Congrats”, iMessage sometimes auto suggests a screen effect to match.
Direct replies and mentions
There are even features that’ll help you keep track in busy group chats, direct replies and mentions make it so much easier to see what’s going on.
Direct replies
These create threads within the conversation, so you can follow the context when the messages start to overlap.
How to:
- Long press a message → tap reply
- Type your response, and it’ll appear in a thread
Mentions
Replying to a specific person? Mention their name, so they’ll get a notification even if the chat’s muted – it’s perfect for giving them a quick nudge to reply.
How to:
- Type @ followed by their name and type out your message
Editing and unsending messages
Accidentally pressed send before you’ve finished typing? A quick edit or unsend will sort that right out.
How to edit:
- Long press the message → Edit
- Make changes → tap the tick
You’ve got up to 15 minutes to edit, and you can tweak it up to 5 times – ideal when you’re a bit distracted.
How to unsend:
- Long press → Undo send
You’ve got 2 minutes after sending to recall the messages and contacts on older iOS versions might still see the original message.
Voice notes
When you’ve only got a second, sending a voice note is an easy way to get the message across.
How to:
- Tap the waveform icon in the text field
- Say your message
- Tap send
Pro tips:
- Voice notes auto delete after 2 minutes but can be saved manually.
- You can listen back to your message before sending and trim if needed.
Stickers and iMessage apps
Turn your own pictures, Live Photos, and even emojis into personalised stickers for a bit of fun.
Stickers (iOS 17+ enhanced)
- Add a photo to the message
- Long press the subject of the pic → add sticker
Handy hint: the peel off effect works really well on pets and people
iMessage apps
- Tap the + button beside the text field to add stickers, GIFs, Apple Pay, music sharing, third party apps (if installed).
Hidden gestures and shortcuts
When you’re in a rush, gestures and shortcuts can get the job done that bit quicker.
Quick reply → swipe left on a message
Undo typing → shake your phone
Message reactions → double-tap the message
Hide or reveal invisible ink → drag across the text to show a hidden message
Pin conversations → long-press a chat → pin*
*Pinned chats stay at the top of your home screen and show typing indicators.All these clever little features can make a big difference to how you use your phone. Whether you’re trying to save time on a hectic day or add a bit of flair to your chats, give a few a go and you’ll be texting like a pro.
