iMessage iPhone App- The 13 Efficient Useful Tricks

Are you using iMessage to send text, picture, video or other types of messages to your friends? iMessage is Apple’s built-in instant messaging (IM) service. You will find this app on your iPhone and even on iPad.

On the iPhone it works alongside and often replaces carrier SMS and MMS. Since there’s no charge for iMessage beyond data (cellular or Wi-Fi), you can send unlimited iMessages pretty much for free. Not only this it also lets you send free simple messaging service (SMS)-style and multimedia messaging service (MMS)-style messages, but also create and manage group messages, share location instantly, temporarily, or persistently, and more.

Here are 13 efficient useful tricks with which you can really take full advantage of this messaging tool.

1. Enable/Disable read receipts

Enabling read receipts means that the person you text can see when you’ve read their text message. This, obviously, has both pros and cons. You are transparent in your behaviour and if you do not responding right away you look as a bad attitude.

Open the Settings app, select Messages, and slide to enable or disable Send Read Receipts. Once it is enabled, the receipt will say “Read [time here]” beneath your latest text.

2. If you want to write in all Caps

When the keyboard is open, double tap the shift key to turn it into the caps lock key. You can now write with CAPS ON

3. Send texts from your Mac

Messages for Mac comes with OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8) and up. It’s basically the best way to send texts without looking down at your phone all the time. For now, you can only text iMessage users (people with iPhones) from your computer, but soon, with Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, you’ll be able to text Android numbers from your Mac, too.

Look at this  tutorial from Apple support as  how to set up Messages with your Apple ID. Essentially you’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID on both your computer and mobile device. Then you’ll need to open the Settings app, select Messages, and enable iMessage on your iPhone. Tap on where it says Send and Receive, and make sure the correct Apple ID and phone number is associated with your device.

4. Send a precise location

In Apple Maps, you can send your current location by selecting the arrow in the bottom left, then tapping the share button on the bottom right (looks like a rectangle with an arrow coming out of it). Select “Message” and it’ll text a map image to your contact.

And if you are using Google Maps, press down and hold anywhere on the map to drop a pin. Tap the pin and select “Share” on the right, then Message. You can also tap “copy to clipboard” and paste that unique URL link into a text.

5. Block who annoys you

There are many messages which are just for advertisement purposes. Or your ex who keeps on texting you. You can block them easy on adding a contact to a blocked list.

6. Fix iMessage when it’s not working

If you find your iMessage not working you can restore it  back.

• Go to Settings>Messages and slide to disable iMessage.
• Then reset network settings. Go to Settings > General. Scroll to the bottom, and tap Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode.
• Go back to Settings > Message, then slide to re-enable iMessage.
• Wait for activation. You may be prompted to re-enter your iCloud account information.
• Also always check Apple System Status to see if there is an iMessage service outage.
• If iMessage still isn’t working, check your data connectivity by opening the Safari and Chrome apps to see if it’ll load a webpage. If you’re on a call, iMessage over cellular data may not work, so turn on WiFi.

7. Delete a Text Message

In a text message thread, press and hold your thumb on an individual text. A black menu bubble will pop up. Press “More…” and you’ll then be able to select one or more texts. Tap the trash can at the bottom left when you’re ready to delete.

8. Get Emojis on Your Phone

Open the Settings app, and then select General. Scroll down to Keyboard, and tap where it says Keyboards. Then Add New Keyboard and select Emoji.

Now when you’re sending an email or texting, tap the little world icon on the bottom left of your keyboard (left of the spacebar) to access emoji icons.

9. iMessage not in Use

It’s helpful to know when you’re using or not using iMessage, so you can keep a close eye on your SMS limits. In a thread, if you see green bubbles, that means you are not using iMessage and texting someone who has disabled iMessages or uses an Android or Windows Phone device.

10. Text Message if iMessage goes Down

If iMessage is down, a red exclamation point will appear. Tap that exclamation point and select “Send as Text Message.”

11. Use accents

If you’re feeling fancy, you can press and hold each letter to reveal every accent available to that letter!

12. Time Stamps

In a text message thread, swipe your finger to the left — anywhere on the screen — to see timestamps for each text on the right.

13. Set up keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are awesome for phrases you text all the time like, “lol”

Set them up in the Settings app, then tap on Keyboard. Scroll to the bottom and tap Add New Shortcut to set up your own.

Hope these are useful and help you in iMessaging!