Personal Home Support Centre Device Guides Apple iPhone 16 Pro Messaging & email Set up your phone for iMessaging

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

iOS 18
Back to section Messaging & email

Set up your phone for iMessaging

You can send iMessages to phone numbers or email addresses if the recipient has a device which supports iMessages. To set up your phone for iMessaging, you need to activate your Apple ID.

Press Settings.
Press Apps.
Press Messages.
Press the indicator next to
Press the indicator next to
Slide your finger upwards starting from the bottom of the screen to return to the home screen.
  • 1
    Find "Messages"
    • Press Settings.
    • Press Apps.
    • Press Messages.
  • 2
    Turn on iMessage
    • Press the indicator next to "iMessage" to turn on the function.
      If you're an Unlimited SMS customer, you need to turn off iMessage.
  • 3
    Turn text message alternative on or off
    • Press the indicator next to "Send as Text Message" to turn the function on or off.
      If you turn on the function, your iMessages will be sent as text messages if the service is unavailable.
  • 4
    Return to the home screen
    • Slide your finger upwards starting from the bottom of the screen to return to the home screen.