Personal Home Support Centre Device Guides Apple iPhone 7 Messaging & email I can't send and receive iMessages

Apple iPhone 7

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I can't send and receive iMessages

There are problems activating iMessage
Time zone, date and time aren't correctly set on your phone
There's an error at the receiving end
Your phone hasn't been correctly set up for iMessaging
Your iMessage isn't written correctly

Write and send an iMessage

Press Messages.
Press the new message icon.
Press the search field and key in the first letters of the recipient's name.
Press the required contact.
If the recipient can receive iMessages, iMessage is displayed in the text input field.
Press the text input field and write the text for your iMessage.
Press arrow right.
Press the sticker icon and follow the instructions on the screen to add a sticker to your iMessage.
Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
Press the handwriting icon and follow the instructions on the screen to write text or add other effects to your iMessage using handwriting.
Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
Press the camera icon.
Press Photo Library and go to the required folder.
Press the required picture.
Press Choose.
Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
Press the text input field and write your iMessage.
Hard press the send icon until the effects menu is displayed.
Press Bubble and follow the instructions on the screen to add a speech bubble effect to your iMessage.
Press Screen and follow the instructions on the screen to add a full screen effect to your iMessage.
Press the send icon when you've selected the required effect for your iMessage.
Press and hold the microphone icon to start the sound recording.
Let go to stop the sound recording and press arrow up to send the sound recording.
Press the Home key to return to the home screen.
  • 1
    Create new iMessage
    • Press Messages.
    • Press the new message icon.
  • 2
    Select recipient
    • Press the search field and key in the first letters of the recipient's name.
    • Press the required contact.
    • If the recipient can receive iMessages, iMessage is displayed in the text input field.
  • 3
    Send iMessage using keypad
    • Press the text input field and write the text for your iMessage.
    • Press arrow right.
    • Press the sticker icon and follow the instructions on the screen to add a sticker to your iMessage.
    • Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
  • 4
    Send iMessage using handwriting
    • Press the handwriting icon and follow the instructions on the screen to write text or add other effects to your iMessage using handwriting.
    • Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
  • 5
    Send pictures or video clips
    • Press the camera icon.
    • Press Photo Library and go to the required folder.
    • Press the required picture.
    • Press Choose.
    • Press the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
  • 6
    Send iMessage with effects
    • Press the text input field and write your iMessage.
    • Hard press the send icon until the effects menu is displayed.
    • Press Bubble and follow the instructions on the screen to add a speech bubble effect to your iMessage.
    • Press Screen and follow the instructions on the screen to add a full screen effect to your iMessage.
    • Press the send icon when you've selected the required effect for your iMessage.
  • 7
    Send a sound recording
    • Press and hold the microphone icon to start the sound recording.
    • Let go to stop the sound recording and press arrow up to send the sound recording.
  • 8
    Return to the home screen
    • Press the Home key to return to the home screen.

Did this solve your problem?

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Can you make a voice call?

It's important to find out if you can make a voice call. If you can't make a voice call, you need to solve this problem first. When the problem is solved, you will most likely also be able to send and receive iMessages.

No