iMessage effects are typically enabled automatically on your device. However, if you are still having trouble using them, there are several actions you can take to get them up and running. It is essential first to make sure that your phone is up to date in terms of an iOS upgrade. The iMessage effects are a relatively new capability for the iPhone. This guide will show you how to ensure that your iPhone iMessage effects are turned on.
Turn On iMessage
If you have recently updated your phone and iMessage effects are still unavailable, go to your Settings and make sure that iMessage is on. If your messages are sending in a green text box, it means the iMessage feature is disabled. Without turning on iMessage, you will be unable to have access to the features that come with it. Sometimes turning iMessage off and back on again can help as well.
If the effects are still not functioning correctly after enabling iMessage, go to Settings then General and then Accessibility.
Scroll down until you see the option to “Reduce Motion.” Make sure to switch the knob so that “Reduce Motion” is off. If this still does not work, you can double-tap the Home button and clear any open windows that you have actively running on your device.
Resetting Your Phone
If you are still having trouble with the iMessage effects, try restarting your phone to reboot it once again. For a hard reset, hold both the Home and Power buttons at the same time until your device shuts down.
Once enabled, the iMessage effects allow for a more interactive messaging experience for iPhone users. You’ll be able to emphasize and react to messages.
React to a Message
To react to a message from someone else without having to write a separate message, press and hold the text you’re responding to. A window of options will appear above the text that enables certain expressions. The heart icon will notify the person that you loved their message. You can also like, dislike, laugh at, emphasize, and question messages as well in this window.
To send a message with an effect, begin typing out your iMessage. Once complete, hold down the blue arrow button on the right of the text bar. This will initially open the “Bubble” iMessage effects with the options for “Slam,” “Loud,” “Gentle,” and “Invisible Ink.”
To send a message with a particular “Bubble” effect, select the circle on the right next to the effect, once for a preview and twice to send a message. Once sent, you’ll see the blue arrow button again. You can find the “Bubble” effects in the same category that alters your text bubbles.
Next to “Bubble” at the top of the screen when you are in the effects window, select the “Screen” option to view more iMessage effects. The “Screen” effects will take up the entire space on your screen, rather than just the blue message bubble.
Bubble Effects
Once you select the “Screen” tab, there will be a preview of the various effect options. These include the following options:
- Send with Echo
- Send with Spotlight
- Send with Balloons
- Send with Confetti
- Send with Love
- Send with Lasers
- Send with Fireworks
- Send with Shooting Star
- Send with Celebration
To send the desired effect, tap on the blue arrow button. If you change your mind and want to send a normal iMessage or want to revise your text, select the gray “X” button to bring you back to drafting your original message.
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