Let’s be honest: the green icon on your iPhone home screen is probably the most used app in your life. We send billions of texts every day, ranging from simple grocery lists to life-changing announcements. But for most of us, iMessage is just a way to send words from Point A to Point B. We type, we hit send, and we move on.
Here is the secret, though: Apple has packed iMessage with a treasure trove of features that go far beyond simple texting. Some are designed to make your messages more fun, while others are powerful productivity tools that can save you from embarrassment or keep you safe. If you are only typing plain text, you are driving a Ferrari like it’s a golf cart.
Ready to upgrade your texting game? Let’s dive into the hidden tricks that will turn you into an iMessage power user.
1. Add Some Magic with Screen Effects and Invisible Ink
Have you ever received a text where balloons floated up your screen, or a message that was blurred out until you tapped it? You might have thought the sender was a tech wizard, but they just knew where the "magic" button was hiding. iMessage allows you to send messages with full-screen animations or bubble effects to add emphasis (or drama) to your conversation.
There are two main types of effects: Bubble Effects (which change how the blue text bubble looks) and Screen Effects (which take over the whole screen).
- Invisible Ink: This blurs your text or photo. The recipient has to swipe over the message to reveal it. It is perfect for avoiding spoilers, sending surprises, or whispering a secret.
- Loud & Gentle: "Loud" shakes the bubble to scream your message, while "Gentle" makes the text small and quiet.
- Screen Effects: Send lasers, fireworks, balloons, or confetti.
How to do it:
- Type your message as usual.
- Instead of tapping the blue arrow to send, press and hold the blue arrow.
- A menu will appear. Select the "Bubble" tab for things like Invisible Ink, or tap the "Screen" tab at the top to swipe through full-screen animations.
- Tap the blue arrow again to send it with the effect.
Pro Tip: There are "trigger words" that automatically send effects without you doing anything! Try texting "Pew pew" to a friend to trigger the laser show, or "Happy Birthday" to trigger the balloons.
2. Save Face with Edit and Unsend
We have all been there. You hit send and immediately realize you made a typo that changes the entire meaning of the sentence. Or worse, you sent a rant about your boss to your boss instead of your partner. For years, this was a nightmare scenario. Now, it’s a fixable problem.
Apple finally introduced the ability to edit sent messages or recall them entirely. This is arguably the most practical feature added to the iPhone in the last decade, yet so many people forget it exists in the heat of the moment.
How to Edit a Message:
- Long-press (touch and hold) the message you just sent.
- Tap Edit in the menu that pops up.
- Fix your typo and hit the blue checkmark.
How to Unsend a Message:
- Long-press the message you want to destroy.
- Tap Undo Send.
- The message will vanish in a puff of digital smoke.
Important Warning: You have a time limit! You only have 2 minutes to unsend a message and 15 minutes to edit it. Also, if your friend has an older iPhone (that hasn't been updated in years) or an Android phone, they might still see the original message. Use this power wisely!
3. Master the Art of Stickers (Peel and Stick!)
Stickers in iMessage are often misunderstood. Most people think they are just giant emojis that you send as a standalone image. While you can do that, the real fun begins when you treat them like actual physical stickers.
You can "peel" a sticker out of the drawer and stick it anywhere on the conversation thread. You can stick a thumbs-up on a specific photo, put a funny hat on your friend's previous text, or layer multiple stickers on top of each other to create a chaotic collage.
How to Layer Stickers:
- Open the sticker drawer (the plus icon next to the text box, then choose Stickers).
- Find the sticker you want.
- Instead of tapping it, tap, hold, and drag it into the chat window.
- Drop it onto any message bubble or photo already in the chat.
- You can even use two fingers to rotate or resize the sticker while you are dragging it!
This transforms a boring text thread into a collaborative scrapbook. It’s a fantastic way to react to specific parts of a conversation without typing a word.
4. Organize the Chaos: Pinning, Replies, and Mentions
Group chats are a blessing and a curse. They keep us connected, but they can also become noisy, disorganized messes. If you have ever returned to your phone to find 47 unread messages and no idea who is talking to whom, these features are for you.
Inline Replies: prevent confusion by replying to one specific message in a thread. This creates a sub-thread that keeps the conversation easy to follow.
- Double-tap (or long-press) the specific message you want to answer.
- Tap Reply.
- Your response will be linked directly to that message, connected by a gray line.
Mentions: If a group chat is muted (which, let's be honest, most of them are), you might miss something important. You can tag a specific person to notify them even if they have the chat muted.
- Simply type the "@" symbol followed by their name (e.g., "@Sarah").
- Tap their name when it pops up. Their name will turn blue (or bold), and they will get a direct notification.
Pinning Conversations: Do you have a best friend, a partner, or a family group chat that you message constantly? Stop scrolling through spam texts and verification codes to find them.
- Go to your main Messages list.
- Long-press the conversation you want to keep at the top.
- Tap Pin.
- They will now appear as a large circle at the very top of your app, always ready for easy access.
5. Safety First: The "Check In" Feature
This is one of the newest and most genuinely useful features for everyday life. How many times have you told a friend, "Text me when you get home," only for them to forget, leaving you worrying? Or perhaps you are going on a late-night run and want someone to know if you stop moving.
Apple’s Check In feature automates this safety loop. It lets a friend or family member know automatically when your iPhone has arrived at a specific destination (like your home). If you stop making progress toward your destination and don't respond to prompts, your phone can automatically share your location, battery level, and cell service status with your trusted contact.
How to set it up:
- Open a chat with the person you want to alert.
- Tap the plus (+) button to the left of the text box.
- Tap More and select Check In.
- Follow the prompts to set your destination or a time duration.
Why this is a game-changer: It is end-to-end encrypted, meaning Apple doesn't see your location—only your friend does. It takes the mental load off remembering to send that "I'm safe" text.
6. Bonus: The hidden Trackpad
Okay, this technically works across the whole iPhone, but it is most useful in iMessage when you are trying to fix a typo in a long paragraph. Trying to tap the exact spot between two letters with your finger can be frustratingly imprecise.
Stop tapping and start sliding. If you press and hold the Spacebar on your keyboard, the keys will go blank, and the keyboard area turns into a laptop-style trackpad.
Without lifting your finger, slide it around the keyboard area. You will see the cursor in your text box move smoothly and precisely. Once the cursor is exactly where you want it, simply let go and start typing. It is a small trick, but once you use it, you will never go back to the "tap and pray" method again.
iMessage is capable of so much more than just "blue bubbles." By using these hidden tricks, you can make your conversations more organized, more expressive, and even safer. So go ahead—send a laser show, peel a sticker, and pin your favorite people. Your thumbs will thank you.