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Why are my texts green when sending to another iPhone?

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  • 5 min read

Photo: oasisamuel / Shutterstock.com

Many iPhone users have reported seeing some texts in blue while others in green while sending to another iPhone. This could get confusing as both texts are being sent from iPhone to iPhone.

In this article, we’ll explain why this happens and what to do when you see green text.


Blue and green text on the iPhone explained

The blue or green texts from your iPhone depend on whether you send them via the iMessage service or the normal SMS/MMS.

iMessage is a messaging service by Apple whereby you can communicate with other people by sending them texts, videos, emojis, and stickers over your WiFi network or cellular data.

This means that for using iMessage, you don’t need a phone carrier. Moreover, all your communication will be free of cost. iMessage is more or less similar to other messaging services like WhatsApp or Telegram.

One more thing: iMessage only works between the devices of the Apple ecosystem. This means you cannot send an iMessage to your friend using an Android device. You’ll have to use the standard SMS/MMS service for this.

Messages that are sent through iMessage are shown in blue. Meanwhile, the messages sent as regular SMS/MMS are in green. The messages you send to devices other than Apple will also appear green.

Also read: Do iMessages deliver if the phone is dead?


Why are texts green when you send them to another iPhone?

Usually, if you send a text message from an iPhone to an iPhone, you will see that they are delivered in blue bubbles.

However, for several reasons, many times, even messages from iPhone to iPhone or any other Apple device will be shown in green. Here are some of these reasons:

iMessage is turned off

Sometimes, the sender or the receiver may have turned off their iMessage service.

For iMessage to deliver, both the sender and receiver must activate their iMessage service on their devices.

Here is how to turn on iMessage on your iPhone:

  • Head to Settings > Messages.
  • Turn on the toggle in front of iMessage.

Also read: How to make the mouse pointer bigger in macOS?


The iMessage server is down

The iMessage server might go down due to scheduled maintenance or overload. Head to the Apple System Status page to assess the status of the iMessage server.

Usually, the problem is fixed within a few minutes to hours. Also, while the company is fixing the issue, you can do nothing. You’ll have to wait till the servers are back online.


Your internet connection is bad

As iMessage works over WiFi and cellular data, you must have at least a working internet connection to deliver the messages.

Here’s an article on how to fix your internet connection.

For those having problems with their WiFi, head to this article to find a fix for your WiFi and other related issues.

Head to your iPhone’s Settings > WiFi > Turn the toggle on/off to connect to a WiFi. If iMessage is not working on your current WiFi, change the network.

How to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth in iPhone (iOS 13, 12, 11)?

Also read: How to format SD card on a Mac?


Bugs in iOS

If your internet is working fine, iMessage servers are up and running, and both the sender and receiver have turned on iMessage, even then, the messages are going in a green bubble; it may be a glitch or a bug in your iPhones.

Restart your device to flush out the RAM and clear the buggy files. You should also update your iPhone if you haven’t done it. Here’s how to update iOS:

  • Head to Settings > General.
  • In General, tap on Software Update.
  • Tap on Download and Install.

In conclusion, if the iMessage service is active, you’ll see a blue bubble while sending a text to another iPhone. However, you have a standard SMS/MMS conversation if the messages are inside a green box. To fix this, turn off iMessage on your iPhone, check the iMessage service server, fix your WiFi and internet and update iOS.

Also read: Fix: iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message 

Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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