Why iOS 18’s Latest Messaging Options Have Me Hooked

I dutifully dabble in alternate messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Fb Messenger as a result of that is the place a few of my associates talk, however Apple’s Messages app continues to be my most well-liked texting instrument. New modifications coming in iOS 18 are cementing that selection, delivering long-awaited options to my iPhone akin to textual content formatting and scheduled texts, in addition to assist for RCS messaging that can make it simpler to communicate with these of us.

iOS 18 is obtainable proper now as a public beta in the event you’re curious to attempt different options akin to textual content animations and even a option to bounce messages off a satellite tv for pc whenever you’re away from a mobile or Wi-Fi connection.

Even in the event you’re not yet ready to install the betas, you is likely to be eager about what to anticipate from texting in your iPhone later this yr. Listed here are seven new options within the Messages app you need to find out about.

Learn Extra: It’s Here: How to Download the iOS 18 Public Beta on Your iPhone

Additionally, be sure you try our full WWDC 2024 coverage from June and be taught why iOS 18 is likely to be more exciting than the upcoming iPhone 16.

Due to RCS messaging, you may higher talk with Android customers

The addition of Wealthy Communication Providers protocol to Messages ought to reduce friction when texting with associates who personal Android telephones. It allows learn receipts and offers you greater high quality picture transfers and end-to-end encryption (however retains Android message bubbles inexperienced).

In case your service helps RCS, it is possible you need not do something to make use of it. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and ensure the RCS Messaging is turned on.

You may also ship textual content messages by way of satellite tv for pc

The Emergency SOS via Satellite characteristic that was launched with the iPhone 14 has been a literal life-saver. When you haven’t any mobile sign, you may connect with a satellite tv for pc and change quick textual content messages with emergency responders.

With that infrastructure in place, Apple is opening Messages as much as nonemergency texts, too. In the event you’re out of vary of mobile or Wi-Fi networks and personal an iPhone 14 or later, Messages will immediate you to hook up with a satellite tv for pc. Whereas related, the Dynamic Island expands that can assist you keep pointed on the satellites overhead.

You’ll be able to then textual content individuals such as you usually would, and options like emoji and Tapbacks ought to nonetheless work. If you wish to try a demo of the characteristic, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Messages by way of Satellite tv for pc > Satellite tv for pc Connection Demo. Or simply exit into the center of nowhere and take a look at it out your self.

Now you can format textual content in Messages

I do not wish to come throughout as “that typography man,” but it surely has lengthy bothered me that one of many solely methods to emphasise textual content in Messages has been to place it in all caps. We as a society have not developed typography over tons of of years and invented probably the most subtle computing units simply to shout at one another over textual content.

So yeah, I assume I’m that man. However I really feel higher now that I can categorical myself utilizing daring, italic, underlined and strikethrough textual content in conversations between my associates who’re additionally operating iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia.

You’ll be able to apply formatting to a whole phrase, particular person phrases and letters, or combos of these, like so:

1. Kind your message.
2. To use formatting to your entire message, faucet the Formatting button within the suggestion bar; your whole textual content is highlighted. Or, so as to add emphasis to solely a phrase, double-tap to pick the textual content after which press the Formatting button. You may also select Textual content Results from the choices that seem above the choice.

3. Faucet one of many choices on the high of the formatting panel that replaces the keyboard: daring, italic, underline or strikethrough.

In the event you format a message that’s despatched to somebody operating an older system, they’re going to see solely plain textual content, which could possibly be complicated in the event you’ve used strikethrough to point eliminated phrases.

You’ll be able to animate your textual content messages

Here is the place I toss apart any pretense of being a typographical purist. A message or chosen phrases or letters could be animated in one in every of eight types. Have to ship some massive information with extra emphasis than daring textual content? With iOS 18, there are a number of new animation choices you may add to your textual content. The Large animation expands the scale of your letters. Or maybe simply mentioning that it is freezing outdoors would not convey the teeth-chattering chilly — apply the Jitter animation to make the letters shake.

Including animation is simply as simple as formatting textual content:

1. Kind your message.
2. Faucet the Formatting button within the suggestion bar to pick your entire textual content. Or, choose particular person phrases or letters after which press that button.
3. Faucet one of many animation types to use it: Large, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom or Jitter.

You’ll be able to combine animations inside a message by making alternatives and making use of completely different types to them. Nonetheless, you may’t apply a couple of animation to a variety; a phrase can’t shake after which explode, for instance. As with textual content formatting, a message exhibits up as plain textual content for anybody not operating iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or MacOS Sequoia.

Even with these new options, I need extra: textual content formatting and textual content animation. Presently you should use one or the opposite. But when Apple’s engineers could make one thing as advanced as eye-tracking for the Imaginative and prescient Professional, they will make this occur in a subsequent replace.

You’ll be able to flip off auto-playing animations, if that is not your factor

For instance your buddy simply put in iOS 18 and desires to check out all of the animation results in a sequence of messages, making a display screen stuffed with pulsing, resizing, jittering and exploding texts. And also you suppose, with all that animation tempting a migraine, what has Apple unleashed?

Do not stress, as a result of you may set the animations to not routinely repeat. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Movement and switch off Auto-Play Message Results. Your buddy can nonetheless ship animated textual content that can play as soon as whenever you obtain it, however you will not be subjected to the animation repeating.

Learn how to add any emoji or sticker as a tapback in Messages

Typically phrases are pointless. You could possibly reply to somebody’s message utilizing a Tapback icon to precise love, settlement, disagreement, laughter, alarm or curiosity. They’re fast to use and get your reply throughout simply.

They’ve additionally been restricted to simply six icons, and in monochrome no much less.

With iOS 18, Messages provides coloration (and a few cartoony shading) to these icons, but additionally the flexibility to answer with any emoji or sticker. Here is easy methods to do it:

1. Contact and maintain a message till you see the Tapback bubble seem.
2. Faucet the emoji button slightly below the opposite icons. Or, you may swipe left on the bubble to view latest emojis, stickers and a grey emoji button that results in the emoji library.
3. Within the emoji picker, select a sticker (left facet) or any of the tons of of emoji.

You’ll be able to schedule textual content messages utilizing Ship Later

I do know which associates are possible up at midnight to answer to a textual content, and which I might in all probability get up. As a result of I need the second class to proceed to be my associates, the flexibility to schedule texts within the Messages app is nice for once I wish to share a thought however do not want a right away reply. 

To ship a message at a specified time, do that:

1. Kind your message.
2. Faucet the Extra (+) button.
3. Faucet Ship Later; you might have to swipe as much as discover it within the record of apps and options.
4. Within the time picker that seems, set a day and time to ship the message.
5. Faucet the Ship Message button (the up arrow) to schedule it.

Scheduled messages present up with a faint dashed border.

If it is advisable to change the timing later, faucet Edit above the message after which select Edit Time from the menu. Additionally, if you end up scheduling messages typically, I like to recommend moving the Send Later option higher in the More list so it is simpler to entry.

For extra, see how Apple redesigned the Photos app in iOS 18 and the way the brand new Passwords app will sync across devices and platforms.