iMessage on an iPhone looks like the standard Messages app but with key visual cues: your messages and bubbles are blue, indicating they're sent over Wi-Fi/data to other Apple devices, unlike green SMS bubbles. It features typing indicators, message effects (like screen/bubble effects), Tapbacks, high-res photos, shared content, and end-to-end encryption, creating a rich, integrated experience beyond basic texting.
How do I know if it's an iMessage or text? In Apple's Messages app, iMessages appear in blue bubbles and SMS/MMS in green. If the bubble is green, the message was sent over the cellular network, not through iMessage.
iMessages appear in blue text bubbles on your device. When you use iMessage, your conversations are encrypted end-to-end, so they can't be read while they're sent between devices.
If it's green, you're using regular texting (and you're paying. Well, you're probably paying—it just depends on your texting plan, but you know what I mean). Once you've started texting, another visual reminder is the color of your talk bubble. If you're using iMessage, it's blue.
I-messages are often used to be assertive without putting the listener on the defensive by avoiding accusations. For example, saying "I really am getting backed up on my work since I don't have the financial report yet" makes people feel better than "you didn't finish the financial report on time!".
When you communicate with others who also use iMessage on an Apple device, the texts appear in blue bubbles. (SMS, MMS, and RCS messages appear in green bubbles.)
Why would someone use iMessage instead of text? iMessage uses end-to-end encryption making sure messages are securely sent and only readable by the recipient.
If you see a green message bubble instead of a blue one, then that message was sent using RCS or MMS/SMS instead of iMessage. There are several possible reasons for this: The person that you sent the message to doesn't have an Apple device. iMessage is turned off on your device or on your recipient's device.
iCloud exploitation
Your iCloud account is a gateway to all your synced data, including text messages. Someone can spy on your messages by: Logging into your iCloud account from another device to view message backups. Using a shared Apple ID (common in families) to receive your iMessages on their device.
Some general signs that someone may be hiding something:
iMessages are in blue and text messages are green. iMessages only work between iPhones (and other Apple devices such as iPads). If you are using an iPhone and you send a message to a friend on Android, it will be sent as a SMS message and will be green.
Apple® uses different colored message bubbles to indicate whether a message is sent via iMessage® (blue) or standard SMS/MMS (green). iMessage is an Apple service that allows unlimited messaging to other iOS 5 and higher devices.
If you've been using iMessage with another iPhone user, your text bubbles are blue. If someone blocks you through iMessage, your texts will appear as green — the same bubble color you'll see in a thread with a non-iPhone user. Check your text thread to see if your messages recently went from blue to green.
It relies on a data connection.
You'll need either Wi-Fi or mobile data access to send iMessages. Otherwise, your iPhone will fall back on SMS (or in some cases, RCS messaging if your carrier supports it).
Nah, if their iPhone was actually off when you sent the text, it wouldn't say “Delivered.” iMessage only shows “Delivered” when the message successfully reaches their device. That means their phone was on long enough to receive it, or at least connected to some network.
People using Android-based smartphones (or any other type of non-Apple phone) don't have access to iMessage. Any texts sent to non-Apple smartphones automatically appear green.
However, you have to keep in mind that green goes well with many colors: orange, brown, yellow, even blue, violet, black and white.
On an iPhone, a green text bubble means your message was sent as a standard SMS instead of an iMessage. While messages you send appearing in green could mean you've been blocked, it could also mean the recipient has iMessage turned off, they've switched to an Android device, or there's a network issue.
Messages automatically uses the following screen effects for specific text strings:
What happens if you attempt to message a non-iMessage user with that setting disabled? Then it'll send as a text message. When initiating a new conversation, the number you add to it appears blue if they can receive iMessages, green if not.