Let’s be honest: the green icon on your home screen is probably the most used app on your iPhone. We use iMessage for everything from coordinating dinner plans and sending grocery lists to sharing life updates and, of course, an endless stream of memes. But despite using it dozens of times a day, most people are only scratching the surface of what the "blue bubbles" can actually do.
Apple has packed iMessage with powerful features, playful effects, and productivity hacks that are often tucked away behind long presses or hidden menus. If you are still just typing text and hitting send, you are missing out on a much richer experience.
Whether you want to save yourself from an embarrassing typo, organize your chaotic group chats, or just add a little bit of magic to your daily conversations, we have you covered. Here are seven hidden tricks that will take you from a casual texter to an iMessage master.
1. The "Oops" Button: Edit and Unsend Messages
We have all been there. You hit send, and immediately realize you typed "Duck" instead of... well, you know. Or perhaps you sent a text to your boss that was meant for your spouse. For years, this was the stuff of nightmares. However, if you are running modern iOS software (iOS 16 or later), you finally have a safety net.
You can now edit a message after it has been sent, or pull it back entirely. This is arguably the most practical feature Apple has added in years, yet many users forget it exists in the heat of the moment.
How to do it:
- After sending a message, long-press (tap and hold) the blue bubble you just sent.
- A menu will pop up. Tap Edit to fix a typo, or Undo Send to delete it entirely.
- If you edit, the recipient will see a tiny "Edited" label, but the typo will be gone. If you unsend, they will see a notification that a message was unsent, but the content will vanish.
Pro Tip: Speed matters! You only have 2 minutes to unsend a message and 15 minutes to edit it after sending. Also, keep in mind that this only works perfectly if the other person is also on an iPhone with a recent iOS update.
2. Add Some Drama with Screen and Bubble Effects
Sometimes, a simple text just doesn’t convey the right emotion. You want to shout, you want to whisper, or you want to celebrate. iMessage allows you to change the way the bubble looks or take over the recipient's entire screen with animations. This is fantastic for birthdays, congratulations, or dropping a dramatic secret.
One of the best hidden gems here is "Invisible Ink," which covers your message in a shimmering blur. The recipient has to physically swipe over the bubble to reveal the text or photo. It is perfect for avoiding spoilers in a group chat or sending a surprise announcement.
How to activate effects:
- Type your message as usual, but do not tap the blue up-arrow to send yet.
- Long-press the blue send arrow.
- This opens the Effects menu. You will see two tabs at the top: Bubble and Screen.
- Bubble: Choose "Slam," "Loud," "Gentle," or "Invisible Ink."
- Screen: Swipe left to cycle through full-screen animations like Balloons, Confetti, Lasers, or Fireworks.
- Tap the blue arrow next to your chosen effect to send it.
3. Taming the Chaos: Inline Replies
Group chats are a blessing and a curse. They are great for keeping in touch, but if you step away from your phone for an hour, you might come back to 50 missed messages. By the time you try to answer a question asked ten minutes ago, the conversation has moved on to lunch plans.
Inline replies allow you to create a "thread" within the chat. This links your reply directly to a specific message, making it clear exactly what you are talking about without disrupting the flow of the new conversation.
How to thread your conversations:
- Find the specific message you want to reply to in the chat history.
- Double-tap (or long-press) that message.
- Tap Reply.
- The rest of the chat will blur out, focusing only on that message. Type your reply and hit send.
When you do this, a small line will connect your reply to the original text, making it easy for everyone to follow the logic, even in a fast-moving group.
4. The Personal Touch: Handwritten Notes
In a digital world, handwriting feels incredibly personal and nostalgic. Did you know you can send actual handwritten scribbles through iMessage without needing a special stylus or an iPad? It’s a feature hidden in plain sight, relying on how you hold your phone.
This is perfect for sending a quick "I love you," a signature, or a silly doodle that feels much more authentic than a standard emoji.
How to access the sketch pad:
- Open a conversation and tap the text entry field.
- Rotate your iPhone sideways into landscape mode.
- On the keyboard, look for a key that looks like a scribbly line (usually near the bottom right). Tap it.
- A canvas will appear. You can choose from pre-written options like "Thinking of you" or use your finger to write your own.
- Tap Done, and it will turn your handwriting into an image ready to send.
Note: If rotating your phone doesn't work, check your Control Center to ensure "Portrait Orientation Lock" is turned off.
5. Sticker Layering: Drag, Drop, and React
Everyone knows you can send stickers. You download a sticker pack, tap one, and it sends as a standalone image. But that is the boring way to use them. The real fun of iMessage stickers is that they are meant to be peeled and stuck anywhere.
You can layer stickers on top of photos, slap them onto text bubbles, or even stick them on top of other stickers. This allows you to "grade" a friend's text with a gold star, put a mustache on a selfie they sent, or cover up a message you disagree with.
How to peel and stick:
- Tap the Plus (+) button to open your app drawer and select Stickers.
- Instead of tapping the sticker, tap and hold it until it "lifts" up slightly.
- While holding it, drag it up into the conversation window.
- Hover over the bubble or photo you want to stick it to, and release your finger to drop it.
6. Keep Favorites on Top: Pinned Conversations
If you are popular (or just on a lot of mailing lists), your important conversations with your partner, best friend, or family group chat can easily get buried under verification codes and appointment reminders. You shouldn't have to scroll to find the people you talk to the most.
Pinning allows you to keep specific conversations permanently docked at the very top of your message list as large circular icons. No matter how many new texts come in, your VIPs stay right where you need them.
How to pin a chat:
- Go to your main messages list.
- Long-press the conversation you want to prioritize.
- Select Pin from the menu.
- Alternatively, you can swipe right on the conversation and tap the yellow pin icon.
7. The "I'm Here" Hack: Quick Location Sharing
Trying to meet up with friends at a crowded concert or a large park can be frustrating. "I'm by the big tree" is rarely helpful. While you can go through the menus to share your location, iMessage has a predictive text shortcut that makes this incredibly fast.
This trick uses the intelligence of the keyboard to offer your location as a suggestible button, saving you four or five taps.
How to use the shortcut:
- Open the chat with the person you are meeting.
- Simply type the phrase: "I'm at" (don't hit send yet).
- Look at the predictive text bar right above your keyboard (where it usually suggests the next word).
- You should see a button that says "Current Location."
- Tap that button, and it will instantly drop a map pin into the text field.
This is a game-changer for quick coordination, letting your friends see exactly where you are standing without you having to leave the app or open Apple Maps.
Start Texting Like a Pro
iMessage is more than just a utility; it is a canvas for communication. By using these tricks, you aren't just saving time—you are making your digital interactions more expressive, organized, and fun. So, go ahead and send a message with "Invisible Ink" or drag a sticker onto your best friend's latest selfie. You might just surprise them with a trick they didn't know existed!