Hot to use message effects with iMessage on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Make your messages even more expressive with Memoji sticker effects, bubble effects, full-screen animations, camera effects and more.

You’ll need iMessage – an Apple feature – to send message effects. Find out the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS texts. Depending on your network provider, messaging rates may apply when sending SMS/MMS. If you use iMessage when Wi-Fi is unavailable, mobile data rates may apply.

Send a message with effects

With message effects, you can use bubble effects to change the way your message bubbles will look, or you can use full-screen effects to animate the screen. You can even add a Memoji sticker with bubble effects or full-screen effects.

Add a bubble effect

Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
Enter your message or insert a photo, then touch and hold the Send button .
Tap the grey dot to preview bubble effects.
Tap the Send button .

To replay a message effect you’ve received, tap the Replay button under the message. If you can’t receive bubble effects, check your Reduce Motion settings.

Add a full-screen effect

Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
Enter your message.
Touch and hold the Send button , then tap Screen.
Swipe to the left to see full-screen effects.
Tap the Send button .

To replay a message effect you’ve received, tap the Replay button under the message. If you can’t receive full-screen effects, check your Reduce Motion settings.

Send a message with Camera Effects

With Camera Effects, you can liven up your conversations even more. Quickly create and share a photo or video with Memoji, filters, text, fun stickers and more. Follow these steps:

Open Messages and tap the Compose button to create a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
Tap the Camera button .
Tap the Effects button , then select one of the effects, such as Memoji* or an iMessage app. You can add more than one effect to a photo or video.
After you’ve selected the effect you want to use, tap Done.
Tap the Send button or tap Done to add a personal message. If you don’t want to send the photo, tap the icon in the top right-hand corner of the photo.

Respond to a message with expressions

With Tapback, you can reply to messages quickly with expressions, such a thumbs up or a heart. Here’s how:

Open a conversation in Messages.
Double-tap the message bubble or photo you want to respond to.
Select the Tapback you want to send.

You can also use Tapback in group messages. To see who’s replied with a Tapback, tap it.

Send a handwritten message

You can personalise your messages by adding a note in your own handwriting. Your friends and family will see the message become animated, as if it were being written in front of them. To send a handwritten note, follow these steps:

Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
If you have an iPhone, turn it sideways and tap on the keyboard. On an iPad, there’s no need to turn it sideways – just tap on the keyboard.
Write your message or select one of the options at the bottom of the screen.
If you need to start again, tap Undo or Clear. When you’ve finished, tap Done. Then tap the Send button .

Source: Apple