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i can not send text to non-Apple devices from my iPad Pro. All of the messages failed.
I can send iMessage 💬 without any problems but the messages to android phones all seem to fail. Turning off iMessage does not appear to be an option. I tried and I got a message to login to use iMessage, completely blocking the screen from texting. It’s almost as if sms messaging is not available. Not sure because it works on my iPhone XR.
iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi
Whilst you have figured-out the setting that you needed to enable, some explanation might still be helpful…
An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or SMS/MMS Messaging features - the latter being necessary to exchange SMS messages with non-Apple devices. An iPad with either WiFi or Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services - such as Apple’s proprietary iMessage service.
In your Messages App, you will see that messages are colour coded…
When iPad is paired with an iPhone, the capabilities of iPad significantly broaden to include access to Cellular Voice and Messaging services of the associated iPhone - relayed to the iPad over WiFi using Apple’s continuity features.
More information about Continuity and the relevant Cellular services can be found here:
Continuity
Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch – Apple Support
SMS/MMS Messaging
WiFi Calling
Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling – Apple Support
As you have discovered, if you have an iPhone - and both iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - to send SMS/MMS messages from your iPad you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad on your iPhone...
On your iPhone:
Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices.
Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is enabled on both your iPhone and iPad:
Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to ON
Nevermind, I figured it out. I had to add this iPad as a device under “Text Message Forwarding” on my iPhone in Messages in Settings. I knew it had to do with my iPhone giving some kind of permission so I started looking through Settings and clicking on different things. Sure enough, after I added this iPad and clicked “Try Again” on the failed messages, they went through. I’m surprised this didn’t pop up during the set up process. Lol, it’s like there is no love for non-Apple devices.
Hi, you cannot send text messages because your iPad is wifi only, and will only have support for I message. You so not have network/carrier support as there is no SIM card in your iPad, hence you cannot send the sms.
Hi There yesterday I got Scam Sheild premium with Tmobile. I had forgotten that I activated the block messages from unknown black blah blah. so today I tried to send a text to someone not in my contacts and I got the same message you got. I went on to Tmobile site and deactivated the message blocking. and I added the number I was texting as a new contact...and all is well now..
SMS message failed
