What’s the difference between blue and green text messages on iPhone?

Question

What’s the difference between blue and green text messages on iPhone?

I’ve read that green messages are sent via standard SMS text messaging (and text message rates may apply), and that blue messages are sent via iMessage (Apple’s iOS messaging - essentially free messaging between iPhone users). Am I wrong? I feel that there must be something else to it. For example, why is it that a thread to the same person (say my daughter on her iPhone), has both green and blue messages? I mean, she’s on an iPhone, so why doesn’t it use iMessage all of the time?

Posted on Mar 1, 2022 11:08 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 14, 2022 2:07 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I figured it out now my iPhone iMessages were turned off and I didn’t know but I turned it on and now my messages are blue but it won’t be blue for my mom because she has an android

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Answer 2

Mar 1, 2022 8:14 PM in response to FoxFifth

Ok, so I think I’ve figured it out. When you are sending a text to a user that does not have access to WiFi (in this case she was in school), the text is received via cellular data and goes through as an SMS text (green). When the user is on WiFi, and on an iPhone, the text goes through as an iMessage (blue). Only took a few years to finally want to figure this out. Haha!

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Answer 3

Mar 1, 2022 11:58 AM in response to iambrandonhunter

See: What is the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS? - Apple Support

I have an iPhone and I have Settings > Messages > iMessage turned off on it, so I never have any blue iMessages -- but I don't know why your daughter’s messages are mixed.

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Answer 4

Mar 2, 2022 8:03 AM in response to iambrandonhunter

I don't believe that is correct. As I said, I don't use it myself but from everything I have seen and heard, iMessages will send and receive over cellular data as well as wi-fi. See the following from What is the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS? - Apple Support

iMessages are texts, photos, or videos that you send to another iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac over Wi-Fi or cellular-data networks.

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Answer 5

Revianmac

Level 4

1,991 points

Mar 2, 2022 8:10 AM in response to iambrandonhunter

I have iMessage turned on for my iPhone SE (2020). I have seen several instances when my phone is using a cellular connection, and I’m nowhere near a Wi-Fi connection, and messages from iPhone users still come through as blue (iMessage).

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Answer 6

Mar 14, 2022 1:37 PM in response to iambrandonhunter

Well I got this phone given to me on my birthday at first I wasent able to text but now when I text it’s green and I can’t get added to group chats because something is wrong with the green text messages on my iPhone 11

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Answer 7

Mar 14, 2022 1:45 PM in response to tamilya226

You can’t be added to an existing group SMS (green bubble). It’s a limitation of the SMS protocol, and has nothing to do with your iPhone.

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What’s the difference between blue and green text messages on iPhone?

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