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use Ipad to send and receive messages

I don't have a cell phone and want to send and receive messages to cell phone numbers from my ipad.

Can it be done?

iPad mini 5, iPadOS 15

Posted on Oct 20, 2022 9:38 AM

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Posted on Oct 20, 2022 9:56 AM

Thank you for your reply. I think I will have to get a google voice number to be able to accomplish what I want - to send and receive messages to various phone numbers (using different service providers).

3 replies

Oct 20, 2022 9:50 AM in response to kenyon1678

An iPad alone cannot send or receive SMS/MMS Messages - but can use Apple’s proprietary iMessage service to communicate with other Apple devices.


An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or SMS/MMS Messaging features. An iPad with either WiFi or Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services. If you have added a DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the SIM card is only used to identify your account for billing purposes. This number is not used for making calls or sending messages.


However, when 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

How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support



If you have an iPhone - and both iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - to send SMS/MMS messages (green bubbles) 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


use Ipad to send and receive messages

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