iPad not receiving text messages from android devices

My iPhone 15 does not have the option “Text Message Forwarding” in your instructions.

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. Verify these settings:

On your iPhone

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices.

iPhone and iPad

Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is enabled on both your iPhone and iPad:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to ON

Although you wrote your reply months ago, it really helped me today. I started having problems getting messages from android devices after updating my iOS and iPadOS. Your directions were clear and easy to follow. I did them, and all was fixed again. In my case, I had a Mac synced, as well, but I was able to figure out how to remove it from iCloud and add it back later. Now all 3 device are properly synced again with messages from Apple and Android devices.

If the problem persists…

On your iPhone

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to OFF

iPhone and iPad

Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is disabled on both your iPhone and iPad:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to OFF

After turning-off these settings on both the iPad and iPhone, force-restart both devices - one after the other:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

The forced-restart process is similar for iPhone - but varies slightly between models:

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

After both devices have restarted, re-enable Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone as before - ensuring that the iPad is explicitly enabled from the device list. Also re-enable iCloud Messages on both devices.

If necessary, perform another forced-restart of both devices.

Tconns1 wrote:

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and making it easy to understand. I just set up a new iPad and wasn’t getting the text messages from my iPhone like I was on my older iPad. I did the “On your iPhone” thing and all is well with the world once again. Much appreciated!

You're very welcome. I'm delighted that the provided information and guidance helped with resolving your difficulties.

Settings | Messages | Text Forwarding Message its 1/2 way down. It’s not iPhone specific - its OS.

I'm delighted that the directions were of help to you. Thank you for your feedback.

LP

I also have this issue - Mac and phone, signed into iCloud - both have messages set to on - and if read on phone does not show read on Mac (since updating to Sonoma) - I've logged in and out of iCloud and restarted multiple times to no avail

Something that should be enabled before the “Text Messages Forwarding” option appears on the iPhone is “Use your Apple ID”, shown after tapping “Send & Receive” in the Messages settings. Something similar happened to me as well for enabling phone calls from iPhone on iPad and Mac.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and making it easy to understand. I just set up a new iPad and wasn’t getting the text messages from my iPhone like I was on my older iPad. I did the “On your iPhone” thing and all is well with the world once again. Much appreciated!

You are very welcome.