I am unable to sent Messages to a non iPhone user from my iPad.

I own an iPhone 14 Pro Max and and a new iPad Pro with cellular. When I text a non-iPhone user from my iPad, it does not go through. I can successfully text them from my iPhone, but the conversation does not show up on my iPad. (Does it have something to do with my two devices having two separate phone numbers?)


I am just too old to understand all this - I want to be able to text ANYONE from my iPad. Is this not possible?!?


[Re-Titled By Moderator]

iPad Pro, iPadOS 17

Posted on Jul 15, 2024 7:16 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 15, 2024 7:27 AM

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



In more detail...


If exchanging messages with Android or non-Apple devices, you’ll need to use Cellular SMS/MMS messaging.


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 an eSIM or physical DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the eSIM/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



8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 15, 2024 7:27 AM in response to reliv4life

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



In more detail...


If exchanging messages with Android or non-Apple devices, you’ll need to use Cellular SMS/MMS messaging.


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 an eSIM or physical DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the eSIM/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



Jul 15, 2024 7:31 AM in response to reliv4life

It is possible, but you need to have the iPhone and iPad connected.


The iPad on its own cannot text non-Apple devices. It requires an iPhone for that. Not even the cellular model can do it. The Cellular option is just used for internet access on an iPad.


click here ➜Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to other devices - Apple Support


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I am unable to sent Messages to a non iPhone user from my iPad.

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