HT201287: Use Messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn about Use Messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Koenraad De Smedt
Level 1 (9 points)
iPhone

Q: iPhone refuses to send SMS to people who have activated iMessage

I can send SMS to people who have not activated iMessage, but my iPhone refuses to send an SMS to people who have activated iMessage, even if I deactivate iMessage on my own iPhone.

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9.3.3

Posted on Aug 2, 2016 4:35 AM

by KiltedTim,Solvedanswer
KiltedTim KiltedTim
Level 9 (54,882 points)
iPhone
A:

Yes, you should. You may need to start a new conversation, however. Do not try and add a response to an existing conversation that contained messages sent or received  as iMessages.

Posted on Aug 3, 2016 1:15 PM

Close
Koenraad De Smedt

Q: iPhone refuses to send SMS to people who have activated iMessage

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 2, 2016 6:56 AM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 7 (24,025 points)
    Aug 2, 2016 6:56 AM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    Koenraad De Smedt wrote:

     

    I can send SMS to people who have not activated iMessage, but my iPhone refuses to send an SMS to people who have activated iMessage, even if I deactivate iMessage on my own iPhone.

    Are these people you send to using iPhones or iPads?  iMessage is Apple's free internet messaging service and works between Apple devices, but not just iPhones. If someone has an iPad only and uses an iMessage account on that iPad then they cannot get SMS texts (unless they pair the iPad with an iPhone).  iPads cannot natively receive nor send SMS texts.

  • by Koenraad De Smedt,

    Koenraad De Smedt Koenraad De Smedt Aug 2, 2016 1:07 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 2, 2016 1:07 PM in response to Michael Black

    Thanks for your answer, which is partially helpful.  I know an iPad normally cannot receive SMS.  I'm talking here about a recipient who has both an iPad and an iPhone.  In this case I do not want to send anything to the iPad.  Instead, I want to send an SMS to the iPhone because I know that sometimes that person's iPhone can be reached by SMS only. Problem is, my own iPhone does not give me the option to send an SMS to that iPhone, even if disable iMessage. How can I force sending an SMS to a phone number?

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Aug 2, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 6 (15,759 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 2, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    Have you tried Settings > Messages > Send as SMS > ON (green)?

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 2, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 7 (24,025 points)
    Aug 2, 2016 1:26 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    If they are using continuity and using the same receive at phone number and address(es) on both their iPad and iPhone, you have no control over which device gets the message as in fact they both will.

     

    The only way to do what you wish, that I know would work reliably, would be for both of you to sign out of iMessage in your iPhone settings and stop using the iMessage service at all with your iphones. They will then only be able of sending and receiving SMS texts.

     

    Otherwise, the default between your two devices is going to be iMessage.

  • by Koenraad De Smedt,

    Koenraad De Smedt Koenraad De Smedt Aug 2, 2016 10:42 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 2, 2016 10:42 PM in response to elcpu

    When I turn off iMessage, the button Send as SMS is no longer available. Normally I have it ON (green).

  • by Koenraad De Smedt,

    Koenraad De Smedt Koenraad De Smedt Aug 2, 2016 10:45 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 2, 2016 10:45 PM in response to Michael Black

    It does not make sense that when a sender has deactivated iMessage, the recipient also needs to deactivate it in order to get an SMS.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Aug 2, 2016 10:50 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 6 (15,759 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 2, 2016 10:50 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    Maybe this will help.

    Get help if you can’t receive text messages from an iPhone - Apple Support

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 3, 2016 3:21 AM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 7 (24,025 points)
    Aug 3, 2016 3:21 AM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    It does not make sense that when a sender has deactivated iMessage, the recipient also needs to deactivate it in order to get an SMS.

    Not if  that same number and other receive at addresses are active in iMessage on another Apple device.

  • by Koenraad De Smedt,

    Koenraad De Smedt Koenraad De Smedt Aug 3, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Michael Black

    I don't understand.  If I deactivate iMessage and my phone provider allows me to send SMS and the recipient can receive SMS, then I should be able to send SMS.

  • by KiltedTim,Solvedanswer

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 3, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt
    Level 9 (54,882 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Koenraad De Smedt

    Yes, you should. You may need to start a new conversation, however. Do not try and add a response to an existing conversation that contained messages sent or received  as iMessages.

  • by Koenraad De Smedt,

    Koenraad De Smedt Koenraad De Smedt Aug 3, 2016 1:31 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 1:31 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Thanks, it works! This solved my question!

    Summing up: if you know (or suspect) that a message recipient is registered with iMessage but has no data connection, then the way to send an SMS is for the sender to turn off iMessage AND to start a NEW conversation if an existing conversation contained iMessages.