Confusing situation with iMessage vs. SMS

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Level 1

4 points

Confusing situation with iMessage vs. SMS

Hello,

My girlfriend has an iPhone and iPad. I setup so that she receives iMessages on both devices using her phone number. The issue is that she doesn't have data on her iPhone, and sometimes she leaves the iPad at home where there is wifi.

So I send her an iMessage, and it says "delivered", but that's because it was sent to her iPad. Her iPhone never got it since she has no data. So in order for me to actually send her a text message to her iPhone is:

1) Disable cellular on my phone.

2) Disable wifi on my phone.

3) Send her a text message (as SMS).

This way, I avoid it going through iMessage, and I know her iPhone (which has no data, can get my message).

Now how can I solve for this? I'd like to keep my data/wifi on and not have to go through the steps above. Ideally I'd like her iPhone to get my SMS (she her iPhone has no data), and her iPad to get my iMessage.

iPhone 6s, iOS 11.2.5

Posted on Jan 27, 2018 6:45 PM

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Answer 1

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Jan 27, 2018 7:20 PM in response to mbirecki

Settings > Messages > iMessage OFF

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Answer 2

Jan 27, 2018 7:37 PM in response to mbirecki

I have different idea that you might want to try. On the iPad go to settings > messages > send and receive and uncheck her phone number, leaving only her email checked. Then you should iMessage her at her phone number if she is out and about. That way if you send an iMessage to her phone number it will NOT go to the iPad, and if her phone is offline from data your phone will see that and send as SMS as a backup. Just make sure on YOUR phone you go to settings > messages and make sure "send as SMS" is ON.

This way also she can leave iMessage on for the iPad and message anyone that iMessages her using her email.

After that you should need to jump through no more hoops but can keep using iMessage.

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Confusing situation with iMessage vs. SMS

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