Why are my iPhone messages green when they should be blue? 6 reasons and how to fix it

Why are my messages green? 6 reasons 

Most of the reasons your messages are green boil down to three factors: what kind of device the recipient is using, whether you have iMessage turned on, and whether you have an internet connection. Let’s walk through the six main reasons your Apple messages could be green, one by one.

1. The recipient doesn’t use an Apple device 

The number one reason messages are green is because the recipient doesn’t use an Apple device. iMessage is available exclusively on iOS devices, so if you’re texting a friend with an Android phone, they don’t have iMessage. Any texts sent to non-Apple smartphones automatically appear green. If these messages are the only green ones you see, you don’t need to fix anything because your iPhone’s messaging app is working normally.

2. iMessage turned off 

If both you and the recipient have an Apple device, but you’re still getting green messages, start by checking whether iMessage is turned on. You can toggle iMessage on and off, and you may have accidentally disabled your iMessage functionality while adjusting other settings. Once iMessage is back on, your messages should go back to blue.

3. iMessage server outage 

Sometimes, an iMessage issue has nothing to do with your individual phone. If iMessage’s server goes down, the app won’t work on your device, and your texts will send as green SMS, MMS, or RCS messages. Most iMessage server interruptions are very brief. Come back in a few minutes, and it’ll probably be back up and running.

4. You have a new iPhone

Sometimes when you get a new iPhone, changes to your phone number or cellular carrier may cause messages to temporarily appear green. If the problem persists, head into the Settings app and make sure you have iMessage turned on.

5. Your iPhone is not connected to the internet 

iMessage uses the internet to send messages, so if your iPhone is not connected to the internet, texts may appear green. If your cellular data is not working, try connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

6. Your iPhone needs an update  

If your iPhone is running on an outdated operating system, certain apps on your device may not operate correctly, including iMessage. Check whether you have an iOS update available in Settings.

How to turn iMessage back to blue 

Turning iMessages back to blue is usually as easy as toggling on a setting, updating your iOS, or checking your connection. Here are step-by-step instructions for each fix.

Confirm the recipient is using an Apple device 

First, confirm that the recipient is using an Apple device. It’s possible that your friend just got a new, non-iOS phone. If the recipient is using an Android, texts will appear green, and that’s totally normal. If they’re using an Apple device, but the messages are still green, move on to the next step.

Turn iMessage on 

If you know your recipient is using an Apple device, check whether iMessage is on. Open Settings, and then select “Apps.” Scroll down and click on “Messages.” Then, toggle “iMessage” on. When iMessage is on, the button will be green.

Update iOS

If iMessage is on and your texts are still green, try updating your iOS to the latest system. An update should help fix bugs that may be interrupting your iMessage service. To update your iPhone, open your Settings app and then select “General” and “Software update.” There, you’ll be able to see if you have an iOS update available. If so, select “Update now” to download and install it. 

Check internet connection

iMessage needs an internet connection (either cellular data or Wi-Fi) to function. If you’re at home, double check that you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. If you’re out and about, confirm you have a cellular data signal. Look at the right-hand corner of your iPhone’s screen for bars and text like “4G” or “LTE.”

Check if iMessage is down

If none of these solutions work, the issue may be with the iMessage server, not your phone. It’s pretty rare for iMessage to go down, but it’s possible. Check Apple’s official system status page to see if there are any iMessage issues. If the problem is on Apple’s end, there’s nothing you need to worry about. They will fix the issue, and in the meantime, you can still send messages via SMS, MMS, or RCS.

Other green iPhone message issues and how to fix them

Not sure exactly what the cause is behind your green messages? Here’s an overview of common green iPhone message issues and how to fix them.

iPhone messages are green even when sent to another iPhone

If iPhone messages are green even when sent to another iPhone, you’ll both want to run through the troubleshooting tips listed above. Start by making sure that your recipient hasn’t gotten a new Android device. Then, check whether both you and your friend have iMessage turned on and an internet connection. If none of those steps work, check for iOS updates and visit the Apple system status website.

iPhone messages green even after an update

If your iPhone messages are green even after updating your iOS, confirm that your iMessage is turned on. It’s possible that you accidentally toggled it off. If that fix doesn’t work, visit the Apple system status page.

iPhone messages are green for only one person 

If your iPhone messages are green for only one person, their phone is probably the reason, not yours. If they are messaging you from a non-Apple device, there’s no problem. They just don’t have the iMessage platform, so their texts are green SMS, MMS, or RCS messages. If they do have an iPhone, you may want to advise them to go through the troubleshooting steps listed earlier in this article.

iPhone messages are green in a group chat 

If iPhone messages are green in a group chat, it’s because at least one member of the chat doesn’t have an Apple device. You don’t need to do anything because it’s completely normal.

iPhone messages are green and not sending 

If your iPhone messages are green and not sending, it’s likely because you don’t have an internet connection. Connecting to Wi-Fi should resolve the issue, but if there are no Wi-Fi networks around, check whether you have cell service by looking at the top right of your iPhone screen. If you don’t have any bars visible or you have an “SOS” message, you don’t have any signal. Most likely, you are outside of your provider’s coverage map or in a dead zone (like a subway tunnel). Change locations, and your iMessages should go through again.

Some of the iPhone messages are blue, and some are green

If some of your iPhone messages are blue and some are green, the color shift can indicate one of two things: your recipient changed their device or an iMessage connection was disrupted. Ask your friend if they recently switched phones. If not, both of you should go through the iMessage troubleshooting tips listed earlier in the article.

What's the difference between an iMessage, SMS, MMS, and RCS?  

There are a few key differences between an iMessage, SMS, MMS, and RCS, including delivery method, message length, and security:

• Delivery method. iMessages are delivered via the internet, whereas SMS, MMS, and RCS all use a mobile network.

• Data usage. Because iMessage uses an internet connection to send messages, if you are connected to Wi-Fi, you can send messages without using any data. SMS, MMS, and RCS always use mobile data, so they can contribute to your iPhone data usage, and they require a cellular plan with text features.

• Message length. iMessage can support messages of any length, but texts sent via SMS, MMS, and RCS have character limits. An SMS is a short text up to 160 characters, whereas MMS and RCS have a much larger 1,600 character limit. If you reach your character limit via SMS, MMS, or RCS, the messages will automatically be split up into separate texts.

• Media sharing. SMS is a text-based message. For image, video, or audio messages, MMS is required. RCS has all the media sharing capabilities of an MMS with additional features for group chats and read receipts. iMessage is able to handle all forms of media in one messaging service.

• Security. iMessage offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to prevent third parties from reading your messages, a feature which is not available on SMS, MMS, or RCS. If you don’t have iMessage and want E2EE, you’ll need to download a messaging app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal.

• Compatibility. iMessage is only compatible with Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks), whereas SMS, MMS, and RCS are compatible with both Apple and Android devices.

• Cost. Depending on your cell plan, you may be charged for SMS, MMS, and RCS messages. However, iMessages sent via Wi-Fi are free, even if you’re texting internationally on an iPhone.

Use this table to quickly compare iMessage vs. SMS, MMS, and RCS:

How does iMessage work with an eSIM?

iMessage is tied to a phone number or Apple ID rather than a SIM card, so it allows for greater flexibility for eSIM users. For example, you can take advantage of iPhone dual SIM capabilities to have two numbers at once, such as one for business and one for personal contacts. However, you can’t separate your iMessages between numbers. All incoming messages will go to your iMessage app, and the same rules for green and blue messages will apply.

iMessage really comes in clutch when you’re traveling abroad. Because iMessage uses an internet connection instead of mobile data to send messages, you can use the data from your travel eSIM app like Saily to text instead of roaming with your home mobile provider. With iMessage and a travel eSIM, you can save on expensive roaming fees without needing to swap out a SIM card or change your phone number!