The ability to send messages has been baked into the iPhone since it launched in 2007, but there are still some obscure iMessage tips and tricks every iPhone 13 owner should know.
iMessage is such a great communications tool to use across your Apple devices. I love being to communicate my messages more clearly (and fun) with the slew of features and integrations within this app. It’s more than just text messaging these days, and it’s added new innovations to our everyday discussions. Since its release over a decade ago, billions of messages have been sent by iOS users alike. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 15 best iMessage tips and tricks every iPhone 13 owner should know. By the time you’ve worked your way through them all, you should be something of an expert.
Without further ado, here are the 15 best iMessage tips and tricks that will boost your chatting experience on your iPhone 13.
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
1. Use Secret Triggers to Send Effects
Some people don’t realize that you can long-press the send button in a message draft to choose a bubble or screen effect to go with it. Even more people don’t realize there’s another way to send effects: using keywords and key phrases.
While no keywords or key phrases can trigger a bubble effect, over 200 code words and phrases across 40 different languages will send a full-screen animated effect. In Apple’s defense, it does provide two or three triggers for most languages in its user guides, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Some of the more secret code phrases include “happy Eid” for the shooting star, “pew pew” for lasers, “best wishes” for confetti, “happy Deepawali” for fireworks, “happy lunar new year” for celebration, and “iyi ki dogdun” for balloons. To see all 200 available, check out the complete list.
2. Add Periods to Show Full URLs
Sometimes, you’ll want to share an actual URL instead of an inline rich link preview that hides everything in the URL but the domain. Apple doesn’t tell you anywhere, but you can disable the preview by putting periods before and after the URL. The full URL will appear for both you and the recipient, sans the extra dots.
Other punctuation works, not just periods, and it works a little differently when using the URL in a sentence, using more than one URL, and using line breaks.
3. Long-Press to Reveal Full URLs
The formatting trick above is suitable for sending links, but it’d be hard to make all of your contacts use it in the messages they send you. If you like seeing the full URL of a link before opening it or expanding its preview, copy/paste may be your first thought — but there’s another way.
Simple long-press the rich link preview to expand it, then tap “Hide preview” at the top of the webpage preview; That will reveal the full URL of the link. And from now on, any link you long-press in Messages will show the full URL and will no longer load a preview of the webpage.
4. Help Others Perform Specific Actions
If a friend asks you to share somebody’s phone number or email address, you can send them a formatted link they can tap to start the message or call. This is possible using URL schemes. When the recipient taps a formatted Phone or FaceTime link, iOS will open a confirmation they would use to start the call. New drafts will open up for SMS texts, iMessage, and Mail links right away.
There’s a list below with just a few examples of how you can use URL schemes to send convenient action links to other people in Messages. To see everything you can do,
Start a new SMS or iMessage sms:1-408-555-1212 OR sms://1-408-555-1212 sms:14085551212 OR sms://14085551212 sms:408-555-1212 OR sms://408-555-1212 sms:4085551212 OR sms://4085551212 sms:username@example.com Start a new SMS or iMessage with body sms:1-408-555-1212&body=The%20body%20text OR sms://1-408-555-1212&body=The%20body%20text sms:14085551212&body=The%20body%20text OR sms://14085551212&body=The%20body%20text sms:408-555-1212&body=The%20body%20text OR sms://408-555-1212&body=The%20body%20text sms:4085551212&body=The%20body%20text OR sms://4085551212&body=The%20body%20text sms:username@example.com&body=The%20body%20text Start a new FaceTime video call facetime://1-408-555-1212 facetime://14085551212 facetime://408-555-1212 facetime://4085551212 facetime://username@example.com facetime-prompt://1-408-555-1212 facetime-prompt://14085551212 facetime-prompt://408-555-1212 facetime-prompt://4085551212 facetime-prompt://username@example.com Start a new FaceTime audio call facetime-audio://1-408-555-1212 facetime-audio://14085551212 facetime-audio://408-555-1212 facetime-audio://4085551212 facetime-audio://username@example.com facetime-audio-prompt://1-408-555-1212 facetime-audio-prompt://14085551212 facetime-audio-prompt://408-555-1212 facetime-audio-prompt://4085551212 facetime-audio-prompt://username@example.com Start a new Phone call tel:1-408-555-1212 OR tel://1-408-555-1212 tel:14085551212 OR tel://14085551212 tel:408-555-1212 OR tel://408-555-1212 tel:4085551212 OR tel://4085551212 telprompt://1-408-555-1212 telprompt://14085551212 telprompt://408-555-1212 telprompt://4085551212 Start a new Mail draft mailto:username@example.com Start a new Mail draft with CC mailto:username@example.com?cc=username2@example.com Start a new Mail draft with BCC mailto:username@example.com?bcc=username3@example.com Start a new Mail draft with subject mailto:username@example.com&subject=The%20Subject%20Text Start a new Mail draft with body mailto:username@example.com&body=The%20body%20text Start a new Mail draft with all of the above mailto:username@example.com?cc=username2@example.com&bcc=username3@example.com&subject=The%20Subject%20Text&body=The%20body%20text
5. Send Secret Dialer Codes
Building on the URL schemes tip above, you can use the phone scheme (tel:) to send dialer codes that perform specific actions. These links can show the iPhone’s regulatory information, cellular data usage, and more.
For example, if a friend or family member can’t figure out how to find their device’s IMEI number, send them the tel:**#06# code. When they tap that link, the call action will appear, and when they tap that to make the call, it will open right to their device information screen where the IMEI, MEID, and EID are.
Dialer Code Examples tel:#06# (view device IMEI) tel:#07# (view Legal & Regulatory info) tel:3282# (AT&T: view data) tel:#932# (T-Mobile: view data) tel:#3282 (Verizon: view data) tel:#002# (view call forwarding configuration)
6. Avoid the Typing Indicator
When you’re typing a message in an iMessage chat, and the other recipient has the conversation open already, they’ll see the typing indicator (the animated ellipsis). That way, they know you’re about to send something. If you don’t want that to show up, there are a few workarounds you can use.
You can disable iMessage temporarily, type in Airplane Mode, or dictate the message to Siri. However, the best option might just be the one that doesn’t use another feature (Siri, Airplane Mode) or makes you leave the app first (Settings); Simply start a new draft, type the message, then choose the contact.
7. Rearrange Your iMessage Apps
If you’re big on using iMessage apps, there’s a quick way to move your most-used ones to the favorites for easier access. Just long-press an app in the recently used section, drag it left of the divider line to the favorites, and drop it where you want. You can also rearrange just the favorites list using this trick.
To do it the traditional non-secret way, swipe to the end of the apps, tap “More,” choose “Edit,” then hit the plus ( ) next to apps to move them to your favorites. Then, you can rearrange your favorite apps using the three-lined icons.
8. Text in Bold Letters
Open Settings, tap “Messages,” then toggle on the “Show Subject Field” switch. You’ll now see a subject line field in Messages, and whatever you type there will show up as bold text. If you want to use bold text only, you may have to put a space or another invisible character, like a zero-width character, in the regular message space or the subject like will just turn to normal text. Those invisible characters are also good for making the names of Home Screen folders disappear.
There are also third-party keyboards you can use with different characters, fonts, and styles available, and you can even use a website such as LingoJam to choose fonts and copy and paste them into chats. Unfortunately, fonts installed on your system won’t show up in Messages, but you can also type it out elsewhere and move it to Messages.
9. Copy and Paste Messages Faster
Usually, when you need to copy and paste a message, you’d long-press the message, tap “Copy,” tap the text field where you want to copy it, and hit “Paste.” But there’s a faster way.
Instead, press-and-hold the message and quickly drag it away, then drop it wherever you want it pasted. You can also select multiple messages by tapping them after pulling the first away. Even better, you can select multiple messages and move them completely out of the Messages app into another, like Mail, Notes, Pages, etc.
10. Add Media to Messages More Conveniently
When you need to add a photo or video to a conversation, you’d probably use the Share Sheet from Photos or the Photos app in the Messages app drawer to find and share it. However, using the same trick from Tip 9 above, you can drag and drop media directly into conversations.
So if you’re looking at a photo in the Photos app or even an image in another Messages thread, just drag and drop it onto the chat from the conversations list. The same goes for documents in Files and content in other apps.
11. Keep Prying Eyes Away from Lock Screen Previews
If someone is always glancing over at the incoming messages on your Lock Screen, you can prevent them from reading the notification. Go to Settings –> Notifications –> Messages –> Show Previews, then change the setting to “When Unlocked.” To read the message preview on the Lock Screen, use Face ID. If you have a Touch ID device, touch your fingerprint to the sensor but don’t push the button (make sure “Rest Finger to Open” is off in your accessibility settings).
12. Make Emoji, Text, and Sticker Explosions
While the screen effect trigger words and phrases from Tip 1 are fantastic, there’s another cool thing you can do with screen effects.
Type an emoji and use the Echo effect, and it will multiply that emoji and send it as a quick burst. Using multiple emoji looks good too, and using spaces between emoji can make it seem more interesting. You can even take over the entire screen with big blocks of emoji. And you can use text, stickers, and more.
13. Send As SMS When iMessage is Unavailable
Imagine a situation where you are trying to send an iMessage to your friend but unfortunately iMessage is unavailable on your friend’s device. Wouldn’t you appreciate it if iMessage sends that message as SMS so that your communication doesn’t stop? Most probably, you would.
Head over to the Settings app on your device -> Messages and then turn on the switch right next to Send as SMS. Do note that the network provider’s messaging rates may apply.
14. Hide content that’s shared with you
Within iOS 15 there’s a feature called Shared With You which allows others to use Messages to share content from the Apple TV, News, Photos, Music, Podcasts and Safari apps. When you receive a message, details of the content are placed within a section of those apps.
But what if you don’t want that to happen? You can turn off Shared With You. To do that, open the Settings app. Tap “Messages” and select “Shared With You.” You can toggle “Automatic Sharing” to the off position or do the same for individual apps such as Music and News.
On the flip side, if someone shares content that you do like, pin it. Tap and hold the content in Messages and tap Pin. The content will appear at the top of the Shared With You section in the relevant content app.
15. Name a conversation group
Messages lets you have iMessage group conversations, and it’s a good idea to give them an easily identifiable name. Open a group chat and tap the group icons at the top of the thread. Now tap “Change Name and Photo” and enter a name. For the image, you can either select a photo you’ve already taken or snap a new one using the camera. You can also choose a Memoji or emoji. Tap “Done” when you’re finished.
Tips to Get the Most Out of iMessage on iPhone 13
There you go! So, these are the best iMessage tips and tricks for iPhone 13 users.
Now that you’re an expert on the iPhone 13 Messages app, check out our best iOS 15 tips and tricks to make you an iPhone pro. You might also find our guide on 20 iPhone 13 settings you need to change right now helpful, as well as how to use Voice Control on iPhone 13 like a pro.
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