iMessage is full of features you’re probably not using (but should) [Video]

It feels like every year, Apple quietly adds dozens of small features and improvements to the Messages app, but most of them fly under the radar. These aren’t flashy or eye-grabbing features, but they are the type of features that really help the quality of life and experience of the Messages app. If you are like most people, then you have probably been using the Messages app the same way for years, meaning you are barely scratching the surface of what the app can do. Here are some of the best Messages features that you need to know.

If you’d like to see a comprehensive walkthrough of the Messages app from start to finish, I highly recommend watching our video below.

1. Send Later

This is a relatively new feature and it’s one we’ve wanted for years. We can now schedule an iMessage to be sent later. For some reason, Apple buries this feature a bit, but once you know where to find it, you will use it endlessly. I use it for Birthday texts mostly.

• Open a conversation in the Messages app
• Type your message as usual
• Tap the + button next to the text field
• Select Send Later
• Choose the date and time
• Tap Send

You will then see the message show up in your thread, but with a dotted outline, indicating it has not been sent yet but is set to be sent at the chosen time. Such a useful feature

2. Check In

This is one of those features that just makes complete sense for so many situations. The Check In feature is a built-in iMessage safety feature that automatically notifies a trusted contact when you arrive at your destination. It also alerts them if something goes wrong along the way. So if you have children or a loved one that you want to make sure arrives where and when they are supposed to arrive, this feature does that.

• Open a conversation with the person you want to share with
• Tap the + button next to the text field
• Select Check In
• Choose When I arrive or After a timer
• Set your destination or time limit
• Review what data is shared (location, battery, signal)
• Tap Start Check In

Of course, this is meant for safety and awareness, but Apple also added a workout component to this. So you can have it set up where, after I complete a workout, it will check in with my wife to let her know I finished.

3. Audio messages and transcriptions

We’ve had the ability to send voice messages for a while now, but the best thing about how they work now is the transcription feature. The moment you send or receive a voice memo, iOS will instantly transcribe that entire message, no matter how long or short. You can then tap into it and read the message instead of listening. It has saved me so much time and is extremely accurate as well.

• Open a conversation with the person you want to share with
• Tap the + button next to the text field
• Select Audio
• The text field will begin to record your message
• Tap the stop button when done
• Tap send

From there, the transcription occurs, and you can treat that text transcription like any other text. You can copy it and paste it somewhere else, too, if needed.

4. Inline replies and reactions

If you have been in a group chat with more than a few people, then you know the importance of these features. First, we have inline replies. This is lets you reply to a specific message sent by someone in a chat even if its been sent a while ago. You can do this by either long-pressing on the message or swiping right on that particular message. So, when you reply, you reply directly to that message, not the entire chat. However, please note that the whole chat can also see the message.

Reactions are just another fun way to still communicate in the Messages app, but without text. Reactions can be helpful in just acknowledging that you received a message from someone. To react to a message, just long-press or double-tap on the message you want to react to and you will see your emoji options show up. A new feature that has been added here is that you can now react with any emoji, whereas before you only had six emotes to choose from.

5. Pinned conversations

If you watched our video first, you might have seen that I have a bunch of pinned conversations in my Messages app. Apple gave us this ability a few years back, and sometimes when people see my phone, they still ask me what that is. Pinning conversations is one of my most frequently used features. Here is how to do it.

• Open the Messages app
• Find the conversation you want to pin
• Long-press on the conversation
• Tap Pin or swipe right on the conversation and tap the pin icon

Apple has set a limit of nine pinned conversations, so if you want to pin one when you already have nine, you will have to remove some. I hope they remove that limit soon!

Final take

As you see above, iMessage and the Messages app have quietly evolved into a do-it-all messenger app. It used to be a much more limited app, especially when compared to other apps like Telegram or WhatsApp. But with all the new features it has adopted over the years, it is now up there as one of the best messaging apps on the market. This article only scratches the surface of what the Messages app is capable of. Be sure to check out our complete walkthrough and tutorial video to see everything in action.

What do you think? Did you know the Messages app could do all of this? What’s your favorite iMessage feature? Let’s discuss below

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