Why is iMessage green to another iPhone?

Answered by Tom Adger

When I first noticed that my iMessage was showing up as a green message bubble instead of the usual blue, I was a bit confused. I wondered why this was happening and if something was wrong with my iPhone. After doing some research and talking to a few friends, I learned that there are a few different reasons why this might occur.

One of the main reasons why iMessage appears as a green message bubble is if the person you’re sending the message to doesn’t have an Apple device. iMessage is a messaging service exclusive to Apple devices, so if you’re sending a message to someone who uses an Android phone or any other non-Apple device, the message will be sent as a regular SMS or MMS message. These messages are sent through your cellular network instead of through the internet like iMessage.

Another possible reason for the green message bubble is if iMessage is turned off on either your device or the recipient’s device. Sometimes, people may disable iMessage for various reasons. It could be because they prefer using a different messaging app or they have encountered issues with iMessage. In these cases, when you send a message to someone with iMessage turned off, the message is automatically sent as an SMS or MMS.

In my case, I found out that iMessage was turned off on my friend’s iPhone. She had recently updated her software and somehow iMessage got disabled. Once she turned it back on, our messages started appearing with the familiar blue bubble again.

It’s important to note that iMessage uses an internet connection to send messages, while SMS and MMS messages use your cellular network. So, if you’re in an area with a weak or no internet connection, iMessage may not work properly and your messages may be sent as SMS or MMS.

If you see a green message bubble instead of the usual blue in iMessage, it means that the message is being sent as an SMS or MMS instead. This could be because the recipient doesn’t have an Apple device, iMessage is turned off on either your device or the recipient’s device, or there is a connectivity issue. It’s always a good idea to check the iMessage settings and ensure that both you and the recipient have iMessage enabled for a seamless messaging experience.