Last updated: June 19, 2019
Your iPhone is able to send both text messages and iMessages. It can send text messages to people with any kind of device that can receive an SMS, or it can send iMessages to people with Apple devices. It can even send a text message instead of an iMessage if the iMessage service isn’t working for some reason.
The iMessage service on your iPhone can also be used on other compatible devices that are using the same Apple ID. This provides a convenient way for you to continue your text conversations when you are using your Mac or iPad. But you will only receive iMessages on that Mac or iPad (rather than being able to both send and receive) unless you activate a feature on your iPhone called “Text Message Forwarding.”
Fortunately, you can set up this feature in just a few minutes, then you can continue all of your text conversations off of your iPhone, even those that are occurring with people that aren’t using an Apple device.
How to Enable Text Message Forwarding in iOS 10, iOS 11, and iOS 12
The steps in this article will assume that you have two iOS devices that share an Apple ID. By default, you should already be receiving iMessages on both of these devices. The steps below will enable you to also send and receive text messages on both devices. Click here to learn more about the difference between text and iMessages.
The first part of this article provides a quick overview of how to enable this forwarding. For more information with pictures, you can keep scrolling, or click here to jump to the full guide.
Text Message Forwarding on an iPhone 7
Find out how to enable text message forwarding on your iPhone so that you can both send and receive text messages on another iOS device device where you are signed in with your Apple ID.
Materials
Tools
- iPhone
- Another iOS device signed in with the same Apple ID
Instructions
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Messages.
- Touch the Text Message Forwarding button.
- Tap the button to the right of the device where you wish to forward text messages.
- Get the activation code from the second device.
- Type in the activation code on your iPhone, then tap Allow.
Notes
You are going to need to have physical access to both of these devices to be able to complete this guide.
You must be signed into the same Apple ID on both devices.
You can turn this forwarding off at any time by returning to the Text Message Forwarding menu.
Full Guide – Text Message Forwarding on iPhone
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and select the Messages option.
Step 3: Tap the Text Message Forwarding button.
Step 4: Tap the button to the right of the device on which you wish to receive and send text messages.
Step 5: Retrieve the activation code from the second device.
Step 6: Enter the code on your iPhone, then tap the Allow button.
Now you will be able to receive and send text messages from both of these devices.
Summary: How to Send and Receive SMS Messages on an iPhone 7
- Open Settings.
- Open Messages.
- Select Text Message Forwarding.
- Tap the button to the right of the device.
- Get the activation code from that device.
- Enter the activation code on your iPhone., then touch the Allow button.
If your cellular provider supports Wi-Fi Calling, then it is definitely a feature that you should consider setting up, especially if your cellular reception is bad at your home or work. Click here to see how to enable Wi-Fi Calling on your iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
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