About Imessage And Sms Technology
iMessage can be sent either using the Wi-Fi connection or mobile network. It does not need a text messaging plan as it requires traditional SMS. iMessage will be sent free if you sent via Wi-Fi. Moreover, iMessage is sent between iOS devices, but SMS message is sent between iOS and non-iOS or iOS device.
- If you send an iMessage to a non-iOS device such as Android, then it will be sent in SMS message format so that other device users can read.
- If you are sending a message in the group which has also non-iOS users, the message will be sent in SMS format.
How To Know If Someone Blocked Your Number On iPhone
There are a few ways you can potentially determine if your phone number has been blocked by an iPhone user. Well show you a few ways to help figure it out.
Note that you have been blocked by the recipient iPhone, that recipient iPhone will not ring or make any notification or sound that you have called, nor sent them a message, nor left a voicemail. From the end that is doing the blocking, their iPhone stays silent and undisturbed by an inbound blocked call.
What Does The Orange Dot Mean On Ios 14
When the orange dot appears on your iPhone, it means that an application is using the microphone. This means that the app is listening to the microphone and might record it too. For instance, you will see this indicator when making an audio note, sending a voice message, using Siri, etc.
Therefore, you should only see the orange dot on your iPhone when youre doing something that involves using the microphone.
Suppose you see it in situations when youre doing something that doesnt need the microphone. In that case, it might mean that the app is violating your privacy, and it might be trying to use your recording for unscrupulous purposes.
For instance, it should not show up if youre playing a game with no voice input component. In such situations, its a good idea to contact the app developer. There could be a logical reason for it, or there may be a bug which the developer can fix.
Alternatively, you can opt to delete the app or disable its access to your microphone as follows:
In previous versions of iOS, you could only know when the microphone was being accessed when the app was in the background. This was in the form of a red pill indicator on the left-hand side of the notch. This feature remains the same in iOS 14, but the orange indicator dot will simultaneously appear on the right-hand side of the notch.
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Why Are Some Messages Green On iPhone
When you send a Message from iPhone, the outgoing message can take two different routes, depending on whether the recipient of the Message is using an Apple Device or an Android Device.
If the recipient is using an Apple device, the Message is sent as an iMessage using Apples own infrastructure. If the recipient is not using an Apple Device, the message is sent as SMS Text Message using the Carriers network.
A major difference between the two is that iMessages are free and do not count against the messaging allowance of your phone plan, while SMS Text Messages are not free and will be counted against your Messaging Plan.
Hence, Apple has made it easy for iPhone users to distinguish between iMessages and SMS Text Messages by using Blue color for Free iMessages and Green color for Paid SMS Text Messages.
An easy way to remember this is to think of Green as being related to Money which is what your Carrier wants from you. iMessages are Blue and totally free.
In-fact, you can send as many Free iMessages as you want from iPhone to other Apple Device, located anywhere in the world.
What Happens If I Dont See Any Blue Messages

If youre using an Apple device and communicating with someone who also uses an Apple device but doesnt see messages in blue, its most likely because one of you hasnt turned on iMessage.
Navigate to Settings > Messages to turn it on.
On the Messages screen, there are two related toggles, all of which are switched on by default on new devices.Toggle iMessaging on and off with the iMessage button.
When iMessage isnt open, use the Send as SMS toggle to determine if the Messages app can automatically send messages via SMS.
We hope you had a good read on why are my messages green. Do well to hit the share button, recommend to a friend and you can also bookmark this page to stay updated with our latest articles too.
CSN Team.
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Imessage Is Turned Off
Messages on iPhone are sent as iMessage or SMS messages. You can turn on/off the iMesages feature by yourself. Therefore, one of the primary reasons imessage green starts to show is that your iMessage might be turned off.
Fix Now:
You can turn it on by going to the Settings. Click on the Messages option and then turn on iMessages. Then send a message to check if it is displayed in blue bubble.
Why Are My Messages Sending Green To Another iPhone
What can be more confusing than sending a message to another and it shows a green message instead of a blue background message.
Honestly that shouldnt give you a headache trying to figure out what could cause the problem, and whether the problem is from your iPhone.
So this article covers all you need to know on why are my messages sending green to another iphone. But before I proceed to that, I want to assure you that theres nothing wrong with your iPhone or the messages app.
Now lets continue.
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Yes Green Bubble Dismissal Is A Real Thing
If youre not an iPhone user, this might be the first youve heard of this. If youre an iPhone user who doesnt live in the US, you also may never have heard of this, are much more popular throughout the rest of the world .
Let me assure you that certain iPhone users outright rejecting the sight of a green bubble is no joke.
Related: How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android
Take this article from Cosmopolitan with the headline Bad news: Bachelor Nations Mike Johnson is an Android guy. In it, the author talks about how Johnson seems like the perfect man, but since its now been revealed he uses an Android phone, he might not be worth fawning over anymore.
In a tweet included with the article , one person even goes so far as to say, Is Mike still able to be the bachelor if he has an Android?
Heres a particularly condescending snippet from the articles author:
Yes, its a little bit harsh to judge Mike on his questionable smartphone selection, but come on. Choosing to purchase an Android is such a weird flex. People will tell you they did it because it has a really great camera or is waterproof or something, but TBH, an Android could literally fold my laundry and I still wouldnt force my friends to look at green text bubbles.
In an article summarizing Samsungs GIFs, The Verge went so far as to say that when green bubble arguments come up, the only fix, really, is to get an iPhone.
The iPhone Maker Cultivated Imessage As A Must
Listen to article
Soon after 19-year-old Adele Lowitz gave up her Apple iPhone 11 for an experimental go with an Android smartphone, a friend in her long-running texting group chimed in: Whos green?
The reference to the color of group text messagesAndroid users turn Apple Inc.s iMessage into green bubbles instead of bluehighlighted one of the challenges of her experiment. No longer did her group chats work seamlessly with other peers, almost all of whom used iPhones. FaceTime calls became more complicated and the University of Michigan sophomores phone didnt show up in an app she used to find friends.
To Read the Full Story
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Fix 2 Update Ios To The Latest Version
Keeping your iPhone software up to date might be one solution to remove these bugs as Apple might create a fix patch that could be embedded into the latest iOS versions.
Update your device via iTunes:
Step 1. Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2. Once the iPhone icon appears near the top left of the iTunes window, click the button near the top left of the iTunes window.
Note
If you cannot see iPhone icon, it means iTunes fails to detect your iPhone. It is most likely to happen if you are having iPhone Green Screen issue. In this case, you need to put your device in Recovery Mode or DFU Mode first to get your phone detected.
Step 3. Select Check for Update.
Step 4. If there is a newer version of iOS software available for download, iTunes will tell you there is one available. Click Update and the process will begin with a prompt asking you if you want to download only, or download and update.
It should take a few minutes depending on your connection speed. The installation should begin automatically once the software is downloaded. If you have a passcode lock on your iPhone, you may need to enter it during the installation process.
Update your device directly on your phone:
Step 1. Open the Settings on your iPhone and tap General.
Step 2. If a software update is available, a red dot will appear on this line – you can then tap this option to enter the update menu.
Make Sure Imessage Is On And Set Up Correctly
Check youre set to send and receive iMessages by going to Settings > Messages and checking that iMessage is turned on.
If when you get to this page you see a message suggesting that iMessage is Waiting for activation or Activation unsuccessful, then read this article: What to do when iMessage wont activate on your iPhone.
If iMessage is switched on and there is no message about activation, check that your phone is set up correctly to receive iMessages: Go to Settings > Messages and check the addresses and mobile number you have listed in Send & Receive.
The fix
Assuming its not an activation issue, run through the following:
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Sending Text Or Imessage To The iPhone Number To Check For Block
You can also try to check if your number has been blocked by sending the person a message.
If the iMessage never shows a Delivered or Read message, and its still blue, then you may have been blocked but not always.
If the iMessage goes through and shows a Read receipt, then you have definitely not been blocked. Remember that Read Receipts can be disabled completely, or enabled broadly, or enabled on a per contact basis, but there is no way to determine which is the case unless you have specifically discussed it with the recipient or checked the settings on their iPhone .
If the iMessage goes through and shows a Delivered message, then you have probably not been blocked.
If the iMessage fails to send and after repeated attempts at sending the message, and if the message turns green rather than blue, the person may have no cellular service, has no data connection, has a problem with their cell service, has a problem with their iPhone, has iMessage turned off, uses an Android phone , or possibly has their iPhone turned off or is in the process of rebooting. There are many reasons why someones iMessages may not be working, and its no indicator of being blocked by the person.
Remember, when messages are being sent as green instead of blue, that means the phone is attempting to send a traditional SMS text message instead of an iMessage.
Why Are Some Imessages Green And Some Blue On My iPhone

Walter Glenn
Walter Glenn is a former Editorial Director for How-To Geek and its sister sites. He has more than 30 years of experience in the computer industry and over 20 years as a technical writer and editor. He’s written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and edited thousands. He’s authored or co-authored over 30 computer-related books in more than a dozen languages for publishers like Microsoft Press, O’Reilly, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. He’s also written hundreds of white papers, articles, user manuals, and courseware over the years.Read more…
You may have noticed that some messages in iPhones Message app are green, while some are blue. What do those colors mean and does it even matter?
Messages with green bubbles are normal SMS text messages. Message with blue bubbles are sent via the iMessage instant messaging protocola messaging platform specific to Apple devices. If youre communicating between two Apple devices with iMessage enabled, youll see blue messages. If youre communicating with any device that doesnt use iMessagelike an Android phone, or an iPhone that doesnt have iMessage turned onyoull see green messages.
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What Is An Sms Message
When we first started using cell phones, we could make phone calls and send messages over a cellular network. This type of message was called SMS, or Short Messaging Service text message. Back then, sending SMS messages was inconvenientit required the painstaking task of inputting letters on a numeric keyboard. Then, smartphones came along with their onscreen keyboards, and texting quickly became a primary form of communication. Smartphones also brought us data, a connection to the Internet over that cellular network. The combination meant we could more easily send pictures, videos, and other data in our text messages, making them even more useful.
To send text messages, all you need is a text message plan with your cellular carrier. If youre interested in unlimited texting, check out the latest Xfinity Mobile plans.
Why Are My Messages Green: Resetting Imessage
If your iPhone continues sending SMS text messages instead of iMessages to an iPhone user, you may need to reset iMessage on your iPhone.
Uncheck the email addresses in the You Can Be Reached via iMessage at segment in Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive to reset iMessage.
Then, at the top of the page, tap your Apple ID and click Sign Out. After youve signed off, make sure the iMessage slider is turned off.
Then, for about 10 seconds, press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons to reset the iPhone.
The screen will go blank while you hold the buttons. Keep the buttons down until the Apple logo appears.You can release the buttons after you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
Wait 510 minutes after the system restarts before turning on the iMessage slider and signing in with your Apple ID. The activation of iMessage should go smoothly.
Return to Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive after iMessage has been activated, and make sure any email addresses you wish to use for iMessage are chosen.
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If Your iPhones Imessage Feature Is Off Heres How To Turn It Back On
The bottom line is that iMessage is usually superior to SMS, and your iPhone can use it wherever possible apart from getting iMessage switched on, you dont need to do something extra to send an iMessage to another Apple device.
To make sure iMessage is turned on, follow these steps:
About The Status Icons On Your iPhone
To learn what an icon means, find it below.
Your carriers 5G network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network. 5G works with these iPhone models.
Your carriers 5G network with higher frequency is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network. Works with these iPhone models.
Your carriers 5G E network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network. Works with iPhone 8 and later.
Your carriers LTE network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network.
Your carriers 3G UMTS or EV-DO network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network.
Your carriers 4G UMTS or LTE network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network.
Your carriers GPRS or 1xRTT network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network.
Your carriers EDGE network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the Internet over that network.
Youre in range of your cellular network and can make and receive calls. If theres no signal, “No service” appears.
On your iPhone with Dual SIM capability, youre in range of your cellular network and can make and receive calls. If theres no signal, “No service” appears.
You can use Wi-Fi calling. Your carrier also appears next to the icon.
Your iPhone is connected to the Internet over Wi-Fi.
Youre connected to a network using VPN.
Theres network activity.
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What Does The Green Dot Mean On Ios 14
You will see a green dot in the status bar on an iPhone running iOS 14 when an app accesses the camera. This also implies that the microphone is being accessed simultaneously.
If you find that an app accesses your camera without any apparent reason, its a good idea to contact the developer or customer support. If they are not able to give you a logical explanation and you suspect the app is spying on you, its a good idea to delete the app or revoke its camera access as follows: