Turn on iMessage in Settings > Apps > Messages, then select your number in Send & Receive; blue bubbles appear with iMessage users.
Green bubbles after a new iPhone setup usually mean Messages is using RCS or SMS/MMS, and how to change to iMessage comes down to two checks: iMessage must be on, and your phone number must be selected for Messages. Once both are set, your iPhone uses iMessage automatically when the person you are messaging can receive it.
You do not switch each conversation with a separate iMessage button. Messages decides the service before you send, and the blue or green send arrow tells you which type is available for that recipient.
Change Messages To iMessage: The Settings To Use
iMessage is turned on from the Messages settings on current iOS versions. Your phone number or Apple Account email can then be selected as an address for sending and receiving iMessages.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then tap Messages.
- Turn on the iMessage switch.
- Tap Send & Receive.
- Under You Can Receive iMessages To And Reply From, make sure your phone number is selected.
- If Start New Conversations From appears, select your phone number if you want new chats to begin from that number instead of your email address.
Open Messages and start a new conversation with another iMessage user. A blue send arrow shows that the new message will use iMessage.
Why Is The Message Still Green?
A green bubble means the message used RCS, SMS, or MMS rather than iMessage. Green does not always mean your iPhone is misconfigured, because the recipient may be using Android or may have iMessage turned off.
- The recipient does not use iMessage: Messages cannot turn that chat blue.
- iMessage is off on either device: Both Apple users need iMessage available for a blue-bubble conversation.
- iMessage is temporarily unavailable: Messages can fall back to another supported messaging type.
- Your phone number is not selected: Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive and select it.
- You just changed phones or eSIMs: Apple advises turning iMessage off and back on, then selecting the phone number again.
Apple says phone-number activation can take up to 24 hours because the carrier may need to verify the number with Apple. The iPhone also needs SMS capability for phone-number activation, and the carrier may charge for that activation text.
Read The Bubble And Send Button Before You Send
The Messages app gives you a useful visual check before and after a message leaves your phone. Blue indicates iMessage, while green indicates RCS, SMS, or MMS.
| What You See | What It Means | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Blue send arrow | iMessage is available for that message | Send normally |
| Blue message bubble | The message was sent with iMessage | No change needed |
| Green send arrow | The message will use RCS, SMS, or MMS | Check the recipient and iMessage status |
| Green bubble to an Android user | iMessage is not available for that recipient | Use the supported green-bubble service |
| Green bubble to an iPhone user | iMessage is off, unavailable, or needs updated settings | Check both devices and your number |
| Red exclamation point | The message was not delivered | Check the connection, then tap Try Again |
| Phone number missing in Send & Receive | The number is not ready for iMessage use | Check activation and Apple Account settings |
Apple’s green-message troubleshooting steps confirm the current path: Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn on iMessage and use Send & Receive when you need to choose a number or email address. That same page also confirms that green bubbles can appear when the other person is not using an Apple device or when iMessage is unavailable.
Use Your Phone Number Instead Of Your Email Address
Your iPhone can start iMessage conversations from either your phone number or an Apple Account email address. Choosing the phone number helps new conversations appear to come from the number your contacts already know.
Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive. Under Start New Conversations From, tap your phone number; if an older thread began from your email address, start a new conversation to use the phone number for that chat.
Can You Force A Text To Send As iMessage?
iMessage cannot be forced when the recipient cannot receive iMessage. Messages chooses iMessage only when the service is available between your Apple device and the recipient’s Apple device. A green message that has already been sent does not change color later.
If a blue-bubble conversation suddenly turns green, check the network connection and iMessage status before changing other settings. Sending the message as SMS or RCS can get the text through, but it does not convert that message into iMessage.
Fix iMessage After A New iPhone Or eSIM Change
New-device and eSIM changes can leave Messages using the wrong line or an email address until the iMessage settings are refreshed. Apple lists a short reset sequence for this situation.
- Make sure the iPhone is running the latest iOS version available to it.
- Open Settings > Cellular and confirm the phone line is turned on.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
- Turn iMessage off, then turn it back on.
- Tap Send & Receive, then select the phone number you want Messages to use.
| Situation | Likely Cause | Next Move |
|---|---|---|
| All iPhone contacts are green | iMessage may be off or not activated | Turn on iMessage and check Send & Receive |
| Only one contact is green | That person may not have iMessage available | Check whether the recipient uses iMessage |
| Messages come from your email | Email is selected for new conversations | Select your number under Start New Conversations From |
| Number is missing after eSIM setup | The line or iMessage registration may need refreshing | Confirm the line, then turn iMessage off and on |
| Red exclamation appears | The message failed to send | Check the network and tap Try Again |
| iMessage remains unverified | Carrier verification may still be in progress | Allow up to 24 hours, then contact the carrier if needed |
The number should appear selected in Send & Receive once activation finishes. If a verification indicator is still spinning, Apple says the carrier verification process can take up to 24 hours.
Use These Steps When You Want Blue iMessage Bubbles
The shortest dependable sequence is to enable iMessage, select the phone number, and test a new message to someone who uses iMessage. The color of the send arrow tells you what will happen before you tap it.
- Open Settings > Apps > Messages.
- Turn on iMessage.
- Open Send & Receive and select your phone number.
- Select that number under Start New Conversations From if the option is shown.
- Start a new conversation with an iMessage user and check for the blue send arrow.
A blue arrow means the next message can go through iMessage. A green arrow means Messages will use RCS, SMS, or MMS instead, so check the recipient, your iMessage activation, and your selected phone number before changing anything else.
References & Sources
Apple Support – If your iPhone messages are green: current Apple instructions for turning on iMessage and choosing Send & Receive settings.