The Ultimate Guide to Apple Messages in iOS 18 – Tips, Tricks, and Features

Apple Messages has evolved from a simple messaging platform into a sophisticated communication hub for iPhone and iPad users. From sending texts to sharing multimedia, and now, with the arrival of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in public beta, the app brings even more exciting features to the table. Whether you’re sending pictures, videos, or animated GIFs or simply organising your messages with advanced features, Apple Messages has become more than just an SMS app. But with the latest update, its capabilities have grown even further.

You can now send messages to Android users using the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol, schedule messages for the future, and even apply custom animations or text effects. Whether you want to express yourself more vividly with bold or animated text, react more personally to messages with emojis or stickers, or even notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at a destination, iOS and iPadOS 18 have introduced tools to make messaging more engaging and convenient. Here are the top tricks you need to know to get the most out of Apple Messages’ newest upgrades.

Send RCS Messages to Android Users

Gone are the days when messaging between iOS and Android was limited to basic SMS. If you’re using iOS 18 or iPadOS 18, the public beta allows you to send RCS-based messages to your Android contacts. This is a massive upgrade from the standard SMS format, enabling higher-quality photos, larger file attachments, audio messages, and even read receipts. To enable this, head to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging. Now, when you open a conversation with an Android user, you’ll notice the text field will read “Text Message – RCS,” signalling a richer and more dynamic messaging experience.

Schedule a Text for the Future

Ever find yourself wanting to send a message at just the right moment? Whether it’s a birthday greeting or a reminder, you no longer need to rely on third-party apps like Shortcuts to do so. In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple Messages introduces a native scheduling feature. Simply open a conversation, tap the + icon, and select Send Later. You’ll be prompted to choose a date and time, and once you’ve confirmed, the message will be marked with a “Send Later” label. At the exact scheduled time, your message will be sent, perfectly timed and hassle-free.

Animate and Format Your Text

For those moments when regular text just won’t cut it, iOS/iPadOS 18 lets you jazz up your messages with formatting and animations. Highlight the text you want to embellish, then tap Text Effects from the popup menu. Your options range from basic formats like bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough to fun animated effects like Shake, Ripple, and Explode. If you want to make your words literally leap off the screen, there’s no better way than these lively text animations.

Respond with Emoji or Stickers Using Tapback

Tapback has long been a feature that allows you to quickly react to a message with a thumbs-up or heart, but iOS/iPadOS 18 is stepping up the game. Now, you can use any emoji or sticker as your Tapback response. When you receive a message, simply press and hold on to the text and tap the grey smiley icon. From there, pick your preferred emoji or sticker, and your reaction will be instantly attached to the message, adding a personalised touch to your interactions.

Stay Safe with Check-in

Originally introduced with iOS 17, the Check-In feature continues to prove its usefulness in keeping friends and family in the loop when you’re out and about. Whether you’re travelling alone or just meeting someone in an unfamiliar location, this feature lets your contacts know when you’ve arrived at your destination. To set it up, ensure Share My Location is enabled by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Once this is activated, start a conversation with the person you want to notify. Tap the + icon, choose More > Check-In, and follow the prompts. You can set your notification to trigger when you reach a specific place or after a set amount of time. The app will handle the rest, sending a message to your contact when you arrive.

Clean Up Your Verification Codes Automatically

We’ve all been there: our message inboxes cluttered with one-time verification codes that serve no purpose after they’re used. With iOS 17, Apple tackled this problem with a feature that automatically deletes these codes once they’ve served their purpose. To activate this, go to Settings > Passwords > Password Options, then toggle on Clean Up Automatically under Verification Codes. Moving forward, your codes will be removed as soon as they’re verified, keeping your message history clutter-free. In iOS/iPadOS 18, this functionality can also be managed through the new Apple Passwords app, further integrating security and convenience.

Edit a Sent Message

Typos happen. But now, correcting them doesn’t have to be a source of embarrassment. With iOS 16 and beyond, you can edit a message even after it’s sent. Within 15 minutes of sending a text, press and hold on to the message, then select Edit. Make your corrections, tap the checkmark, and voila – the updated message will replace the original (as long as the recipient is also on iOS 16 or later). Just be quick about it – after 15 minutes, the message becomes uneditable.

Unsend a Message

Sometimes, sending the wrong message can be more than just embarrassing—it can be downright problematic. Luckily, with iOS 16 and later, Apple introduced the ability to unsend a message. If you’ve accidentally sent something you wish you hadn’t, simply press and hold on to the message and select Undo Send. This feature will remove the message from the recipient’s device with a notice that the message was unsent. Just note that you have only a two-minute window to use this feature, and it’s exclusive to iMessage conversations, not standard SMS or MMS.

Stay in the Loop with Mentions

In group chats, notifications can sometimes become overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to focus on other tasks. However, iOS/iPadOS makes it easier to manage these distractions with the Mentions feature. Head to Settings > Messages, and enable Notify Me under Mentions. Now, even if you’ve muted a conversation, you’ll still get a notification if someone directly mentions you in the thread, allowing you to prioritise your attention without missing anything important.