L’applicationMessageson iPhone and iPad has improved over the versions of iOS, gaining in various functionalities, following third-party solutions of the same type, but also sometimes taking the lead. On the other hand, as complete as it is, even integrating a dedicated App Store, the app can sometimes seem obscure to the uninitiated, especially when you want to access basic and often useful options. So to understand a little better the management of your SMS and iMessage with Messages on iPhone and enrich your repertoire of iOS and iPhone “tips”, here is aseries of practical tips.
Reply from the locked screen
Thanks to enriched notifications, when receiving an SMS or iMessage and displaying its notification, it is possible to open it fully to read the message completely and even respondwithout unlocking the phone and opening the Messages app. For that :
- In the locked screen, long press on the received message box, or slide your finger to the left before pressing “Show”
- Write your answer and send it
© iPhon.fr
Easy transfer of a message
To copy a message received by a contact and forward it to another contact, one might think that the easiest way would be to use the copy and paste function. But it's simpler:
- Long press on the text to share
- Press “More…” then the small arrow at the bottom right
© iPhon.fr
- Finally choose the contact who will receive the copy of the message
- Send
Limit the size of images shared per message
Pouravoid using too much dataor to avoid saturating the iPhone's memory too quickly with the recurring sending of GIFs or other funny images, it is possible to limit the quality of the images sent in the Message app.
Go toSettings > Messagesand activate the “Lower image quality” option.
© iPhon.fr
Stop repeating message reception alerts
Here is the summary procedure for this featuredetailed in this article:
- Go to “Settings > Notifications”
- Scroll down until you find the heading “Messages”
© iPhon.fr
- Press the latter and go down again
- Choose “Personalize notifications”, then “Snooze alerts”
© iOS screenshot by iPhon.fr
- Select the number of alerts, this ranges from “Never” to “10 times”
© iPhon.fr
Mute a group chat
To avoid having your phone ring as soon as a member of a group chat speaks, here is how to do it:
- In the Messages app, swipe left on the conversation in question
- Press the little crossed out bell
- A crescent moon icon to the right of the conversation indicates that it is muted
© iPhon.fr
To deactivate this state, repeat the procedure.
Recognize the sender of a message by ear
Knowing who the person who just sent a text message is simply by ear, or even by recognizing the rhythm of the vibrations, is possible. To do this, you must configure a specific ringtone or vibration for the contact in question,as explained here in more detail.
- In the Contacts app, search for the relevant contact
- Press “Edit” at the top right
- At the heading “SMS sounds”, tap in the “Default” field, then on “Vibration”
© iPhon.fr
- Choose a different alert or even a new personalized vibration via the “Create vibration” option
© iPhon.fr
- Press “OK” to validate
Block a contact or number
To avoid being harassed by contact that is a little too persistent, it is possible toeasily block your number:
- From the Messages app, go to the open conversation with the contact to block
- Tap their initials at the top or their profile picture
- Press “info”
- Choose “Block this correspondent” at the bottom.
© iPhon.fr
To unblock it, do the same operation and choose in the last step “Unblock this correspondent”
Findmore information hereAbout iOS Contacts Blacklist.
Limit SMS previews in notifications
Here's a tipseen herewhich describes how to disable or limit the display of messages in notifications. This can be useful to prevent anyone from being able to read messages received even with the iPhone locked:
- Go to settings, then “Notifications”
- Find the “Messages” app
- Go down to the “Show Previews” option and change it to “Never” or “If Unlocked”
© iOS screenshot by iPhon.fr
With these tips, it is possible to perfect the customization of SMS and iMessage management on the iPhone. And to further enrich your knowledge of iOS,don't hesitate to take a look thereto find several hundred detailed and often illustrated practical articles dedicated to the use of the Apple mobile operating system.
Do you know all these SMS/Messages options? If not, which one(s) have you discovered here?
Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.
