How To Send Message On Iphone 7

iMessage Isn't Working On My iPhone 7 Plus! Here's Why & The Fix!

iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus and you can't figure out why. All the texts you send and receive are in green bubbles, or are just failing to send altogether. In this article, I'll explain why you can't send or receive iMessages on your iPhone 7 Plus and show you how to fix the problem using a step-by-step guide.

iMessages Versus Text Messages

Before getting into why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus, we think it's important to talk about the distinction between iMessages and standard text messages.

If you've been an iPhone users for long enough, you probably know that iMessages are in blue bubbles, while standard (SMS) text messages are in green bubbles.

However, iMessages are a lot more than just a different color bubble. iMessages are special because they allow you to send messages greater than 160 characters, the amount you can send in one SMS message. iMessage also doesn't make you rely on a texting plan from your wireless carrier, like you would if your phone only sent SMS or MMS messages.

Unfortunately, you can only send iMessages to other iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac users. So, if your friend has an Android, the texts you send them will be SMS.

Why Isn't iMessage Working On My iPhone 7 Plus?

At this point, it's difficult to say. It could be a problem with your iPhone 7 Plus, or with the friend's iPhone you're trying to message. Let's break down both scenarios:

If the problem is with your iPhone 7 Plus, you won't be able to send or receive iMessages from anyone on your iPhone.
If the problem is with one of your contact's iPhone, you'll be able to send and receive iMessages from everyone but that specific contact.

To figure out the real reason why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus, try sending a message to a few of your contacts. If iMessages send to all of them but one, then the problem is with the specific contact.

If you aren't able to send iMessages to anyone, then the issue is coming from your iPhone and you'll want to follow our troubleshooting guide below to diagnose and fix the problem!

How To Fix An iPhone 7 Plus That Won't Send Or Receive iMessages

7 Steps Total

Make Sure Send & Receive iMessage Is Turned On

Turning on Send & Receive gives your iPhone the ability to send and receive iMessages from other iOS devices. If send and/or receive is turned off, your iPhone won't be able to send or receive iMessages in the Messages app.

Open theSettings app.
TapMessages.
Scroll down and tapSend & Receive.
Look for a check next to your phone number under "You can be reached by iMessage at" and "Start new conversations from".
If there isn't a check mark next to your phone number, tap it to give your iPhone the ability to send and receive iMessages.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again

Turning Wi-Fi off and back on again can sometimes fix minor technical issues that may causing your problem.

How Do I Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again?

There are two ways to turn Wi-Fi off and back on again:

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In The Settings App

Open theSettings app.
TapWi-Fi.
Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi.
You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the switch is gray.
To turn Wi-Fi back on, tap the switch again.
You'll know Wi-Fi is on when the switch is green.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In Control Center

Swipe up from below the bottom of the screen to open Control Center.
Tap the Wi-Fi icon.
You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the icon is black inside of a gray circle.
Tap the icon again to turn Wi-Fi back on.
You'll know W-Fi is on when the icon is white inside of a blue circle.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Turn iMessage Off And Back On

Turning iMessage off and back on can sometimes fix a minor software issue when your iPhone is not receiving iMessages. Think of it like restarting your iPhone, but specifically for iMessage.

Open theSettings app.
TapMessages.
Tap the switch next to iMessage. You'll know iMessage is off when the switch is positioned to the left and gray.
Tap the switch again to turn it back on. You'll know iMessage is back on when the switch is green and positioned to the right.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Sign Out And Back In To iMessage

Signing out and back into iMessage has the potential to fix any technical issues that may have been interrupting your iCloud account's ability to send and receive iMessages. From this screen, you can also log into a different iCloud account if the account your currently signed into is old.

Open theSettings app.
TapMessages.
TapSend & Receive.
Tap yourApple IDat the top of your iPhone's display.
TapSign Out.
To sign back in, tapUse your Apple ID for iMessage.
Enter yourApple ID (if necessary) and Apple ID Password.
TapSign In.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Update Your iPhone Software In The Settings App

Apple puts out new software updates to improve efficiency, fix bugs, and introduce new features. Updating iOS can fix problems with your iPhone's software.

How Do I Update My iPhone Software In The Settings App?

Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap Software Update.
Tap Install Now.
Enter your passcode.
The update will begin once it is verified.
The update is complete after your iPhone restarts.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Reset Network Settings

Resetting the network settings can give your iPhone a "fresh start" and allow it to connect to Bluetooth devices or WiFi networks that may have been problematic.

How Do I Reset Network Settings?

Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Scroll down toReset. Reset is the final option in Settings -> General.
Tap Reset Network Settings.
Enter your passcode.
When your iPhone restarts, the reset is complete.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.

Applies To: iPhone 5,iPhone 5S,iPhone 5C,iPhone 6,iPhone 6 Plus,iPhone 6S,iPhone 6S Plus,iPhone SE,iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus,iPhone X,iPhone XS,iPhone XS Max,iPhone XR,iPhone 11,iPhone 11 Pro,iPhone 11 Pro Max,iPhone SE 2

iMessage: Fixed!

If iMessage was not working on your iPhone 7 Plus, that problem is now fixed! We encourage you to share this fix on social media, so your friends can know what to do when they're having problems with iMessages. Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a comment down below if you have any other questions!