What Does “Send as a Text Message” Mean on iPhone?

"Send as Text Message" on an iPhone means your message is being sent via SMS (Short Message Service) rather than through iMessage. iMessages are typically sent over the internet and show up in blue bubbles. However, when iMessage isn't available, either due to no internet connection or because the recipient isn't using an Apple device, the message switches to SMS and appears in green bubbles. This option ensures your message is still delivered through your mobile carrier’s SMS network, making sure it reaches the recipient even when iMessage isn’t an option.

An iMessage is sent over the internet between Apple devices and appears in blue bubbles, while a text message (SMS) uses the mobile network and appears in green bubbles.

iMessage: Apple’s messaging service, IMessage, works exclusively with Apple devices. It uses internet data (Wi-Fi or cellular) to send messages appearing in blue bubbles and includes features like message status receipts, typing indicators, and the ability to send larger files.

Text Message (SMS): SMS is the traditional way of sending messages via the cellular network. It doesn’t require an internet connection and works across all mobile phones. These messages appear in green bubbles on iPhones. SMS has limited features and may incur charges depending on your phone plan.

Your iPhone automatically chooses the best option based on the recipient’s device and network conditions. So, if iMessage isn’t available (either because the recipient doesn’t have an Apple device or the internet connection is weak), your iPhone automatically sends the message as a text. It switches to SMS to ensure the message is delivered.

Being blocked is a common concern, but “Sent as a Text Message” doesn’t automatically mean you are blocked. If your iMessages consistently fail to go through, it’s possible that the recipient doesn’t have an Apple device or their iMessage is turned off.

If you are blocked, iMessage won’t work, and your messages will always go through as SMS without any delivery confirmation.

iMessage being disabled and the recipient not having an Apple device are a few reasons your messages are “sent as a text message. Moreover, switching to a new device could cause your message to be sent as an SMS instead of an iMessage.

If the person you’re messaging has switched from an iPhone to another Android cell phone, iMessage won’t work anymore. It will automatically send the message as an SMS.

The recipient may have turned off iMessage. If this is the case, all messages you send will default to SMS, as their phone cannot receive iMessages.

iMessage can be temporarily unavailable due to network issues or Apple server outages. During this time, messages will be sent as SMS to ensure they are delivered.

When switching to a new iPhone, iMessage settings may take some time to sync. During this period, messages might be sent as SMS until iMessage is fully functional.

To prevent your messages from showing as send as SMS, ensure your iPhone has a reliable internet connection and that iMessage is active on both devices. You should also confirm if the recipient is still using iMessage or hasn’t disabled it.

• Make sure your iPhone is connected to strong Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• Check if the iMessage option is enabled on both your device and the recipient’s.
• Ask the recipient if they have switched devices or disabled iMessage.

Sent as a text message means the message goes through the SMS system but doesn’t guarantee delivery. Unlike iMessage, SMS doesn’t always provide a “Delivered” or “Read” receipt. You can’t confirm if the recipient received the text unless they respond.

When you see a green bubble, it means the message went via SMS, not iMessage. This could be due to the recipient not using an Apple device, turning off their iMessage, or lacking internet connectivity. Blue bubbles represent iMessages, which works using data or any Internet connectivity.

Sent as Text Message means your message was sent via SMS, while Delivered indicates it successfully reached the recipient’s device through iMessage.

• Sent as a Text Message: It Indicates that you’re sending the message via SMS.
• Delivered: This status confirms that the message has reached the recipient’s device. It is more common with iMessage, which offers delivery and sent labels.

 Note: You will only see a delivery confirmation for SMS if your carrier supports it.

On Android devices, all messages are sent via SMS or MMS, as no iMessage service is available. When an iPhone user sends a message to an Android phone, it will automatically be sent as an SMS (green bubble). Hence, Android and iPhone users communicate via SMS.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the next generation of SMS that is used mainly on Android devices. RCS offers advanced features like iMessage, such as higher-quality media sharing, read receipts, and typing indicators. However, RCS needs both the sender and recipient to have compatible devices and carriers supporting the service.

Sent as a text message means your iPhone uses SMS instead of iMessage to send the message. While SMS lacks some of the more advanced features of iMessage, it ensures your message gets through, even when iMessage isn’t available. Understanding these distinctions helps troubleshoot messaging issues and ensures your communications are delivered smoothly.