We’ve all been there—the anticipation of sending that crucial text, only to see the dreaded green bubble instead of the comforting blue. It’s a moment of suspense, curiosity, and, sometimes, mild panic.
Is the recipient ghosting us, or is there a technical glitch in the matrix, or maybe their phone is off? I mean, does iMessage turn green when the phone is off? Well, here’s what I found out:
Given that iMessages only work between iOS users, a green bubble indicates that the recipient’s phone is off or they do not have internet connectivity. This color change means the message was sent as an SMS message instead.
Also, green message bubbles don’t just mean that your friend’s iPhone is off—it’s because they might be rocking an Android, a Windows phone, or perhaps a vintage flip phone.
The green bubble is a gentle reminder of our coexistence in the world’s diverse smartphone ecosystem. And to help you navigate the slightly confusing world of iOS message bubble colors, we crafted this easy-to-follow guide! Read on!
What is the meaning of the colors on my device texts Meaning?
The color of your iMessages tells you how the messages were sent. But to understand how these iOS messages work, a little background should help.
First up, know that iMessage is a proprietary Apple instant messaging application. Launched in 2011, the platform provides automatic end-to-end encryption for messages sent exclusively between Apple devices (OS listed below):
- iOS (iPhones)
- macOS (MacBook Pro)
- iPadOS (iPad)
- watchOS (Apple Watch)
With that said, this means that iMessages work only between iOS devices. Here’s where the color coding of these messages showcases how they were sent.
| IMPORTANT: Green messages indicate that the messages were sent as text (SMS/MMS). Blue messages, however, show you that the message was sent via the internet as iMessages. |
How do I ensure I’m always using iMessages for messaging, not SMS?
To send iMessages, you need a data plan or a WiFi connection. If you choose to use data, remember that your network plan will get deducted, even more so when sending graphics-heavy videos.
On the other hand, sending text messages via iMessage requires a text message plan with your choice of cellular carrier. Text messages, of course, are limited as they can’t send pictures and videos.
Now, here’s where things get tricky. If you send a message via iPhone using the iMessage app to an Android phone, the message gets sent as an SMS/MMS, which happens when you send an iMessage to a group with one Android user.
Also, know that SMS/MMS sent over an iPhone aren’t encrypted, unlike iMessages, which provide extra security.
iMessages will have no issue sending graphics-heavy video. Although MMS can send graphics, it’s primarily used in North America and may not apply elsewhere.
Plus, iMessages are free so long as you can access the internet. SMS/MMS, by default, adds up to your cellular service bill.
Why do iMessage bubbles turn green?
The most apparent reason iMessages turns green is when your recipient is a non-iOS user. To wrap things up, below are reasons why you can get green messages while sending an iMessage.
Your recipient doesn’t have iMessage activated
Even when sending an iMessage to an iPhone user, you may still get a green message, not a blue one. The reason is simple; the message was sent as an SMS because the phone number is not linked to an iMessage account.
For one, the one you’re calling may have used an email address to activate his iMessage, not the phone number you’re calling. The solution is straightforward: ask for your friend’s iMessage details.
iMessage is currently disabled on the phone number you’re calling
Like any other app, iMessage can be disabled on an iOS device. When that happens, all the iMessages you send to that number will be sent as an SMS, not an iMessage, hence the messages turning green.
Here’s how to turn off/on iMessage on your iPhone.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 – 15 seconds |
| Things Needed | An iPhone working internet connection |
Choosing whether to send SMS text or iMessage would be easier if you know what network is available to you. If the internet is down, there’s no sense using iMessage; and if you don’t have a cellular network connection, then you can’t text.
Step 1: Tap Settings  |
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Messages  |
Step 3: Toggle iMessage (on or off) Note: When you toggle the iMessage option to off, all your messages will be sent as SMS text and take a bite from your cellular texting plan. |
Reason 3: You sent a message to an Android user
Simply put, your iMessages turn green when sending to an Android phone. That tells you your message has been sent as text or SMS and is using your cellular network.
All of the above should give you an idea of why your iMessages are green. It should answer the question: Does iMessage turn green when the phone is off?
You have no internet connection
If you’ve been chatting for a while using iMessage, then suddenly, all messages you send turn green, the culprit could be an intermittent WiFi signal. If your internet connection dies down, all your messages will turn green.
So it’s essential, therefore, that you ensure you’re using a stable internet connection. When you want to prioritize conversing over iMessage, having an unreliable internet won’t cut it.
Do green texts show if they have been delivered?
Green message bubbles will only indicate a “Sent” stamp under each one, and they won’t show you a timestamp when they’re delivered.
So, there really is no need to worry if your SMS message doesn’t say it’s “delivered.” As long as there’s “sent” on display, you should be good to go.
But things are a lot easier when a green text is sent from an iPhone to another iPhone or iOS device. You can just enable Read Receipts.
Here’s how:
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 – 15 seconds |
| Things Needed | An iPhone A working internet connection |
Step 1: Tap Settings  |
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Messages  |
Step 3: Toggle Send Read Receipts  |
Once it’s on, people get notified when you’ve read their SMS. This means Read Receipts has to be activated on the recipient’s iPhone for you to know if they’ve read your message.
Also, the person who sent the message will be notified of the exact time a message has been read. A timestamp will show with the sent text along with the Read note.
Can you text someone if their phone is off?
You can still text (SMS) someone when their phone is off, but the recipient won’t be able to receive it. Instead, the cell service provider stores these text messages to be sent later once the recipient device is turned on.
A text message is like a real-time phone call. Once a text is sent, the service provider saves the message and sends it to the recipient when the recipient’s phone is fully functional.
There’s a catch, though: The delivery period for these SMS messages is limited depending on the service provider. Once done, the texts are deleted forever.
So, if the period allotted for delivery has elapsed, those text messages won’t be delivered anymore. This means a smartphone turned off for a long time may no longer receive these texts as the carrier has deleted them.
Can someone receive iMessages if their phone is off?
If the recipient device is turned off, an iMessage will automatically be sent as text (green) and received as soon as the iPhone is back on. However, the recipient may still receive it on another iOS device via their iCloud account (e.g., iPad).
No one should gain access to your iCloud information, and you should take pains not to divulge it. However, someone could access your pertinent data (e.g., purchases, iMessages) if they have physical access to any of your iCloud-activated devices.
How to Check Which of Your iCloud Devices are Active
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 15 – 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | An iPhone A working internet connection |
It’s paramount, therefore, that you have a way to check your devices. While you can do this via a website, checking on your iPhone or any mobile iOS device is also possible.
The steps below should guide you.
Step 1: Go to Settings. |
Step 2: Tap on your Account Name (top) |
Step 3: Scroll down and check the Apple devices logged in. Note: Click on any of the devices to see more details. |
Step 4: Choose Remove from Account (if needed) Note: Any device logged in that you have not authorized should be removed. It’s upon your discretion. |
You can also log into the Apple ID website. Sign in to appleid.apple.com, then head to Devices. Your active devices should show.
When your phone dies, does iMessage turn off?
If you send an iMessage and your phone dies, that message may not be sent. iMessage requires both the sender and recipient’s Apple devices to be turned on and connected to the internet.
What happens when you send an iMessage to a phone that is off?
When you send an iMessage to an iPhone that is turned off, the message won’t be delivered. Instead, Apple Inc. stores the message in its servers for about 24 hours and is deleted after that grace period.
How iMessages are sent is very similar to how SMS texts are sent. They don’t go directly from one iPhone to another; instead, they pass through Apple’s servers before being sent to you.
Now, if you want a copy of all your messages from the onset, you need an extra step to do that. You must set up iCloud for messages.
| IMPORTANT: You need to set up iCloud to have a copy of all your iMessages. And that means accessing these messages on any of your iOS devices. |
What color are iMessages when the phone is off?
iMessages will turn green if the recipient’s iPhone is off. That’s because the internet message will be sent as an SMS text instead.
However, when you send an iMessage to a non-iOS smartphone, the messages automatically turn green even when the recipient device is active. That’s because iMessage works only between Apple devices.
Does green text message on iPhone mean blocked?
Green text on your iPhone does not automatically mean you’ve been blocked.
However, if you’ve been chatting using iMessage with the person and your messages suddenly turn from blue to green, there is a strong possibility that you may have been blocked or the other phone is off.
As mentioned, you only need an active cellular network to send an SMS to iPhone and Android smartphones. Otherwise, internet connectivity is essential to sending an iMessage from one iOS device to another.
Do messages get delivered when the phone is blocked?
Even SMS texts may not be delivered if you’re blocked on iMessage. And if the recipient blocks you on his iPhone, the iMessage may remain blue but may never be delivered.
Also, you won’t be notified that you’ve been blocked, as everything will look normal on your end. That means you will still get the Delivered Status when you send an iMessage.
An excellent remedy to know if you’ve been blocked is to use other avenues to reach out to the person. Connect via Facebook Messenger, email, or WhatsApp; you should take a hint if that person doesn’t reply.
