Green bubble vs Blue bubbles will continue to be one of the major annoyances until Apple makes it possible for Android users to join the fun. But did you know that there’s a lot more to the Messages app than just sending funny memes back and forth?
There are a slew of apps and stickers that can be installed and will only appear when you are using Messages. If this is a revelation to you, then you’re in luck as we’re going to look at how to install apps for Messages on iOS 15.
Chances are that many of your existing apps already support Messages in some form or fashion. However, if you want to peruse the dedicated App Store and install apps for Messages, here’s how you can do so:
Open the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 15.
Tap one of your existing conversations, or start a new one.
In the toolbar above the keyboard, tap the App Store icon.
Find and install an app that you want to use in Messages.
After the app is finished installing, the icon will appear in the aforementioned toolbar. If it’s not immediately viewable, you can swipe to the left or right until you see the icon.
Enable Apps for Messages
In the event that you already have apps installed that also work with Messages, then you’ll want to enable them. This makes it so you can actually take advantage of the added functionality that you may not have known was already available.
Open the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 15.
Tap one of your existing conversations, or start a new one.
In the toolbar above the keyboard, swipe to the left until you see the … More icon.
Tap the button once you can see it.
In the top left corner, tap the Edit button.
Scroll down until you reach the More Apps section.
Tap the toggle next to the apps that you want to have available if they aren’t already enabled.
You can also follow these steps to disable apps from appearing in your Messages app.
Not only can you turn on and off the ability to see apps when sending messages, but you can also favorite apps. These will be the first apps that appear in the toolbar above your keyboard when sending or replying to messages.
All you need to do is make sure that the app is already enabled, and then tap the + icon to add it to your favorites. From there, you can hold and drag the three vertical lines to re-arrange apps. This will change the order that they appear in the toolbar above your keyboard.
Delete Apps for Messages
Over time, you might find yourself using an app less and less, especially when it comes to the different games that can be played in the Messages app. If you fall into this category or just want to save some space on your iPhone, here’s how you can delete apps for Messages:
Open the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 15.
Tap one of your existing conversations, or start a new one.
In the toolbar above the keyboard, swipe to the left until you see the … More icon.
Tap the button once you can see it.
From your list of apps, locate the app that you wish to delete.
Swipe to the left until the Delete button appears.
Tap the Delete button once it’s visible.
As a note, there are some apps that you will not be able to delete. These include system apps such as Apple Pay or Memoji. However, any app that you manually downloaded yourself can be removed using the method above.
Best Apps for Messages
As we stated previously, there are quite a few apps that have been created specifically to be used with the Messages app. While you won’t find as many different options compared to the “normal” App Store, here are a few of our favorites that you should check out.
GamePigeon: Have fun with your friends and family by playing this collection of excellent multiplayer games via iMessage!
GIPHY: The GIF Search Engine: The world’s largest library of free GIFs, Clips, & Stickers! GIPHY for iOS is the fastest, simplest way to search and share short form content and animated reactions.
Polls for iMessage: Create polls, vote, and view the results directly in iMessage.
Google Maps: Navigate your world faster and easier with Google Maps. Over 220 countries and territories mapped and hundreds of millions of businesses and places on the map.
OpenTable: Book and enjoy extraordinary dining experiences in over 52,000 restaurants worldwide with the OpenTable App.
These are just some of the best apps for Messages. But the App Store is chock-full of great apps for you to mess around with and spice up your different threads while using the Messages app. There is even a slew of different stickers that can be used and will add a bit of fun and flair to your conversations.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
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