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You are here: Home / iPhone / How to send / receive iMessages in airplane mode

How to send / receive iMessages in airplane mode

By SK 10 comments Last updated December 30, 2022

We often get the question, “can I send texts or iMessages in airplane mode?” And the answer is yes AND no. And it’s often confusing. You can text your Aunt who uses an iPhone 5S, your brother who uses an iPhone X, even your Grandma who just loves her iPad Air. But you can’t text your partner, who loves her Samsung Galaxy 7 or your boss who’s still somehow using Blackberry. Well, what in the world is going on here?How to fix iPhone stuck in headphones mode

Essentially, it comes down to Apple users versus non-Apple users. Yes, you can text Apple devices and Macs using iMessage when in Airplane Mode. And no, you cannot text your best friend, who’s attached to her Android phone.

What’s AirPlane Mode Anyway?

Airplane mode disables the wireless connections and services (cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, location services, and Bluetooth) of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. However, you may still send and receive iMessages when you enable airplane mode, if you’re in range of your Wi-Fi connection, because iMessage allows users to send messages over Wi-Fi. iPhone Podcast Download Not Working, How-To Fix

Here’s How it Works!

Steps on how to send/receive iMessages in airplane mode

  1. Tap Settings > Airplane Mode and turn it on. Then, if Wi-Fi isn’t already on, tap Settings > WiFi and turn WiFi on (re-enable Wi-Fi.)
    1. Or use Control Center and tap both AirPlane Mode and WiFi to enable them
  2. Open the Messages app and try to send an iMessage. An error message appears, saying either:
    1. Turn Off Airplane Mode or Use Wi-Fi to Send and Receive Messages
      1. Tap Settings (see image below) and enable WiFi How to send / receive iMessages in airplane mode
      2. Then tap the red exclamation point next to the text listed as Not Delivered and choose Try Again
      3. Your message is sent via WiFi if it’s an iMessage (blue)
        1. SMS/MMS messages (in green–like the one above) are not sent until AirPlane Mode is off and you connect to your mobile carrier
        2. To resend an SMS/MMS message once AirPlane Mode is disabled, tap the exclamation point and choose to Try Again
    2. You must disable airplane mode to send or receive messages,
      1. Tap Cancel (see the image below)airplane mode
      2. Now post your message if it’s an iMessage (blue)

And it’s as easy as that!

Not All Texting in AirPlane Mode Is Equal

While on WiFi, your iPhone sends iMessages to other iDevices and Macs. If you’re unable to send texts to friends or family, they might use Android or other non-Apple devices, which require SMS/MMS messaging via a mobile carrier. You cannot connect to your mobile carrier when Airplane Mode is ON.

The easiest way to tell is iMessages are blue, and SMS/MMS are green. Only blue iMessages can be sent while Airplane Mode is on.How To Fix Messages and iMessage Problems in iOS 11

If iMessages aren’t sending, try toggling iMessage off and then back on by going to Settings > Messages.

sudz - apple
SK

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.

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Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Show 10 Comments

  1. Milissah1 says

    December 15, 2020 at 7:10 AM

    Stephen W. You may have a tap or a bug on your phone. You may want to remove all of your apps then reload them to see if that stops your problem if not reset your phone to the original state it was when you purchased it and add your apps gradually back on it. Give it a day between each app to see how it affects your phone.

    Reply
  2. Shawon says

    February 17, 2020 at 9:08 AM

    Really helpful and informative article about airplane mode.

    I was searching some of these questions to apply on my iPhone. Appletoolbox helps me always. Thanks for share this post.

    Reply
  3. Stephen W says

    June 8, 2019 at 4:17 PM

    Airplane mode is as undependable as iPhone at times.

    I was in airplane mode a few minutes ago and messages were coming and going with Pinterest.

    The entire iPhone is suddenly wacky as I cannot type much before the cursor leaves where I am typing and sends email or calls unintentionally. It’s totally absurd.

    That is why I put airplane mode on. To prevent more than the initial email being created and sending all that was on the clipboard.

    This could cause major problems. I don’t know why I deal with this as it’s always something on my iPhone messed up.

    Reply
  4. Gary says

    July 15, 2018 at 10:22 AM

    Typical; Apple trying to force non-users to buy THEIR products by excluding them from their own little cool-kids coterie.

    Reply
  5. Aly says

    September 24, 2017 at 3:22 PM

    Cancel is not one of the choices. It says “okay” or “settings”. Pressing either of those has zero effect.

    Reply
    • SK says

      September 24, 2017 at 5:32 PM

      Hi Aly,

      Tap Settings, enable WiFi, and then send your texts while in AirPlane Mode (as long as their iMessages to the Apple devices and Macs)

      SK

      Reply
  6. George says

    July 25, 2016 at 8:51 AM

    Works for me

    Reply
  7. Johnny Bravo says

    May 13, 2016 at 10:11 PM

    Doesn’t work.

    Reply
  8. Cathy Walton says

    February 2, 2016 at 5:11 AM

    My iPhone was in airplane mode but when I got wifi I could not send messages to others iPhone users

    Reply
  9. Ed Bryant says

    May 24, 2015 at 1:25 PM

    Did not work. Just said “Not Delivered”.

    The “You nust disable airplane mode” message did not appear.

    Reply

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