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iPad Can't message non-Apple devices.

iMas70

iMas70

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 4, 2012
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I can't send messages to people who don't have an Apple device. I went through this when I got a new iPad a couple years ago but don't remember what I had to do to get it to work. Does anyone know?

Thanks!
 
Correct, iMessages cannot be received outside of the Apple ecosystem. You need to use a cross platform messenger of your choice.

Check what your recipient is using.
 
AutomaticApple said:
You cannot just forward text messages?
Click to expand...

You can but that is text messages solely.
The Messages app speaks two protocols- SMS and iMessage.

SMS is a text message but people mess these two up all the time and that’s where it starts to get confusing. SMS can be forwarded from your iPhone if that functionality is enabled. If you have an iPhone of course. SMS are represented via the green speech bubbles.

IMessages as I wrote before are like a text message but only between Apple devices. iMessage is represented via the blue speech bubbles. It needs an Apple device to send and to receive them.
 
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VineRider said:
make sure you have text message forwarding on

Forward text messages from your iPhone to other devices - Apple Support

With the Text Message Forwarding feature of your iPhone, the SMS, MMS, or RCS messages that you send and receive on your iPhone can also appear on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro, so you can continue the conversation from the device you want.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...


That was it! Thank you! Text forwarding on my phone was turned off for the iPad.
 
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