iOS 18: How to Use New Text Effects in Messages

[MacRumors]

In iOS 18, Apple has added several new features to its Messages app, one being the ability to add neat text effects to your messages to make them more expressive.

The new animated text effects can be applied to your entire message, a single word, a phrase, or even an emoji or sticker. The options include Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom, and Jitter.

Here's how to add a text effect in the Messages app in iOS 18:

1. Select the text, emoji, or sticker that you want to add an effect to with a double tap. (You can use the anchors to shorten and widen your selection.)
2. Tap the "A" icon in the suggestions bar above the keyboard, or select the Text Effects option in the popup menu (tap the right chevron button to reveal it).
3. Choose the text effect that you'd like to use.

In a conversation with someone running ‌iOS 18‌ or a later update, the text or emoji that has an effect applied to it will continually animate when viewed. Note that these effects do not work on earlier versions of Apple's operating systems and won't show up at all.

Article Link: iOS 18: How to Use New Text Effects in Messages

 

[Kissmo1980]

I was considering going to a 16PM from my 14PM - but I believe 17 will be a drastic change - plus, Apple Intelligence might actually work by then.

 

[Getabeard80]

The keyboard/typing issues I’ve encountered in iOS 18 is out of this world. I thought it was just me getting old. Nope, tons of issues. Even while I’m typing this. Lag, odd key presses, weird auto correct anomalies, what appears to be stuck letters at times. UGH

 

[neliason]

The basic formatting might occasionally be useful. The dynamic text feels like a 2005 Internet forum feature.

The UI for this Apple went with looks horrible. It’s giant, boring buttons, with minimal spacing. It feels heavy. And the animations just keep going. It’s too busy and crazy.

 

[robgreene]

Bold/Italic/Underline should not be buried under text effects. As structured, they’ll rarely be used.

 

[winxmac]

Text effects from iOS 10 vs iOS 18

 

[miq]

this feature is so lame. it’ll probably disappear come iOS 19

 

[alexandr]

Bold/Italic/Underline should not be buried under text effects. As structured, they’ll rarely be used.

Ok, but I don't want them dominating my keyboard as I'm typing. I don't think a lot of people use them often enough for this to be a sticky feature.

 

[BigBlur]

Would be great if iMessage could somehow let us know if the recipient is using an older OS and won't be able to see what we send them. I hardly ever use these new effects or emojis because chances are they haven't upgraded yet. Whenever I have sent a new emoji in the past, I often got asked "What's that square?"

 

[robgreene]

Ok, but I don't want them dominating my keyboard as I'm typing. I don't think a lot of people use them often enough for this to be a sticky feature.

It should be on the initial pop up when you highlight a word or phrase.

 

[alexandr]

It should be on the initial pop up when you highlight a word or phrase.

Ah, in that case I agree with you

 

[alexandr]

Would be great if iMessage could somehow let us know if the recipient is using an older OS and won't be able to see what we send them. I hardly ever use these new effects or emojis because chances are they haven't upgraded yet. Whenever I have sent a new emoji in the past, I often got asked "What's that square?"

So you tell them — that square is you.

 

[OneMike]

Unless you text in landscape mode this whole ui is so cramped.

Rather than having one long scrolling list. I’d like to see it become multi line at a minimum

 

[Ad47uk]

Can I just ask why? All I want from a message ap is to send and receive text,, maybe with a couple of smiley and thumbs up/down Icons, emojis, what ever you want to call them.
People may say I am boring, but all a message app is for is to tell someone something quickly instead of phoning them, like we are on our way or I will meet you at the pub, that sort of thing. Not to send a life story with animations and silly effects.

i can kind of understands someone maybe wanting to send a photo, if they took a photo of something and telling someone else about it, but to be honest I still prefer to get photos via emails or if they really must they can Faceache messenger.

I presume all that stuff can be disabled on Imessage?

 

[alexandr]

Can I just ask why? All I want from a message ap is to send and receive text,, maybe with a couple of smiley and thumbs up/down Icons, emojis, what ever you want to call them.
People may say I am boring, but all a message app is for is to tell someone something quickly instead of phoning them, like we are on our way or I will meet you at the pub, that sort of thing. Not to send a life story with animations and silly effects.

i can kind of understands someone maybe wanting to send a photo, if they took a photo of something and telling someone else about it, but to be honest I still prefer to get photos via emails or if they really must they can Faceache messenger.

I presume all that stuff can be disabled on Imessage?

No, but you should still be able to send and receive text, maybe with a couple of smiley and thumbs up/down icons, emojis, what ever we want to call them.

 

[Ad47uk]

No, but you should still be able to send and receive text, maybe with a couple of smiley and thumbs up/down icons, emojis, what ever we want to call them.

So if say you just want to send normal SMS, to say another Apple user, you can't do that? I rea;lise you can just send text, but it will still be sent as an Imessage. What about receiving, can you disable recaiving any of the junk and just receive SMS?

Maybe staying with Android is a good thing, at least i have a choice of SMS apps and even on Google own messaging app I can turn off RCS and any other stuff like that.

I don't like the way a lot of these messaging apps tell the other side you are replaying. Faceache does that as default, I start typing a reply, and it comes up on the other end that I am doing so. Thankfully, it can be disabled.

 

[svish]

Good to have these new options on iOS 18

 

[alexandr]

So if say you just want to send normal SMS, to say another Apple user, you can't do that? I rea;lise you can just send text, but it will still be sent as an Imessage. What about receiving, can you disable recaiving any of the junk and just receive SMS?

Maybe staying with Android is a good thing, at least i have a choice of SMS apps and even on Google own messaging app I can turn off RCS and any other stuff like that.

I don't like the way a lot of these messaging apps tell the other side you are replaying. Faceache does that as default, I start typing a reply, and it comes up on the other end that I am doing so. Thankfully, it can be disabled.

You can turn off iMessage and RCS if you want.