5 New Features You Probably Didn’t Know iMessage Could Do

Earlier this summer, Apple revealed that iOS 18 will deliver sweeping changes to your iPhone. From new ways to customize your Home Screen and Control Center to a brand-new Passwords app, a huge redesign of the Photos app and the first Apple Intelligence features (if you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16).

For most people, however, the most impactful changes are the new features that iOS 18 brings to one of their most-used apps: Messages. That’s right, it delivers new ways and features you can message your friends and family — as well Android users, too.

Well, iOS 18 is officially here. Download the latest software now if you haven’t yet, and you can take advantage of your iPhone’s new abilities in the Messages app.

Schedule a message to be sent at a later time and date

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

For the first time, the Messages app lets you schedule an iMessage to be sent at a future time and date — no need for a Shortcut. To do this, open the Messages app > select a person or group chat > in the text box select the “+” button on the right > and select the “Send Later” option.

Once selected, a blue bar with a default date/time (Today 5:00 PM) will appear at the top of the text box. You can tap it to adjust the exact date and time to schedule the message. From there, write your message and send as normal.

You can now add formatting and effects to specific words and phrases

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

For the first time, iOS 18 allows you to add specific formatting (like bold, italic, underlined and strikethrough) and animated effects (like jitters, shakes and nods) to individual words and phrases when sending a message.

To do this, open Messages and select the person or group chat you want to send a message to. Select the text box and you’ll see an “A” icon above your keyboard in the top-right. Tap that you can see the formatting effects available.

If you type a message, you can highlight specific words or phrases, select the “A” button and add formatting and effects after the message is written.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Tapback reactions are infinitely more customizable

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Tapbacks are the feature that allows you to hold down on a message and react to it with a thumbs up or down, a heart, exclamation or question marks, or a laugh (HA HA) — but you’ve only been able to choose between those six tapback options.

With iOS 18, you get a lot more options for tapback responses. By default, there are six new emojis (including a turtle and five different faces) — so 12 total. But you customize and add to different options — in fact, you can designate any emoji or sticker as a tapback response.

To do this, hold down on a message you want to react to (just like before). If you scroll to the right, you can see the full 12 Tapback options. But you can also select the blank emoji face to add a different emoji or access your stickers.

Solve quick math problems while texting

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

iOS 18 has integrated its Math Notes feature across several apps, including Notes, Calculator and Messages. Essentially, this allows you to solve math equations in real time within the text box of Messages.

All you have to do is type in an equation within the text box, and once you add the equals sign (=), it’ll show you the solution. This can come in handy when splitting a bill or divvying up expenses.

There’s now improved messaging with Android friends

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

iOS 18 delivers RCS support, which is a new communication protocol for messaging between iPhones and Androids. Basically, if you have family members or friends who have Androids, your quality of messaging will get a significant upgrade.

Specifically, your Android friends will be able to get access to messaging features — such as read receipts and typing indicators —that were previously only available between two iPhones. It’ll also enable the two devices to share much higher-quality photos and videos.

RCS Messaging should be enabled if your carrier supports it — most do — but you should check to make sure anyways. To do so, open Settings > select Apps (scroll down to the bottom) > select Messages > select RCS Messaging and make sure it’s toggled on.

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