Download Article
Find out what green text means in iMessage on your iOS device
Explore this Article
IN THIS ARTICLE
1The iMessage was sent as SMS.
2You messaged a non-iOS device.
3The recipient doesn't have Wi-Fi.
4The recipient's device was powered off.
Other Sections
Written byRain Kengly
Last Updated: August 30, 2023Fact Checked
Download Article
Are you seeing "Sent as Text Message" underneath your iMessages? This doesn't necessarily mean you're blocked.[1]There are plenty of issues that can contribute to your blue iMessage bubbles turning green after sending. This wikiHow will teach you what it means when you see "Sent as Text Message" on your iPhone.
- "Sent As Text Message" means your device was delivered as a regular SMS text.
- To turn off SMS messages, go to "Settings" → "Messages" → toggle off "Send as SMS".
- When messages are sent as SMS, this could be due to lack of Wi-Fi connection, messaging a non-iOS device, or in some cases, being blocked.
The iMessage was sent as SMS.
Download Article
An SMS text is a regular text message. When you see Sent As Text Message, your iMessage has been sent from your end without issue, but it arrived at the recipient's device as a regular text.[2]
- With SMS texts, you won't be able to see if someone read your text. You'll only see Read Receipts for iMessages unless the recipient has them turned off.
- If you don’t want to send SMS messages, you can turn it off. Go to Settings → Messages → toggle off Send as SMS.
Advertisem*nt
You messaged a non-iOS device.
Download Article
iMessage is only available between iOS devices. When you message a non-iOS device, such as an Android, the blue text bubble turns green and it's sent as a regular text. It's possible the recipient switched from an iOS device to an Android (or other) device, so iMessage is no longer possible between your devices.
The recipient doesn't have Wi-Fi.
Download Article
iMessages are delivered over Wi-Fi. If the recipient isn't connected to the internet, they may receive the iMessage as an SMS text message instead. You can try again later to see if it sends as an iMessage.[3]
- If your device isn’t connected to the internet, you may receive the iMessage Not Delivered notification underneath the message.
Advertisem*nt
The recipient's device was powered off.
Download Article
If the recipient's device is off, you may see "Sent As Text Message". The recipient could just need a simple recharge until they can receive iMessages again. Try to send your message again later when they've had a chance to power their device on again.
You may be blocked.
Download Article
iMessages sent as texts could mean you're blocked. While there's no way to be completely sure if someone blocked you on iMessage, having your messages consistently appear green with a known iOS user could be an indication.
Advertisem*nt
Add New Question
Question
Everyone is allowed to act stupid once in their lifetime but your article is abusing the privilege.
People who are technologically illiterate might not know the difference between an iMessage and SMS.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow
Not Helpful 63Helpful 118
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisem*nt
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 133,387 times.
Co-authors: 3
Updated: August 30, 2023
Views:133,387
- Print
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 133,387 times.
Is this article up to date?
FAQs
"Sent As Text Message" means your device was delivered as a regular SMS text. To turn off SMS messages, go to "Settings" → "Messages" → toggle off "Send as SMS". When messages are sent as SMS, this could be due to lack of Wi-Fi connection, messaging a non-iOS device, or in some cases, being blocked.
Will it say sent as text if blocked? ›
No, “sent as a text message” does not mean your number is blocked. If your number is blocked and you attempt to send an iMessage to the recipient who blocked you, the blue bubble will still appear and it will look like your message actually was sent (although it won't show a “Delivered” confirmation).
Am I blocked if my texts are green? ›
2. Check the Bubble Color. Another way to know if someone blocked you on iMessage is to check the bubble color. If you see green bubbles, this means that your text messages are being sent through SMS, and they might have blocked you on iMessage.
Why did my iPhone text messages turn from blue to green? ›
If you see a green message bubble instead of a blue one, then that message was sent using MMS/SMS instead of iMessage. There are several possible reasons for this: The person that you sent the message to doesn't have an Apple device. iMessage is turned off on your device or on your recipient's device.
How do you know if a green text message was delivered on an iPhone? ›
Unlike iMessages, green texts don't typically show a 'Delivered' status. So, how can you be sure your message reached its destination? A key indicator is the absence of a 'Not Delivered' message beneath your text. If it says 'Sent' without a delivery error, it's likely that your message was successfully delivered.
What does a sent text look like when blocked? ›
Underneath each message you send, there should be a small bar of grey text that says “Delivered” if your message went through, or “Read” if the recipient has read receipts turned on. If your past few messages have no status beneath them, it's possible they've been blocked.
Can you tell if your number has been blocked when you send a text? ›
When you send them an SMS and you get the "Delivered" notification underneath it, you weren't blocked. If you get a notification like "Message Not Delivered" or you get no notification at all, that's a sign of a potential block.
Does sent as text message mean it went through? ›
"Sent As Text Message" means your device was delivered as a regular SMS text. To turn off SMS messages, go to "Settings" → "Messages" → toggle off "Send as SMS".
Does green text mean phone is off? ›
If your iPhone messages are green, it means they're being sent as SMS texts rather than iMessages. You'll always see green when texting Android users, or when you're not connected to the internet.
Does sent as SMS via server mean I'm blocked? ›
Possible causes for the 'Sent as SMS via Server' status
Other potential causes are: The recipient having an iPhone, as this means they can't receive RCS chats – iPhones can handle iMessage only, not RCS. If the recipient has blocked the sender. If the recipient isn't connected to the internet.
The Recipient Wasn't Using an Apple Device at the Time
So, if your family or friend switches from an iPhone to an Android smartphone, for example, your iMessage will automatically be sent as a text message to them.
Is Apple getting rid of green texts? ›
Green text bubbles aren't going away anytime soon. Apple's iOS 18 will support RCS this fall, improving texting between iPhone and Android users. But Android users will still show up as green text bubbles when messaging iPhones. Green text bubbles have long been a contentious point among non-iPhone users.
Will my text turn green if I'm blocked? ›
if the send read receipts is not there you are blocked. I tried this with my son. My message went from blue to green but the read receipts was still there. Then I had him block me and the messages immediately went green and said sent as text, and read receipts toggle was gone.
How to tell if text was delivered? ›
A single gray checkmark indicates a successfully sent message. The appearance of a second gray checkmark shows your message was delivered to the recipient's phone. The two checkmarks will turn blue if the recipient has viewed your message.
How to tell if someone has read your text on iPhone? ›
Read Receipts on iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Messages.
- Turn on Send Read Receipts.
- Others are notified when you read their messages. If your recipient also enabled read receipts, you'll see Read beneath your message along with the time it was read.
If you text someone who blocked you, they won't receive your text. In most cases, you won't see anything special on your end—no notifications that you've been blocked, and the message won't fail. The text will look like it went through, but the person you're texting won't know you've texted them.
Am I blocked if the send arrow is green? ›
Green messages are ordinary SMS text messages, while blue messages are using Apple's proprietary iMessage format. If you're used to seeing blue iMessage text bubbles but they are suddenly green, it can be an indication you've been blocked – but that's just one possibility, and isn't necessarily the most likely.
Can a blocked number still send you a text message? ›
When someone you've blocked tries to text you, you will not receive text messages from them. The blocked person also does not receive any notification that they're blocked. However, many iPhone users may be able to deduce that you've blocked them. This is because of the iMessage text “status” feature on iPhones.
Do iMessages show as delivered if blocked? ›
On iPhones running iOS 16.5 or later, the space below your last text will say Delivered whether you're blocked or not on iMessages. If your phone is running iOS 16.4 or earlier and you see Delivered beneath your last text, you're not blocked.
