iPad Basics

Using the Messages app

The Messages app can be used to send instant messages to your contacts. If your friends also use Apple devices, like a Mac or an iPhone, the iMessage feature allows you to send unlimited text messages, photos, videos, and more to those users.

Using the Messages app

Setting up messages

To use the Messages app, you'll need to set up iCloud on your device—you can review our lesson on Syncing Your iPad to learn how.

Message notifications

If you receive a new message when not in the Messages app, the iPad will notify you in a few different ways. By default, you should receive a banner alert at the top of the screen and a badge on the app icon to show the number of unread messages.

Message notifications

You can customize your alerts by opening Settings, tapping Notification Center, then choosing Messages.

Read receipts

Read receipts tell other people when you've read their messages. Read receipts don't appear on your device—they appear on your friends' devices instead, so your friends can see exactly when you've read their messages.

While many people find read receipts helpful, others may prefer not to share this information. To enable or disable read receipts on your device, open Settings, then tap Messages in the left pane. Turn read receipts on or off, depending on your preference.

Turing on read receipts