Device Guides
![Apple iPad Air](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-85d0e78e-a475-42cd-bdda-c8b4fc8bf750.png?width=140&height=200)
Search in Apple iPad Air
How to
Write and send iMessage
You can send iMessages to phone numbers or email addresses if the recipient has a device that supports iMessage. Before you can send and receive iMessages, you need to set up your tablet for iMessaging.
Create new iMessage
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7bd334b2-6fc3-48bb-81d7-464e15915b0f.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-992e1a2b-9e75-41b8-8577-e37bb3e02c19.png?width=294&height=392)
Select recipient
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-5ef0671f-648c-4646-8dde-c679c997b482.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-dc78267c-6c2a-4d6d-a49e-2316539042cf.png?width=294&height=392)
Send iMessage using keypad
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-daa6c983-0122-4cea-b99c-5e1439d6d0b3.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-be0fba66-c02b-457a-94b9-284e610b699b.png?width=294&height=392)
Send iMessage using handwriting
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ace8a1df-3006-463c-ba82-dd2ba7a1f6da.png?width=294&height=392)
Send picture or video clip
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7f14b6b9-6f92-460b-9084-e659cb80efa0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0e65135e-5795-4ec2-83eb-c4b1ecd61564.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-647674c5-9554-4958-9dda-e8f902c324be.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0ac39194-3c7e-435a-b750-de3c142cb53c.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-033a9d3d-f7ea-44fc-9ef2-64b8dc957287.png?width=294&height=392)
Send iMessage with effects
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-a22b556e-86a3-4c34-b0ba-ba4936a1a770.png?width=294&height=392)
Send a sound recording
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ef55374c-3f88-474c-b78d-c03195589f57.png?width=294&height=392)
Return to the home screen
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=294&height=392)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7bd334b2-6fc3-48bb-81d7-464e15915b0f.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7bd334b2-6fc3-48bb-81d7-464e15915b0f.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap Messages.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-992e1a2b-9e75-41b8-8577-e37bb3e02c19.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-992e1a2b-9e75-41b8-8577-e37bb3e02c19.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the new message icon.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-5ef0671f-648c-4646-8dde-c679c997b482.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-5ef0671f-648c-4646-8dde-c679c997b482.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the search field and key in the first letters of the recipient's name.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-dc78267c-6c2a-4d6d-a49e-2316539042cf.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-dc78267c-6c2a-4d6d-a49e-2316539042cf.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the required contact.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the text input field and write the text for your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap arrow right.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-daa6c983-0122-4cea-b99c-5e1439d6d0b3.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-daa6c983-0122-4cea-b99c-5e1439d6d0b3.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the sticker icon and follow the instructions on the screen to add a sticker to your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-be0fba66-c02b-457a-94b9-284e610b699b.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-be0fba66-c02b-457a-94b9-284e610b699b.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the handwriting icon and follow the instructions on the screen to write text or add other effects to your iMessage using handwriting.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ace8a1df-3006-463c-ba82-dd2ba7a1f6da.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ace8a1df-3006-463c-ba82-dd2ba7a1f6da.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the camera icon.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7f14b6b9-6f92-460b-9084-e659cb80efa0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-7f14b6b9-6f92-460b-9084-e659cb80efa0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap Photo Library and go to the required folder.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0e65135e-5795-4ec2-83eb-c4b1ecd61564.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0e65135e-5795-4ec2-83eb-c4b1ecd61564.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the required picture.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-647674c5-9554-4958-9dda-e8f902c324be.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-647674c5-9554-4958-9dda-e8f902c324be.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap Use.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0ac39194-3c7e-435a-b750-de3c142cb53c.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-0ac39194-3c7e-435a-b750-de3c142cb53c.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the text input field.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-033a9d3d-f7ea-44fc-9ef2-64b8dc957287.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-033a9d3d-f7ea-44fc-9ef2-64b8dc957287.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the send icon when you've finished your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the text input field and write your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-376840ea-c088-4d9a-98b6-c185872105b6.png?width=612&height=816)
Hard tap the send icon until the effects menu is displayed.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap Bubble and follow the instructions on the screen to add a speech bubble effect to your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-bfa6e5ac-a5b3-4954-9c6d-3e658b21ef8e.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap Screen and follow the instructions on the screen to add a full screen effect to your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-a22b556e-86a3-4c34-b0ba-ba4936a1a770.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-a22b556e-86a3-4c34-b0ba-ba4936a1a770.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the send icon when you've selected the required effect for your iMessage.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap and hold the microphone icon to start the sound recording.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ef55374c-3f88-474c-b78d-c03195589f57.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-ef55374c-3f88-474c-b78d-c03195589f57.png?width=612&height=816)
Let go to stop the sound recording and tap arrow up to send the sound recording.
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=396&height=528)
![](https://wmstatic.global.ssl.fastly.net/ml/6270624-f-26074593-9697-4d47-aa28-7ff951e443d0.png?width=612&height=816)
Tap the Home key to return to the home screen.