Send animated effects in Messages on iPad

In the Messages app , you can animate a single message with a bubble effect or fill the entire message screen with a full-screen effect (for example, balloons or confetti). You can even send a personal message with invisible ink that remains blurred until the recipient swipes to reveal it.

You need iMessage to send and receive message effects. See About iMessage and SMS/MMS.

Create and send a handwritten message

Use your finger to write a message. The recipient sees the message animate, just as ink flows on paper.

In a conversation, rotate iPad to landscape orientation, then tap the text field.
Tap on the keyboard.
Write a message with your finger or tap to choose a saved message, then tap Done.
Tap to send your message or to cancel.

After you create and send a handwritten message, the message is saved. To see your saved messages, tap . Tap the message to use it again. To delete the saved message, touch and hold it until the messages jiggle, then tap .

Use a bubble effect

Use bubble effects to animate the message bubble.

In a new or existing conversation, type a message or insert a photo or Memoji.
Touch and hold , then tap the gray dots to preview different bubble effects.
Tip: Want to send a personal message? When you use invisible ink, the message remains blurred until the recipient swipes to reveal it.
Tap to send the message or to cancel.
Tip: Want to send a personal message? When you use invisible ink, the message remains blurred until the recipient swipes to reveal it.

Use a full-screen effect

Use full-screen effects to animate the message screen.

In a new or existing conversation, type a message or insert a photo or Memoji.
Touch and hold , then tap Screen.
Swipe left to preview different screen effects.
Tap to send the message or to cancel.

Messages automatically uses the following screen effects for specific text strings:

Balloons for “Happy birthday”
Confetti for “Congratulations”
Fireworks for “Happy New Year”

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Send animated effects in Messages on iPad

Create and send a handwritten message

Use a bubble effect

Use a full-screen effect