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How to Text on the iPad
Connect to your iPhone or use an app to chat with friends and family
By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 7, 2021 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Texting & Messaging Email Texting & Messaging Video Calls What to Know
On your iPhone, tap Settings > Messages and enable text message forwarding for your iPad. No iPhone? Use the iPad Messages app and an email address. Tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and then select an email. Or, try a messaging service like Skype, Messenger, or Viber, or a free texting app like FreeTone. This article explains how to route texts from your iPad through an iPhone using the Continuity feature. If you don't have an iPhone, there are a few workarounds for sending texts from your iPad. How to Set Up Text Forwarding
When you set up text forwarding between your iPad and iPhone, you can text people from your iPad even if they have an Android device or a phone without smart features. The iPad uses a feature called Continuity to route the message through the cloud to your iPhone and then to the recipient. Here's how to set up the text forwarding feature on an iPhone. On the iPhone, go to Settings > Messages. Tap Text Message Forwarding. This screen lists the Apple devices you own that can use the Continuity feature. Tap the toggle switch beside your iPad to enable Text Message Forwarding for it. You are prompted to type a code on the iPad to activate the feature. After you type the code, your iPad can send text messages to both iPhone users and non-iPhone users. The iPad uses the same stickers, animations, and drawings that are included with the iPhone text messaging app. Upgrade to the latest operating system to ensure you have the recent features. How to Text on Your iPad if You Don' t Own an iPhone
If you don't own an iPhone, there are several ways to use your iPad to send text messages. Use Apple's service, alternatives to text messaging, or one of the apps that provide free SMS messaging on the iPad. Messages App
The Messages app can send text messages to anyone who owns an iPhone or iPad, even if you don't own an iPhone. The iPad uses your Apple ID to route the message based on the email address associated with your Apple ID account. If the recipient doesn't own an iPhone but owns an iPad, they need to turn on this feature. To turn on this feature, tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. The iPad lists the email accounts associated with your Apple ID. Tap to put a check mark next to the email addresses you want to use. Facebook Messenger
If you have friends or family that use Android or a Windows Phone, send them messages using the Facebook Messenger app. Anyone who has a Facebook account can be reached via Facebook Messenger. Skype
Skype allows you to use your iPad as a phone. In addition to sending text messages, you can send video messages, place phone calls, and video conference. If you want to stay in touch with someone and can't use Messages because they don't own an iOS device, Skype is a great alternative. Snapchat
Snapchat works on the iPad. However, you'll jump through a hoop to install it. Because there isn't an official iPad version, when you search for Snapchat in the app store, tap iPad Only at the top of the search screen in the App Store and choose iPhone to search for iPhone-only apps. Snapchat isn't true text messaging because you can only message people who signed up for the service, but it offers a fun alternative to traditional text messaging. Viber
If you want to know what one of those messaging services would have looked like if it came out today, look no further than Viber. It has all the bells and whistles you would expect in a social messaging service, including Viber Wink, which deletes the message after it is viewed. You can also place phone calls and video calls and get involved in public chats. Viber also supports split-view multitasking. More Free Texting Apps
FreeTone (formerly Text Me) and textPlus offer free texting to iPad users. FreeTone offers users a free phone number capable of sending SMS messages to the U.S., Canada, and 40 other countries. Both FreeTone and textPlus allow phone calls in addition to text messages, but you may need to pay for in-app purchases to use all of the features. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix iMessage Activation Errors How to Email a Text How to Use Your iPad or iPad Mini as a Phone How to Fix Not Getting Text Notifications on iPhone Best Free Internet Phone Calls Apps (October 2022) How to Stop iMessage Popping Up on Other Devices What Is Google Chat? How to Tell When Someone Reads Your Text Message Can You Text on Fitbit Versa? How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Any Phone How to Forward a Text Message to Email How to Send a Text Message to a Group The 15 Best Hidden Features in iOS 16 How to Fix It When Facebook Messenger Isn’t Sending Messages How to Send a Text From a Computer to a Phone How to Send Voice Messages on iPhone Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies