How to Stop iPhone Messages Falling Back to Unencrypted SMS, by LaunchTimeMedia - Apple Tech on YouTube. 2 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Apps, then tap Messages. On older iOS versions, Messages sits directly in the main Settings list.
Turn on the iMessage switch at the top so Apple-to-Apple chats use end-to-end encryption instead of plain text.
Tap RCS Messaging and turn it on. This keeps texts with Android phones encrypted where your carrier supports it.
Scroll down and turn off Send as SMS. Now a failed message will not switch to an unencrypted text on its own.
If a message fails, tap the red exclamation mark next to it and choose Try Again rather than Send as Text Message.
Restart your iPhone so the new messaging settings load properly, then send a test message to confirm.
Update iOS by going to Settings, General, Software Update and installing anything waiting there.
Tips and common mistakes
With Send as SMS off, messages to contacts who have neither iMessage nor RCS will simply fail instead of sending as a text.
Group chats that include an Android phone can still drop to SMS, so check the message bubble colour before sharing anything private.
If RCS will not switch on, contact your carrier, since the feature depends on their network support.
A green bubble means standard SMS or RCS, while a blue bubble means iMessage.
Questions
Does this make every message encrypted?
No. It stops your iPhone from switching to SMS automatically. Messages to contacts without iMessage or RCS support will fail instead of sending.
Why did my message fail after turning this off?
The recipient likely does not have iMessage or RCS, or you have a weak connection. Try again on Wi-Fi or send it another way.
Can I still text Android users?
Yes, as long as RCS is enabled and your carrier supports it. Otherwise ask the person to use another app.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
