With iOS 16, Apple is adding some major updates to the Messages app, introducing features that many people have wanted for years. This guide highlights all the new features of the Messages app on OSiOS 16, iPadOS 16 and also on macOS Ventura, as many Messaging features are cross-platform.
IMessage editing
When you send an iMessage to OSiOS 16, you can edit it up to 15 minutes after you send it. To edit an iMessage, simply long-press the message you want to correct, add the edit, and then press the blue check mark to resend it.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when using this feature. It only works with iMessages, not SMS messages, so both people need to have an iPhone for it to work effectively. Edited messages will be repeated for those who do not use OSiOS 16.
Using the message editing feature as intended requires participants to use the latest Apple updates, including iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9.
People who use an earlier operating system or Android will see the text that says “Edit in [text]”when receiving an edited iMessage.
The Messages app doesn’t provide a history of the edited iMessage, so the person at the other end won’t know what the change was.
iMessage Undo upload
If you send an iMessage and then change your mind, you can use the undo feature to pick it up. You can cancel sending an iMessage up to 15 minutes after you send it.
As with editing iMessage, forwarding iMessage has limitations to keep in mind. If you use the undo feature in a message sent to someone with an earlier version of iOS, it will not work and the message will not stop sending.
In this situation, the person at the other end will not see that you have turned it off, even though it will disappear from your iPhone. If someone is running an earlier version of iOS, they will say the following:
“You have stopped sending a message. [Person] you may still be able to see your message on devices with earlier versions of iOS “.
To undo the submission to work, participants must run iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura and watchOS 9 on their devices. IMessage is required, as the feature does not work with SMS messages.
Mark as unread
There’s a new unread feature in iOS 16 that lets you mark an SMS or iMessage as new, so it has the blue dot to remind you to go back.
Marking unread is useful if you receive a message and don’t have time to read or address it at this time because it keeps it as a new message with a notification badge in the Messages app.
To mark a thread as unread, press and hold the conversation, then tap the “Mark as unread” option.
Retrieve deleted messages
In the “Filters” interface of the Messages app, there’s a new “Recently Deleted” section that groups all the texts you’ve deleted. If you accidentally delete a message that you did not want to delete, you can retrieve it here.
This interface has the dedicated “Delete All” and “Retrieve All” options to handle all messages at once, or you can select an individual message and choose to delete or retrieve it.
SharePlay support
SharePlay, the feature designed to allow you to use apps, watch TV, listen to music and more with friends and family via FaceTime, has been expanded to the Messages app. In any application that supports SharePlay, you can choose to sign in to SharePlay with the Messages application.
Participants in the SharePlay experience can view the same content, discussing it via iMessage. This is useful for collaborating on various applications, playing, training, talking about TV shows and movies, and almost all other SharePlay interactions. SharePlay now supports Messaging and aceFaceTime, so you can choose which communication method you prefer.
Collaboration Integration
Collaboration is a new feature built into iOS apps. You can work together with colleagues, friends, or family on Files, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Notes, Reminders, and Safari by sending an invitation to collaborate with Messages.
When a collaboration has started, all invited participants will see the Message updates when the shared project is edited in the app. Collaborations can be started from Messages or aceFaceTime.
Spam message report
Apple is expanding the built-in “Report spam” feature in the Messages app to cover SMS / MMS messages, allowing spam messages to be reported to certain U.S. carriers.
If you long press an SMS / MMS message in the Unknown senders section of the Messages application in iOS 16, you can select the “Report spam” option. Using this option allows you to report a message as spam, send it to Apple and Verizon, and delete it.
The Spam Report feature was previously available for iMessage, but the option to report SMS / MMS messages to both Apple and carriers is new.
Developer API
Apple is making the Shared with You API available to developers, so they can create a dedicated Shared with You section in their apps, which will group the content of the app your friends sent you to that app. So, for example, if a friend submits a Zillow listing, you might see it in a new Shared with You section of the Zillow app.
This is the enabled option for third-party apps and is an expansion of the Shared with You feature that Apple introduced in iOS 15. Shared with You grabs Safari links, photos, music, and more, and makes them accessible to pages relevant. application so you do not miss content from friends.
Apple also has a messaging collaboration API to allow third-party apps to take advantage of the new collaboration feature that allows users to communicate with the Messages app while working together on another app.
Guide feedback
Do you have questions about the iOS 16 Messages app, do you know of a feature we’ve left out, or do you want to comment on this guide? Email us here.