How to do more than send text with iMessage on your iPhone

In this post, I will show you how to send a photo, video or audio message via iMessage on your iPhone.

Please note that to take advantage of this feature, your iPhone needs to run at least:

• iOS 6 for photos & videos

• iOS 8 for audio messages

Photos & Videos

iOS 12

To send a photo or video via iMessage on iOS 12:

1. Launch Messages

2. Start a new conversation or select an existing conversation

3. You have two choices:

   1. To select an existing photo or video, tap on the App store icon, then on the Photos icon

   2. To either take a photo or video, tap on the camera icon then choose what you want to do

iOS 11 and earlier

1. Launch Messages

2. Start a new conversation or select an existing conversation

3. On the left side of the text input field, tap on the small camera icon

4. Then

   • iOS 6 & 7: Tap on either "Take Photo or Video" or "Choose Existing" (which will access your Photo library) 

   • iOS 8 & 9: You can tap either directly on a few pictures, or on "Photo Library" or on "Take Photo or Video"

   • iOS 10 & 11: You can

     • either take a photo (or selfie) directly from the camera preview pane

     • or scroll to the left to access recently shot photos & videos

     • or scroll to the right to reveal two big icons: "Camera" and "Photo Library"

Audio messages

To send an audio message:

1. Launch Messages

2. Start a new conversation or select an existing conversation

3. Long press on the small microphone on the right side of the text entry field

4. Record your message while keeping the microphone icon pressed

5. Release your finger to stop the voice recording

   • If you're not satisfied: press on the button with the X inside to delete it

   • If you're satisfied, tap on the bubble with the upward facing arrow inside

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And you, how often do you send photos, videos or audio messages via iMessage?

Please let me know in the comments below!