Symptoms
- Messages to a specific contact are always green
- Photos or group texts look lower quality or lose read receipts
- A contact used to be blue and is now green
- All messages are green, even to other iPhone users
Likely causes
- CommonRecipient's phone isn't an iPhone, or doesn't have iMessage enablediMessage only works between Apple devices with the feature enabled.
- PossibleRecipient has poor or no data connection, so their phone falls back to SMSiMessage requires internet access on both ends.
- PossibleRecipient recently switched away from an iPhoneTheir number may no longer be registered with iMessage.
- Less commonYour own iMessage service is having an issueIf everyone shows green, the problem is likely on your device, not theirs.
What to do
- Check if the recipient uses an iPhone; if not, green bubbles (SMS/MMS) are expected and normal, not a problem to fix.
- If they do have an iPhone, ask them to confirm iMessage is turned on in their Messages settings and they have a data connection.
- If a previously blue contact turned green, they may have switched phones or turned off iMessage.
- If every contact shows green for you, check your own iMessage settings and internet connection first.
- Restart your phone if iMessage seems stuck for everyone.
When to call a pro
This is rarely something to 'fix' if the other person simply doesn't use iMessage; contact Apple Support only if your own iMessage is broadly failing.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.