iOS 27 Messages app tips and tricks
The Messages app is arguably the most important app on the iPhone, and in iOS 27, Apple introduces some useful improvements. There are bug fixes for long-standing issues as well as new AI features.
Context-related suggestions
The Messages app uses Apple Intelligence to show you suggestions based on the conversation content with just a tap. For example, if a conversation partner asks you to send a photo, the Messages app recognizes this request and suggests relevant photos.
If you’re invited to an event, the Messages app will offer to add it to your calendar. If someone asks you to pick something up from a store, the Messages app will suggest adding it to your reminders list or the Notes app.
The messages will also suggest Genmojis that you might want to generate based on the conversation.
Write with Siri
The Messages app offers a system-wide feature called “Type with Siri.” Siri can compose entire messages for you, proofread your messages, or give you feedback.
Above the keyboard is a special “Type with Siri” button, which gives you access to the new Siri tools.
Smart Reply’s suggestions take your writing style into account to make them sound more natural.
Siri AI
Siri AI is integrated into the Messages app. You can ask Siri to find images, videos, links, addresses, phone numbers, and more within the Messages app. Siri can also draft replies to messages and react to information in the Messages app, such as adding an event date to the Calendar app.
Draw
A new drawing interface is available in the Messages app, allowing you to send small sketches and notes. You can access it by tapping the “+” button next to the text bar in a conversation.
The drawing interface is similar to the markup tool in apps like Photos and Notes. It includes a marker, a pen, a highlighter, and an eraser, and the option to use the tools in any color.
Random recordings
The Messages app in iOS 27 offers the option to hide the audio button from the text bar. In the Messages app settings, under “Show in Text Field,” you can set the right-hand button to “Record Audio,” “Start Dictation,” or “None.”
Setting the option to “None” prevents you from accidentally recording a voice message by tapping the screen.
Tapbacks
Messages now groups together notifications for Tapback replies, which is useful when you’re in a group chat and countless people are sending emojis.
Send
In iOS 27, if a message fails to send, your iPhone automatically attempts to resend it. In iOS 26, you receive a notification when a message fails, but you must manually tap to restart the sending process.
The messaging app also supports continuous sending of photos, videos, and texts. If you are sending a photo and your connection is poor or you go offline, sending will automatically resume once the connection is restored.
Messages app synchronization
Cross-device synchronization has been improved in iOS 27, so conversations sync more reliably between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. Fewer messages fail to sync or display correctly when switching between devices.
Messages, read status, reactions, and attachments are synchronized faster.
If you take a photo and then send it in the Messages app, you’re more likely to see it immediately. According to Apple, the iPhone adds recently taken photos to messages faster.
Seek
Apple has improved its search index for apps like Mail and Messages, so you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for.
You can also search for conversations in the Messages app by using a phone number or a contact’s nickname.
Outsourced media
If you have photos or videos that have been moved to external storage, you can still find them in the iOS 27 Messages app using the search function.
For external media, thumbnails are also displayed instead of a placeholder image, so you know what’s inside.
RCS
In RCS messaging conversations with Android users, you can now send a direct reply by long-pressing a message. iOS 27 also displays reaction emojis directly on images and videos – a feature that was not available in iOS 26.
Genmoji
Apple has revamped Genmoji creation in iOS 27. There’s an updated user interface for describing the desired emoji, with options to start with an existing emoji, select an image from photos, or choose a person.
After uploading an image or creating a Genmoji using a text set, a new interface becomes available for updating your existing creations. You can iteratively adjust designs and change individual elements of a Genmoji, such as colors and objects. Each change uses the existing base instead of generating a new Genmoji.
A series of queries allows you to create complex Genmojis with multiple elements. In addition to describing the changes, you can add more emojis, and the user interface suggests next steps.
Genmoji output is more consistent, and with their default 3D and cartoon style, Genmojis look more like real emojis. There’s now an option to change the style. For example, if you don’t want the cartoon look, you can request a drawing or sketch.
Large conversations
According to Apple, large conversations load and scroll faster in iOS 27.
