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My number is sending as text messages instead of iMessage

Why a number’s messages can go out as green bubbles for a few days, what we do about it automatically, what helps it recover, and how you will know it is back.

Miss Blue teamUpdated 3 min read

What is happening

Sometimes a number’s messages start reaching people as regular text messages (green bubbles) instead of iMessage, even for people who use iMessage. Messages still go out, as texts.

It happens when a number messages a lot of new people in a short time. Apple starts to treat the number with caution and stops delivering its messages as iMessage for a while. Apple does not announce it or say for how long; it usually recovers on its own within about two days, once the number slows down.

What we do automatically

  • We notice when a number that normally delivers iMessage stops doing so: its first messages to new people, or its messages to people it used to reach by iMessage, start going out as texts.
  • We lower its daily new contacts to 30 while it recovers, if it was higher. Replies, and messages to people you already talk to, are not affected.
  • We email the people on your project once, and the number shows “Sending as texts” under Numbers, with a note on its page.
  • When it is delivering iMessage again, we raise its daily new contacts to 50 — or back to what it was, if that was lower — and email you that it is back. Going straight back to the volume that caused it is how it happens again; reply to that email when you are ready for more.

What helps it recover

  • Send fewer first messages for the next few days. Replies and follow-ups are fine.
  • Keep first messages personal rather than one template sent to hundreds of people.
  • Message people who expect to hear from you, and give them an easy way to opt out.
  • Do not sign the number out of iMessage or ask for it to be reset: starting over tends to make Apple more cautious, not less.

How long it lasts

Usually about two days, sometimes longer if heavy sending carries on. There is no setting that switches iMessage back on sooner; slowing down is what works.

You do not need to resend anything. Messages sent while it was texting went out as texts; new ones go as iMessage again once it recovers. We count it as recovered when new people are reached by iMessage again, not just people you already talked to.