10 hidden features in the Messages app

It is no secret to us how the Messages application works on the iPhone. But when Apple released the iOS 17 update last year, it introduced a modified interface for the Messages app that includes many useful hidden functions and customization options that may not be obvious to the average user. In this article we've collected 10 of our favorite tips, which we hope will make your messaging experience more enjoyable.

Faster access to your photo library

Previously in the iOS 16 update, sharing photos was done by tapping the Photos icon in the row of apps below the text input field to access the camera roll. But in the iOS 17 update, the Photos button disappeared, and you have to click on the + button located to the left or right of the text field to reveal the option to add photos.

Or press and hold the + button, and you will be taken directly to the photo library.

Customize the message list

When you click the “+” button in messages to show options, they are arranged in order by default. From the top, you'll find Camera, Photos, Stickers, Cache (if available), Audio, and Location. At the bottom is a More button and when tapped it reveals any other installed messaging apps (you can also swipe up to reveal this hidden menu).

You can reorganize the apps in the list, move your most used apps to the top, and even show more apps from the “More” section to the first screen of options, in the following way.

To move an app within the same screen, tap and hold its icon, then drag it to your preferred location and release. To move an app to the first page of icons, just do the same thing, but drag it to the top of the screen and place it where you want it.

Faster responses

Before the iOS 17 update, replying to a specific conversation in the Messages app required long-pressing it, then tapping Reply. But Apple replaced it with a swipe-to-reply feature, just swipe right on it, which speeds up the process, and helps you track the message bubble you are responding to through some visual cues.

The selected message will be highlighted, and a text box will appear, allowing you to type your response and press send. To return to the main conversation, tap the blurred background.

Notice the visual thread that indicates the overlapping connection between your response and the original message, which is especially useful in group conversations to keep track of who's responding to whom. Remember that everyone in a group conversation can read your inline responses. If you don't want to, start a new conversation with the person you want to respond to. Also keep in mind that swipe to reply only works on iMessages, not with regular SMS.

Convert live photos into live stickers

In iOS 17, you can take live photos and turn them into stickers for use in Messages and elsewhere. As the name suggests, live stickers are basically animated stickers that you can share with family and friends.

◉ Press the + button to the left of the text input field, then click on the stickers option.

◉ Select the stickers icon in the row of stickers apps, then tap the big + button in the stickers list.

◉ Next, tap Live below the photo search bar, then select Live Photo.

Tap Add Sticker at the bottom of the screen, then tap the sticker you just created to select it, ready to send. Alternatively, tap and hold the sticker, then drag it to a previous part of the conversation.

You can also long press on a sticker to rearrange it in your collection, add an effect, or delete it. Note that if you add an effect to using the Add Effect option, it will turn into a static sticker.

Use emojis as stickers

In the iOS 17 update, Apple treats all standard emojis as stickers, allowing them to be used in the same way as actual stickers. This means you are not limited to including them in the conversation. You can also drag it anywhere on the message bubble. You can also layer them on top of each other to create little emoji scenes.

In a message conversation, tap the Emoji button in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Press and hold an emoji in the list, then drag it up to the message bubble you want to reply to and release your finger. Note that you can drag more emojis to the same message bubble with the same action.

To edit emoji stickers on a message bubble, tap and hold the emoji, then tap Sticker Details in the pop-up menu.

To delete an emoji sticker, swipe left on it, then tap the red trash button that appears.
Tap Done to return to the conversation.

Manage label applications

Standard sticker packs are still there in iOS 17, but the way you access and manage them has changed since iOS 16. The following steps will show you how to access, rearrange, and delete installed sticker apps.

◉ In the conversation thread, press the + button to the left of the text entry field.

◉ Click on Stickers in the vertical menu.

◉ Below the text input field, swipe left across the pinned sticker apps to the end of the row, then tap the Edit button.

To rearrange sticker apps as you want them to appear in the previous row, tap the three lines next to the app and drag it up or down to your preferred location.

To delete a sticker app, tap Edit at the top right, then tap the red delete button next to the app in question.

To finish, tap “Done” at the top right.

Use search filters

Previously in the iOS 16 update, you could type a word or phrase into the search field in the Messages app and it would return matching results, but there was no way to filter messages to find what you were looking for more easily. For example, if you were looking for a message from a friend named “John” that had the word “dinner” in it, you would have to search for “dinner” and then scroll through all the messages from everyone that contained that message or word.

But in an update in iOS 17, you can quickly find the messages you're looking for. If you're looking for a photo or link from a specific person, for example, type the person's name first, then tap “Messages with: [person's name].”

Next, select the “Image” or “Link” filter that appears, and Messages will narrow your search results further. You can then enter an additional keyword and Messages will show you any links or images that contain the word. Alternatively, you can start your search with a keyword and then filter results by person, link, image or location.

Save voice messages

It becomes very clear where to save voice messages when you choose to save them. In the iOS 16 update, long-pressing on a voice message would bring up a “Save” option in the pop-up menu, but after tapping it, it wasn’t clear where the file was located.

In the iOS 17 update, the “Save” option was replaced with “Save to Voice Memos.” After clicking on it, all you have to do is open the Voice Memos app, where you will find the voice message at the top of the list. From there, you can choose to optimize the recording, skip silences, give the memo a identifiable name, and delete it when you no longer need it.

Adjust the speed of voice messages

When you receive a voice message, you don't just listen to it at the speed at which it was recorded. If the message includes silences or the person speaks slowly, you may want to play it more quickly.

Simply long press the playback button to reveal a menu of playback speed options, including 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x and 2x.

Send voice messages faster

If you're sending a lot of voice messages in succession, you don't need to keep tapping the + button to reveal the voice option to record another message.

The Messages app remembers the last type of message you sent, and will display an audio wave icon on the right side of the text input field that you can tap and hold to record your next audio message.

Source:

macrumors