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Will iMessages Still Deliver When Your Phone is Dead?

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Joe Newman

We all rely on our mobile phones to stay connected with family and friends. But what happens when your phone is dead? Do iMessages still go through as normal, or do they get delayed? In this article, we will explore the answer to this question, looking at whether iMessage delivers when the recipient’s phone is dead and how to enable this feature if it isn’t already enabled. We will also discuss other factors affecting iMessage Delivery, such as internet connection and software updates.

By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of how iMessages work in these situations and be able to ensure all your messages get where they need to go, even if your phone dies.

Do Messages Deliver When Phone Is Dead? Exploring the Facts

All phone messages, including iMessage, are designed to be sent and received when the phone is on and connected to a mobile data or Wi-Fi network. So, in short, iMessages will not deliver when the recipient’s phone is dead or powered off.

Many of us like to use iMessage as our main communication option because it is fast and reliable. But you could be disappointed if you’re relying on your phone messages going through when the phone is dead.

However, there are certain conditions where iMessage will still deliver even when the phone off message delivery. If a message is sent via iMessage when the receiver’s phone is off, it will be stored on Apple’s servers until the recipient turns their apple device back on. Once the recipient’s devices has turned their phone back on and reconnected to the internet, all of those stored messages will then be delivered as usual.

What is iMessage in Apple devices?

iMessage is a messaging platform owned and developed by Apple. It is used mainly to send messages from one Apple device to another. Still, it can also be used to send messages between devices with other operating systems, such as Android or Windows.

iMessage can be used to send text messages, documents, photos, and videos. In addition, users can also make use of features such as stickers, emojis, and other interactive elements. However, you must have an active internet connection (either cellular or Wi-Fi) to use these features.

You can always disable your iMessage in the setting if you don’t want it to be used and want to save battery life by not being connected too much. Keep reading to learn how to do this.

How to Setup iMessage on iPhone?

If you’re new to Apple devices and want to get set up with iMessage, it’s easy. All you need to do is turn on iMessage in the settings menu of your device.

Steps to enable iMessage

1. On your home screen, tap the Settings app

Iphone's settings


2. Scroll down and tap on Messages app

3. Tap the toggle to turn on iMessage

4. If it’s already on, make sure green color on it is green color

And your iMessage is now enabled. You can now use it to send and receive messages from other Apple users’ devices if you have an internet connection.

Device Compatability

iMessage works on all Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. You can also send messages to Android, Windows, and other non-Apple devices if you have an internet connection.

However, you can only send text messages to non-Apple devices, not photos or videos.

How iMessage works?

iMessage sending messages over the internet instead of via regular text messages. The messages are sent from one device to another through Apple’s servers, and each text message itself is encrypted for security.

When you send an iMessage, it will first be sent over your data connection (Wi-Fi or cellular). If your phone is out of range or has no data connection, the text message, will be stored on other Apple device’s servers until it can be delivered. Dead phone messages will be delivered when the recipient of text message’s device is reconnected to the internet.

However, undelivered messages will only stay on other Apple device’s server when the recipient’s phone is off, not dead. If the apple device has been powered off, then messages will be lost unless they were sent before the device was turned off.

Do iMessages still deliver when your phone is dead?

In short, no. iMessage will not be delivered when the phone is dead or powered off. However, they will be delivered and stored on Apple’s servers until the device is turned back on and reconnected to the internet.

The takeaway is that if you want your messages to be delivered, ensure the recipient’s phone is powered on. If it is, your message will get through. And if the device has been powered off, the messages sent before it was turned off will be recovered if they have been delivered already.

If your phone is dead or powered off, you won’t be able to receive iMessages either. Your unsent messages will remain on Apple’s servers until the recipient turns their device back on and reconnects to the internet. At this point, all of your stored messages will be delivered as normal.

Will the message be delivered if set up on Mac and iPhone?

Yes, if you have iMessage on both your Mac and iPhone or any reader supported apple devices, any messages sent by ios user to you will be delivered to both ios users. This means you can use either ios device to reply to an incoming message, and your conversations will stay in sync across both devices.

However, it’s important to note that if your Mac is not connected to the active internet connection, any messages sent to it will be delivered when it is online again.

How to Check iMessage Delivery Status?

identifying message bubble colors


Message delivery status can be checked on both iPhones and Macs. On an iPhone, you can check the delivery status of an iMessage by opening the conversation, and you will see “Delivered” below the message. On the one hand, if your message was not delivered, you’ll see a red exclamation mark labeled “Not Delivered.”

You can tap on it to try and resend the message or use iMessage or Send it as SMS option.

The message delivery confirmation can also be checked on a Mac. To do this, open the conversation and click on the “Details” button in the top right corner of your screen. This will show you the delivery status for each message and when it was sent and received.


How can you know if someone’s phone died on iMessage?

Unfortunately, there is no way to know if someone’s phone has died or been powered off on iMessage. If a message is sent and the recipient’s device is not connected to the internet, it will be stored on Apple’s servers until the device returns online.

You can only tell if apple devices is dead or powered off if you don’t receive a reply. At that point, the best thing to do is send them another message and see if it goes through. If not, you can assume their phone has died or been powered off.

Another way to tell if someone’s phone has died or been powered off is by calling them. If the call goes straight to voicemail, it is a good indication that their device is no longer connected to the internet or has been powered off.

How To Disable iMessage to your Apple devices?


If you no longer want to use iMessage and would like to disable it, you can do so by going into your device’s settings.

To all iPhone users, go to Settings > Messages and turn off the toggle next to “iMessage.”

On a Mac, open the Messages app, click “Preferences” in the top left corner and then select the “Accounts” tab. You can uncheck the “Enable this account” box to disable iMessage.

After disabling iMessage, all messages sent or group messages received will no longer be delivered via iMessage and will be sent as regular text messages.

Remember that you can’t send photos or other media via text message, so if you want to be able to send these types of messages, you will need to re-enable iMessage.

Other Factors that Affect iMessage delivery

imessage servers

In addition to a device being powered off or dead, other factors can affect the delivery of iMessages. These include:

  • Poor network connection
  • Incorrectly entered phone number or email address
  • Software updates
  • Outdated operating system software

If the recipient’s phone is off but they’ve signed in with their Apple ID on multiple devices, say delivered and either of them is on, you’ll see a delivery prompt as soon as those devices receive the message.

Poor internet connection

A weak or intermittent signal is the most common cause of delayed or failed iMessage Delivery. Messages will be delivered with an internet connection once the signal is restored. If you need help with iMessage delivery, ensure your device has a good signal and is connected to the internet. Message delivery retries ensure that any sent messages eventually get through.

Incorrectly entered Phone Number or Email Address

It’s also possible for text message to fail if the recipient has entered their phone number or email address incorrectly. If you are in messages app still waiting to receive replies, ensure you have provided the correct information.

Software Updates and Outdated OS Software


If you’re using an older version of iOS or macOS, this could be causing issues with iMessage Delivery. Ensure that your device is running the latest software version, as this will ensure you receive all the latest features and bug fixes.

Tips and Tricks to Ensure iMessage delivery

ipod touch / Mac
  • Make sure your device has a good signal and is connected to the internet.
  • Avoid sending messages while traveling, as this can result in delays or failed delivery due to intermittent cellular coverage.
  • Check that you have entered the recipient’s correct phone number or email address.
  • Push notifications delivery can help to ensure that all sent messages eventually get through.
  • Make sure that your device is running the latest software version.
  • If you’re still having trouble, restart your device and try again.

Now that you know how to identify if an iMessage has gone through and what can cause a delayed or failed delivery, messages delivered when the phone is dead or powered off, and ways to help ensure that the recipient’s iphone successfully delivered , you can rest assured that your messages will be received smoothly. Phone battery life impact on message delivery is just one of the many considerations for iMessage delivery. 

Benefits Of iMessage

Other apple device

For some of us, iMessage has become essential to our daily lives. It’s a great way to keep in touch with friends and family and quickly send photos, videos, and GIFs. With the help of end-to-end encryption, messages are kept secure from hackers and other malicious actors. In addition, iMessage is convenient and efficient, as messages are delivered almost instantly when paired with a reliable data connection.

Also, iMessage is available on all Apple devices, making it easy to switch between devices without losing access to your messages. This means that you don’t have to worry about missing out on essential conversations or notifications no matter where you are.

Lastly, it’s free to use, so you don’t have to worry about high phone bills due to messaging.

With all these features, it’s no wonder that iMessage has become a widely used messaging service for Apple users.

Conclusion

It can be incredibly frustrating when iMessage fails to deliver, but thankfully you can use several troubleshooting options to get it up and to run. Poor network connection, incorrect information, outdated software versions, and other issues can all be the root cause of failed or delayed delivery.

Fortunately, you can ensure successful iMessage deliver with a few simple tips and tricks. Keeping your device up to date, double-checking contact information, and ensuring you have a strong internet connection are easy ways to keep messages from getting lost in the ether.

iMessage is a great messaging service, and with the help of these tips, you’ll be able to ensure that your important text messages get through.

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Joe Newman

Joe Newman

Joe is an experienced blogger who is passionate about all things mobile tech 📱
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Joe Newman