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when trying to send a text to a new contact it says they aren

When trying to send a text on my iPad, to a new contact, it says they aren’t on I message.

I can text from my iPhone though

iPad, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 23, 2020 7:09 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 24, 2020 10:16 AM

To send and receive SMS messages from your iPad, you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad on your iPhone. If not enabled - or if you don’t have an iPhone signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - then you can only send Messages to other users of Apple devices.


On your iPhone:

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices.


Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is enabled on both your iPhone and iPad:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to ON


More information:

How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support


Fault finding if needed:

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


I hope you find this to helpful in resolving the issue.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 24, 2020 10:16 AM in response to Lindalou315

To send and receive SMS messages from your iPad, you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad on your iPhone. If not enabled - or if you don’t have an iPhone signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - then you can only send Messages to other users of Apple devices.


On your iPhone:

Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding - set to ON - and explicitly enable your iPad from the list of devices.


Also ensure that Messages in iCloud is enabled on both your iPhone and iPad:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > Messages - set to ON


More information:

How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support


Fault finding if needed:

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


I hope you find this to helpful in resolving the issue.

when trying to send a text to a new contact it says they aren

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