Group Messaging from iPad
When is send a group message from my iPad to a mix of iOS and Android devices, the messages arrive as if I sent them to each individual, not the group. Why and how do I fix it? My iPad is WiFi only, no cellular service.
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You can find information about Apple’s Group Messaging here:
Have a group conversation in Messages on iPad – Apple Support
iOS/IPadOS Group Messaging uses Apple’s iMessage service. Android and other non-Apple devices don’t support iMessage - and therefore cannot participate in Group Messages; instead you can send and receive messages to these devices using SMS/MMS messaging - but only if you have an iPhone.
An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or SMS/MMS Messaging features. An iPad with either WiFi or Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services. If you have added a DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the SIM card is only used to identify your account for billing purposes. This number is not used for making calls or sending messages.
However, when paired with an iPhone, the capabilities of iPad significantly broaden to include access to Cellular Voice and Messaging services of the associated iPhone - relayed to the iPad over WiFi using Apple’s continuity features.
More information about Continuity and the relevant Cellular services can be found here:
Continuity
Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch – Apple Support
SMS/MMS Messaging
If you have an iPhone - and both iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - to send SMS/MMS messages (green bubbles) from your iPad you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad on your iPhone...
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