What to Know
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding > your iPad > On.
- No iPhone? Try a messaging service like Facebook Messenger, Viber or WhatsApp’.
This article explains how to text Android users from your iPad using the Continuity feature. If you don’t have an iPhone, there are a few workarounds for sending text messages from your iPad to Android users.
Make sure you’re signed in to your iPad and iPhone with the same Apple Apple Account to enable text forwarding.
Use Text Forwarding to text Android users from iPad
When you set up text forwarding between your iPad and iPhone, you can text Android users from your iPad.
The iPad uses a feature called Continuity to route the message through the cloud to your iPhone and then to the Android recipient.
Here’s how to set up the text forwarding feature on an iPhone.
- On the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
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Tap Text Message Forwarding.
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This screen lists the Apple devices you own that can use the Continuity feature. Tap the toggle switch On beside your iPad to enable text message forwarding for it.
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You are prompted to type a code on the iPad to activate the feature. After you type the code, your iPad can send text messages to both Android users and iPhone users.
The iPad uses the same stickers, animations, and drawings that are included with the iPhone text messaging app. Upgrade to the latest operating system to ensure you have the recent features.
Use Facebook Messenger to Text Android from iPad
If your Android recipient has a Facebook account, send them messages using the Facebook Messenger app. Anyone who has a Facebook account can be reached from an iPad via Facebook Messenger. This requires both of you to have a facebook account.
Use WhatsApp to text Android number from iPad
You can text an Android user from your iPad using WhatsApp by linking your existing WhatsApp account (from your phone) to your iPad. WhatsApp now has an official iPad app that allows this directly, or you can use the web interface.
Use Viber to text Android from iPad
Viber has all the bells and whistles you would expect in a social messaging service, including Viber Wink, which deletes the message after it is viewed.
You can also place phone calls and video calls and get involved in public chats. Viber also supports split-view multitasking.
Of course, it requires that both have Viber app set up.
More Free Texting Apps
FreeTone (formerly Text Me) and textPlus offer free texting to iPad users. FreeTone offers users a free phone number capable of sending SMS messages to the U.S., Canada, and 40 other countries.
Both FreeTone and textPlus allow phone calls in addition to text messages, but you may need to pay for in-app purchases to use all of the features.
Discussion on how to text android users from iPad.
I found that SMS was turned off on my iPhone. After I turned it on I was able to send Messages to an Android phone. When I tried to send a message from my iPad it didn’t work and I could find NO setting to turn SMS ON. How can I send a message to my son who uses a Samsung phone? Apple notes tell me:
1) in messages–not registered with iMessage
2) in FaceTime–phone calls not available.
Apple gives no instruction on how to do this.
Why must Apple make it so difficult to communicate with non-Apple devices? Some time ago Apple learned that they must live alongside Microsoft. And they did it. Now Android is the foe and they won’t accept that. I just want to be able to text my son’s Samsung from my iPad, and know how to set it up if this is required.
Diana
REPLIES: 17 REPLIES
3 years ago
Not difficult. You just missed a setting. On your iPhone go to Settings, Messages, Text Message Forwarding. Make sure your iPad is turned on under that.
SMS messages are sent through your mobile phone providers, not the Internet. So your iPad can’t send them because it doesn’t have a connection to your mobile phone provider. But Apple lets your iPad (and Mac) send SMS messages through your iPhone. Very handy. But you have to turn this on in those settings.
Apple has instructions with more details here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208386
Diana
3 years ago
There is NO "Text Messages Forwarding" in my iPhone settings. I’m using iOS 16.1.7
3 years ago
Diana: It should be in Settings > Apps > Messages, and then scroll down. Make sure you are in the right place. The only reasons I can think that it may not be there is if you have SMS turned off completely, or you don’t have any other devices that are also set to use the same Apple account as your iPhone.
Mike
3 years ago
My workaround for the same situation is to use Facebook messenger or WhatsApp Messenger. Of course, it requires that both have Facebook accounts or WhatsApp. I like them as I can also send photos, videos, voice recordings and even make calls.
Rick Sink
3 years ago
What if I have an Android phone, not an iPhone. Can I still send text messages from an ipad?
3 years ago
Rick: SMS? No, there would be no way for your iPad to have access to the SMS system.
Gabby
3 years ago
I am trying to message my dad who has an android off my iPad 9th Gen, whenever I try to message it says message not delivered. It happens whenever I try to message any android phone number, how do I fix it so I can message android numbers?
3 years ago
Gabby: Are you trying to use SMS Forwarding through your iPhone? You set it up like this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208386
Patrik21DC
3 years ago
After pulling my hair and searching everywhere , I solved it by checking whether the Phone number is blocked.
Screamer
2 years ago
Gary I am having the same problem as Diana. I have gone in and checked the setting on my phone to Forward messages to my iPad but there doesn’t seem to be a setting to receive SMS FROM the iPad. I have not been able to find a solution to text message an android FROM my iPad.
2 years ago
Screamer: There is no "receive" setting, just the forward. That’s all you should need. Make sure you are using the same Apple ID for both and have Messages turned on in iCloud settings for both.
Teri
2 years ago
I only have an iPad and it’s not connected to my iphone (because everyone in the family uses it). Is there a way to text an Android user if there is no iPhone attached to it?
2 years ago
Teri: No, as there is no mobile phone network attached to it. You can message them using a variety of other apps and system though.
Elijah
2 years ago
I don’t have a phone connected to this iPad will it still work
2 years ago
Elijah: No. You need an iPhone because it talks to your mobile carrier to get and send SMS messages. The iPad doesn’t have a way to talk to your mobile carrier.
Greg
2 years ago
I receive SMS (android messages) on my iPad, but when I try to respond on my iPad, I receive Message Failure to Send.
2 years ago
Greg: Maybe try switching it (SMS forwarding) off and back on again. If that doesn’t work, call Apple Support.
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