You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

📢 Newsroom Update

The new iPad mini is available today. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Cannot text to Samsung phone

I have 2 i-pads, and 2 Samsung phones, I cannot send or receive test messages to my phones, and i want to use both ipad's and Samsung a20 phone. HELP


iPad Pro 12.9-inch, 3rd Gen, Wi-Fi

Posted on Mar 1, 2021 12:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 1, 2021 1:07 PM

iPads (Wi-Fi only, i.e. not cellular) can only send and receive iMessage texts, not SMS texts. Android phones cannot receive iMessage texts. You would need an iPhone to allow your iPad to send and receive SMS messages.

3 replies

Mar 1, 2021 5:05 PM in response to 2FantomsDown

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.


However, If 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

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


WiFi Calling

Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling – Apple Support



If you have an iPhone - and both iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID, to send SMS/MMS messages from your iPad you must explicitly enable Text Message Forwarding for your iPad(s) 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


Cannot text to Samsung phone

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.