Can I use Messages on iPad or iPhone to text Android devices?

Hm. My iPad is an Air 5, with Mobile.

So I'm wondering what might have caused this:

Texts sent to her from textPlus, and, notably, my iPhone, were delivered. Also note that earlier messages to Karen were also delivered, despite being sent from my iPad. When I enter her name in a new conversation, it's green at first, but turns red as soon as I enter some message text, and the "send" button is disabled.

I also note that the successful messages I sent from my iPhone have not yet been synced to my iPad. Texts from her show up on my iPhone but nowhere else.

I'm seeing the same thing with Messages on my iMac, I've just checked. The iMac has synced none of the messages to Karen. There isn't even a conversation with her.

I've looked in Messages Settings, I didn't see anything that looked off. Certainly, I've changed nothing (not intentionally, anyway) in the last three weeks...

Everyone's logged into my Apple Account, I have only the one. Might it have something to do with whether my iPad and iPhone are "tied"? I just looked, "Text Message Forwarding" on my iPhone was disabled, I turned them on.

Doesn't look like it's made a difference. I tried sending a text from my iPad. The "green-then-red" thing on her name is still happening, and the message failed delivery.

I just restarted my iPhone and iPad (hey, you never know), but nothing seems to have changed.

Any thoughts, anybody?

Jeff

[Edited by Moderator]

Hi, I appreciate the response. Howsomever...

I've addressed both of those. I do have an active cellular plan. I tried enabling "Text Message Forwarding" for all my other devices. And I've checked all the other things you mentioned, e.g., my Apple Account. Nothing has changed.

Moreover, your suggestions do not address the fact that three weeks ago, as my screenshot indicates, I was able to exchange texts with Karen from my iPad. What could have changed? Nothing I did that I can think of. They also don't address why I cannot send her a message, or even open a new conversation, on my iMac. This all makes me think that this issue is external to my hardware (as you hinted). Maybe it'll clear up by itself (yeah, sure…).

If you look at some of my recent posts, I've run into some very weird problems lately, and no one seems to be able to crack the case. Most of them have been pretty trivial, but this one's kinda annoying. I find myself hoping that some of these odd glitches will clear up once i/iPad/Mac/OS 26 comes out, it being something of a major overhaul.

Thanks for the help, anyway, I'm open to any other thoughts you may have.

Jeff

I wanted to add this. I tried another non-iMessage address, and the same thing happened.

I thought, at one time, I was able to do this. (At one time? We're talking four weeks ago.) The screenshot from my iPad would seem to support that. Maybe it's my memory.

🤔😉😊