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iPad won't send text to android

My grand daughters have had iPad 8's for awhile independent of them having a phone. They were able to text other Apple users but not me (android) and I thought nothing of it. Now they have phones, the two devices are associated, they are crazy texters and phone to phone, it works like a charm.


The iPad won't send or receive texts to me though. Is this how it is supposed to be? It seems off to me, their texts sync perfectly with other Apple users, they are able to text perfectly from their phones with other android users, but the iPads don't recognize any of that.


Thanks!

Posted on Jan 10, 2023 4:51 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 10, 2023 4:53 PM

If exchanging messages with Android or non-Apple devices, you’ll need to use SMS/MMS messaging…


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

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 (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


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 10, 2023 4:53 PM in response to ltlabate

If exchanging messages with Android or non-Apple devices, you’ll need to use SMS/MMS messaging…


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

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 (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


Jan 10, 2023 4:57 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you so much. I wore google out this afternoon and thought the text forwarding thing might be my issue but the one thing I did not figure out that they were telling me to adjust a feature on their phones, not on the iPad. I looked and looked and looked on the iPads and could not find anything.


Next time they come by I will try that and report back, thank you!

iPad won't send text to android

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