What Does Sent as Text Message Mean? 2024

It’s interesting how so many people are using iPhones these days. As an iPhone user, have you ever sent a text only to see the regular blue bubble turn green with the mark “sent as text message“?

Are you wondering why the text bubble has switched to green? You might be interested in understanding its significance and learning how to correct this situation.

Don’t worry. In this blog, we will discover what does sent as text message mean, explore whether these messages are successfully delivered, and highlight the differences between text messages and iMessages on your iPhone.

What does “sent as text message” mean? 

The term “sent as text message” means the message is sent through the usual mobile network routes, using SMS (Short Message Service) protocol, instead of Apple’s iMessage system.

It indicates no guaranteed delivery confirmation since SMS does not always offer delivery receipts. 

“Sent as text message.” Did it go through? 

Yes, “sent as text message” means the message was successfully sent through the cellular network. However, it cannot ensure delivery confirmation because factors like the recipient’s network connection, phone status, or service provider issues can affect the delivery. 

Thus, it means your message has possibly been sent, but you won’t get a read receipt or delivery confirmation.

How do you know if your message was sent as text message on your iPhone? 

To find out if your message was sent as a text message on your iPhone, various techniques are available in the following section:

Check the color of the bubble

Determine if you send your message as a text message on your iPhone by paying attention to the color of the message bubble. 

• If a green text bubble appears, it indicates that the message was sent as an SMS (Short Message Service.)

• If a blue text bubble appears, it signifies that the message has been sent successfully as an iMessage.

Look for the “Sent as Text Message” Status 

Another way to find out if your message has been sent as text message on your iPhone is by looking for the status below the message that appears as “sent as text message,” which confirms that the message was sent using the SMS (Short Message Service) protocol.

Delivery and Read Receipts

Another way of identifying if your message was sent as text message on your iPhone is by checking the Delivery and Reading receipts.

Nevertheless, “sent as text message” doesn’t necessarily ensure delivery confirmation but indicates that your message was sent successfully via SMS (Short Message Service).

Keep an eye out for a notification of a “Delivered” or “Read” receipt, which signifies that your message has been successfully delivered and read by the recipient.

Also Read: Top Reasons Why Your Text Message Didn’t Get Delivered

What does “sent as text message” mean on iPhone? 

The “sent as text message” on iPhone means various things occurring due to multiple reasons like the recipient not using an Apple device, iMessage being turned off, or connectivity problems.

The iMessage was delivered as SMS messages. 

When an iPhone user’s message is labeled as “sent as text message,” it indicates that the message has been sent as a regular SMS or MMS rather than iMessage. 

Although “sent as text message” ensures the message was successfully sent through SMS, it cannot guarantee delivery confirmation like iMessage.

The “Send as SMS” option is enabled. 

When your message is sent as text message on an iPhone, you might have enabled the “Send as SMS” option, which automatically lets you send messages as regular SMS or MMS when iMessage cannot send the message.

However, you can disable the “Send as SMS” option by following the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap “Messages” option.
3. Turn off the switch next to “Send an SMS” and make it grey.

The recipient’s device is switched off. 

When a message is marked as “sent as text message”  on an iPhone, it can mean that the recipient’s device is switched off. 

If you face this status, iPhone users can try resending the message later once the recipient’s device seems online.

The recipients no longer use Apple devices. 

When you message an iPhone user and see the message “sent as text message,” which means the message has been sent as a standard SMS (Short Message Service) instead of an iMessage, it might be possible that they are no longer using ios devices. 

The receiver doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection. 

After sending a text, if you receive “sent as text message,” then it means that the receiver’s phone is not connected to the internet or cellular data. Therefore, make sure to have a stable internet connection for iMessage functionality.

iMessage is turned off in the receiver’s phone. 

Sometimes, suppose your message is sent as text message. In that case, it indicates the recipient’s iMessage is turned off, eventually sending the message as a regular SMS (Short Message Service) or MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) instead of iMessage.

iMessage is inactive on your or the recipient’s end. 

iPhone users may find their messages sent as text messages due to iMessage being inactive on either their device or the recipient’s end. 

Therefore, when iMessage is inactive, the message will possibly be sent as SMS protocol instead of an iMessage.

You might be blocked. 

Unfortunately, if your message is sent as a text message, it means you may have been blocked by the person to whom you intend to send a text. However, this does not decisively guarantee you have been blocked, and it merely acts as an indication.

Don’t Miss: How to Forward a Text Message

Sent as text message Vs delivered: What is the difference?

The main difference between a ‘sent as text message’ and ‘delivered’ is that ‘sent as text message’ indicates the message has been dispatched from the sender’s device and is routed to the recipient’s device. 

However, when ‘delivered’ conveys, the message has successfully reached the recipient’s device.  

All in all, ‘sent as text message’ signifies that the message has been forwarded from the sender’s device, whereas a ‘delivered’ message denotes that the recipient’s device has received the message.

Sent as text message Vs iMessage: What are the differences? 

The difference between iMessage and text messages is that iMessage uses an internet connection, while text messages depend on cellular data networks.

A blue chat bubble typically identifies iMessage, whereas a green chat bubble identifies regular text messages. iMessage stands out from SMS messages by offering features like read receipts, typing indicators, and superior file-sharing capabilities.

iMessage works among Apple devices only, while text messages are on any device. Also, when it comes to security, iMessage offers end-to-end encryption, whereas SMS texts do not. 

Moreover, iMessages can send photos, videos, and other large files, which cannot be done by text messages. Finally, regarding speed, iMessages are faster than regular text messages due to Apple’s servers and propriety format.

Conclusion

‘Sent as text message’ means your text has been sent using SMS protocol instead of an iMessage, which can occur when the recipient’s internet connection, devices, or iMessage service is unavailable. This may also occur if the ‘Send as SMS’ feature is enabled or if you have been blocked. 

Therefore, don’t worry anymore when encountering this message. Moreover, understanding the differences between sending a text message and delivering one helps to avoid unnecessary worry about the status of your message.

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FAQ 

Does “Sent as Text Message” Mean Delivered?

The “Sent as text message” doesn’t necessarily mean that the message was delivered, but it indicates the message was sent successfully through the regular mobile network routes. Since SMS doesn’t consistently offer delivery confirmations, it is not guaranteed the message has been delivered successfully.

Does being sent as text message mean being blocked?

No, The “sent as text message” doesn’t conclusively mean your number is blocked.

Why does it say sent as text message?

It says “sent as text message” because the message was sent using SMS protocol rather than any messaging app or platform that uses data or an internet connection.

Does green text mean blocked?

Green text doesn’t mean blocked, but other reasons exist, such as sending a message as a standard SMS instead of iMessage.

What does “sent as text message” mean on Android?

“Sent as text message” means that the message was sent using SMS protocol or when the recipient’s device does not support RCS (Rich Communication Service).