How to Send Balloons on iPhone

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. Sign Up. *

Do you want to celebrate your friend or family member for their birthday or graduation? You can text them a celebration animation, such as a bunch of festive floating balloons using iPhone text effects. Here's how to send balloons on your iPhone.

Why You’ll Love This Tip:

• Send iPhone text effects to celebrate your friends and family.
• Transform a regular text into a fun and memorable moment.

How to Send Balloons on iPhone

iPhone message tricks only work with other iPhone users. Have you ever wondered why your iPhone text bubbles are sometimes blue and other times green? Well, if it’s blue, that means that your message is being sent to another iPhone user with iMessage, and if it's green, your recipient is on an Android device (the bubbles will also turn green when sending a message to an iPhone user if iMessage is turned off for any reason). This can also be helpful for how to know if you're blocked on an iPhone. For more fun iPhone texting effects and tricks, like how to change the text tone on your iPhone, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter! Now, here's how to send a text with balloons from one iPhone user to another: 

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

1. Open the Messages app. 
   
   
2. Start a new message or tap an existing conversation.
   
   
3. If you're starting a new message, enter the name of at least one recipient.
   
   
4. If you are starting a new message to another iPhone user it will say New iMessage at the top of the screen, which confirms that the recipient will be able to see your screen effects. (If you selected an existing conversation, check for blue text message bubbles, which confirms the other person can see your iMessage effects.) 
   
   
5. Type your text message. If you type the specific phrase “Happy Birthday!” the message will automatically be sent with balloons. If you want to say something else with balloons then proceed with the following steps.
   
   
6. Type your text message and instead of tapping the blue arrow to send the message, long press the arrow for at least a second.
   
   
7. Tap Screen to access full-screen effects.
   
   
8. Swipe from the right side of the screen to the left to scroll through the different screen effects until you get to the balloon option.
   
   
9. Tap the blue arrow button to send.
   
   

Your text message will then be sent, along with the iPhone Happy Birthday balloons effect! There are currently eight different iMessage full-screen effects, including iMessage confetti, fireworks, cartoon hearts, and more. So mix it up and have some fun!