How Messages via satellite works
Starting in iOS 18, Messages via satellite can help you connect with your friends and family, even when you’re somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. You can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.
To connect to a satellite, you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon.
Note: Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It’s free for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).
Use Messages via satellite
- When your iPhone detects that you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, it alerts you — on the Lock Screen, you get a prompt that you can send and receive messages via satellite. Otherwise, you get a notification to Use Messages via Satellite when you open the Messages app.
- When you connect to satellite, you’ll also see the option to text emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite, get help with car troubles using Roadside Assistance via satellite, and share your location using Find My via satellite (where these services are available).
- To send a message, just open the Messages app — you’ll be prompted start accepting messages, if you haven’t already, and your iPhone provides instructions to connect to a satellite to send a text. If you have iPhone 14 Pro or later, the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen has indicator dots that show the strength of your connection and, if your connection could be improved, arrows that direct you to turn left or right. You can tap the Dynamic Island to open Connection Assistant for more help.
- When you connect and start accepting messages via satellite, you’ll receive any SMS messages that were sent from your emergency contact or members of your Family Sharing group before you started accepting messages via satellite. You won’t receive iMessages until your emergency contact or family member returns to the conversation and taps Send via Satellite underneath their message bubble.
- Messages via satellite might take a little longer to send. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and horizon, a message might take 30 seconds to send. It might take over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage — and you might not be able to connect to a satellite under heavy foliage or if you’re surrounded by other obstructions.
- Some Messages features aren’t supported when using a satellite connection. You can’t send or receive photos or videos, audio messages, stickers, or messages in a group message.
- If you can’t send an iMessage via satellite — for example, if the person who you are trying to text has an iPhone that doesn’t have iOS 18 or they have a non-Apple device, or if you haven’t sent them an iMessage recently — you can use SMS messaging via satellite.
Receiving texts via satellite when you’re on the grid
If you have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage and you’re messaging with someone who is using Messages via satellite:
- In iMessage conversations, you see an alert that your contact is accepting messages via satellite.
- After you tap send, you need to also tap Send via Satellite underneath the message bubble.
- If you’re an emergency contact or a member of a Family Sharing group, you can send an SMS message before your contact sends you a message via satellite. They’ll receive the message once they start accepting messages via satellite.
Important Requirements
- You need an iPhone 14 or later (all models) with iOS 18 or later1.
- You need to be in a place with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
- You need to connect to a satellite with your iPhone
- You need an active SIM.
- To use iMessage via satellite, you need to turn on iMessage before you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. To use SMS messaging via satellite, your carrier must support it.
- Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada.
