New text formatting and iOS 18 effects in messages

Get ready to liven up your conversations because Apple’s latest iOS 18 update has brought some really cool text editing features to the Messages app. Gone are the days of simple and boring texts. It’s time to add some style to your chats.

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New formatting and animated text effects in the Message app (Apple) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What’s new in Messages?

Apple finally gave us built-in formatting options for iMessage conversations. Now, you can easily bold, italicize, underline or strike out your text right in the app. But that’s not all. They also added some fun animated text effects to make your messages really stand out.

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Check your iOS version and update to iOS 18

Before diving into the new text formatting and animated effects, it’s essential to make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18. Here’s how to check and update your device:

• Touch the Settings app on your home screen.
• Scroll down and tap General.
• Tap Software update. Your device will check for available updates.
• If iOS 18 is available, tap Download and install. You may be asked to enter your password.
• Accept the terms and wait for the update to download and install. Your iPhone will reboot once the installation is complete.
• Make sure your device is connected to wifi and has sufficient battery life before starting the update process.

Steps to update to iOS 18 (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to enable predictive text

Next, make sure you have Predictive Text enabled to see the Text Effects button:

• Open Settings.
• Scroll down and tap General.
• Tap Keyboard.
• Activate Predictive text if it is not already enabled.

Steps to enable predictive text (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to format your text messages

Here’s how to format your text in the Messages app:

• open a conversation in the Messages app.
• Touch the message bar.
• You will see a pop-up window to Text effects. Touch it.
• Choose between Bold, italic, underlined either Crossed out options.
• Now, write your text message and apply the format you would like to use. You can apply these before writing or send a text message already written.
• Then hit the white arrow up in the blue circle.

Steps to format text messages (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to add animated text effects to your messages

Want to add a little more pizzazz to your text messages? Try these animated text effects: big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, and fluctuate. Here’s how to use them:

• open a conversation in the Messages app.
• Touch the message bar.
• You will see a pop-up window to Text effects. Touch it.
• Touch the animated text effect you would like to use.
• Write your text message, like happy birthday.
• Hit send and watch the magic happen.

Steps to add animated text effects to your messages (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to Mix and Match Animated Text Formats and Effects

This is where it gets really fun. You can combine different formatting options and text effects in a single message. Do you want to bold one word, underline another, and blow up a third? Go for it. Just remember that you can’t apply formatting and effects to the same text. It’s one or the other.

• open a conversation in the Messages app.
• Touch the message bar.
• You will see a pop-up window to Text effects. Touch it.
• Touch the animated text effect you would like to use.
• Write your text message, like happy birthday.
• Hit send and watch the magic happen.

Steps to Mix and Match Animated Text Formats and Effects (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Note: Just keep in mind that these new features only work in iMessage conversations. They will not appear in regular SMS or MMS text messages. But for those iMessage chats, the sky is the limit. So be creative and have fun bringing your messages to life.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Apple’s iOS 18 update completely revamps your messaging game with interesting text formatting options and fun animated effects. Now it’s very easy to bring your chats to life, adding a unique touch to each message. These features really change the way you express yourself in iMessage, allowing you to highlight words or simply make your messages stand out. The best part? They pair perfectly with classic iMessage screen effects and bubbles.

What aspect of the updated Messages app are you most excited to try and how do you think it will change the way you communicate with friends and family? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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