How to Get iMessages to Send from Phone Number

Are you having trouble sending iMessages from your phone number after updating to iOS 16? You're not alone. Many users have reported this issue, and it can be frustrating when you need to send important reminders or lists to yourself.

To fix this unexpected behavior, there are a couple of straightforward methods you can try. The first is to remove your phone number from iMessage and FaceTime, then re-add it afterwards. Here's how:

1. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.

2. Follow the on-screen prompts, and you'll be ready to go.

Alternatively, you can try a more straightforward fix by going into Settings > Messages > Send & Receive (Under iMessage) and selecting 'Use your Apple ID for iMessage.' If no email address is available to choose from, proceed as follows: When selecting yourself in the To: field, pick your email address instead of your phone number.

Unfortunately, since updating to iOS 16, some users have reported that messages to themselves can only be sent as text messages, rather than iMessages. This means that texts you send to yourself will appear as green regular SMS, rather than blue iMessages.

This issue has been reported by several users on Reddit and in comments on our videos. For example, Matt mentioned in the comments of our iOS 16 downgrade video: 'Can't imessage myself after this update.' Daniel also reported the issue in iOS 16.1.1, saying that sending an iMessage to himself was not working properly.

If you're experiencing this issue and want to be able to iMessage yourself again, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure your phone number is correctly set up as an email address on your iPhone. Then, go into Settings > Messages > Send & Receive (Under iMessage) and select 'Use your Apple ID for iMessage.' If no email address is available to choose from, proceed as follows: When selecting yourself in the To: field, pick your email address instead of your phone number.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the issue and start sending iMessages from your phone number again.

How to get imessages to send from phone number