Can Apple iPads Text Android Phones? (Solved)
As an iPad owner, you might be in the Apple fan club like me. So, I know firsthand how jarring it can be to craft a message to someone on your iPad only to learn it’s not sending through to them because they’re an Android user.
It’s impossible for Apple iPads to text Android phones since iPads don’t connect to cellular service. However, if you own an iPhone with the same Apple ID as your iPad, you can configure your iPhone to send and receive text messages to Android phones from your iPad.
I’ll give you an easy step-by-step method for making this configuration. Make sure to read until the end, for I’ll share must-know advice on how to tell whether someone is an Android (or other non-Apple) phone.
Apple iPads Can’t Technically Text Android Phones
Unfortunately, sending a text message to an Android phone using an iPad isn’t possible. The reason is simple: An iPad isn’t a cellular device.
If this leaves you scratching your head since you know that you’ve “texted” iPhone users in the past, that’s because you did so via iMessages.
iMessages aren’t the same as text messages (SMS).
With iMessages, messages are sent between Apple devices using the Internet. In contrast, text messages require cellular data via a cell phone.
That said, there’s a workaround for this. If you own an iPhone, you can text Android phones from your iPad by routing the messages through your phone.
How to Text Android Phones Using an iPhone
Since you own an iPad, I’ll go out on a limb here and say the chances are high that you also have an iPhone. In this case, you can use your iPhone to text and Android phone.
Setting Up Your iPad
To send a text message from your iPad to an Android phone via your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Open “Settings” on your iPad
- Click on messages
- Switch the toggle bar to on for the “Send as SMS” option
Here’s the trick, though: For this to work, your iPad and iPhone must have the same Apple ID.
That likely won’t be a problem for most people, but it’s something to be aware of if you have more than one Apple ID for business or personal reasons.
Setting Up Your iPhone
Getting your iPad ready to text is half the battle; you also need to set your iPhone up so that all non-Apple text messages arrive on your iPad.
To do so, follow these steps:
- Open “Settings” on your iPhone
- Click “Messages,” followed by “Text Message Forwarding”
- Switch the toggle bar to on beside the option to forward messages to your iPad
- Log in to your iPad and jot down the authorization code that pops up
- Return to your iPad and type this code in the box where it requests it
Here’s the good news: Once you follow these steps, the settings will remain in place.
So, you’ll be able to send and receive SMS to Android phones through your iPad as long as it remains connected with your iPhone.
Troubleshooting Text Messages
If you followed the steps above and your text messages still aren’t sending through to an Android phone user, I’ll give you some tips on how to resolve it.
Check Your Stats
You can’t connect your iPad to any old iPhone and expect to send text messages to an Android phone. Instead, you need to make sure your phone number and email address are the same on both your iPhone and iPad.
To check this, head to Settings – Messages – Send & Receive. You can follow these same steps on both devices.
Sign Out
Sometimes, all it takes is signing out and back into both your iPad and iPhone to put things back on track. If you have more than one Apple ID, this is especially helpful to ensure both devices will be on the same page.
Play With the “Reached By” Bar
If your iPad still isn’t sending text messages to Android phones via your iPhone after you sign out and back into both devices, try this: Uncheck the email section in the “You can be reached by” section of the settings on your iPhone.
Leave the settings section. Then, go back into settings and click the toggle bar back on under “email.”
Fast Reset
All hope isn’t lost if you still can’t get your iPad to text your Android buddy. Try doing a fast reset by holding down the home and sleep/wake buttons simultaneously on your iPhone.
Once the Apple logo appears, release your hold. It may take your iPhone a few minutes to reboot. Once it does, give it another shot of sending your text message to an Android phone.
General Reset
You should use this option as a last resort. However, if your iPhone and iPad still aren’t syncing your text messages to Android users, it might be time for a general reset.
Before doing so, it’s a good idea to back up all your photos and documents in the iCloud. You can expect a general reset to erase custom settings and passwords, including your WiFi password.
To launch the general reset, head to Settings. Then select “General,” followed by “Reset” and “Reset All Settings.”
How Do I Know If Someone Has an Android Phone?
If you’re unsure whether the person you want to message from your iPad has an Android (or other non-Apple) phone, a sure-fire way to check is by the color of your previous conversations with them on your iPhone.
Your text messaging conversation will have blue-colored bubbles if they have an iPhone.
That’s because Apple defaults to sending messages through iMessage when two people communicate via Apple devices.
In contrast, if the person you’re texting has an Android or other non-Apple phone, the color of their and your message bubbles will be green.
That signals that Apple is using SMS (cell service) for the two of you to correspond.
The Bottom Line
You can text with an Android phone user from your iPad as long as you own an iPhone with the same Apple ID.
By following the steps I shared here, you’ll soon be on your way to texting and receiving messages from your Android friends via your iPad.