Do you want to know if iMessage messages will show up on your phone bill or text log? If so, we will answer this question in this article.
You may want to keep your messages sent on iMessage private, so we understand that you may want to know if the message and/or number will be shown on the bill.
Well, we will explain what you need to know.
Let’s get right into this!
Do iMessages show on phone bill?
iMessages will not be shown on your phone bill or text log because they are not traditional texts or SMS messages. Instead, iMessage uses the internet. So, if you send an iMessage on your cellular data, this will use some of your data. But, your network provider won’t know who you sent an iMessage to.
Now, we will explain this in more depth.
So, the number of the person you sent a iMessage to and the contents of the message will not be shown on your phone bill.
This is because an iMessage is not a traditional text message, or SMS, because with texting and SMS messages, you must be connected to a mobile or phone network.
But, with iMessage you don’t need any mobile signal. You just need access to the internet, which can be using WiFi, or cellular data.
Are iMessages shown on your internet/cellular data bill?
You may now be wondering will iMessages be shown on your cellular data bill because that is how the messages are sent and received.
Well, every mobile provider will be slightly different, but most phone or cellular data bills don’t show what you used the data on. Usually, at most, the bill will say what app it was used on.
For example, it may say you used 100MB or data on iMessage.
Your bill wouldn’t say who you sent or received messages from because the network cannot view what you did on the app.
All they can see is that you connected to a iMessage server and that data was sent and received.
Essentially, when you send an iMessage, you connect to the iMessage server to upload the data.
But, when you send a traditional text, your phone connects to a mobile network and then it sends the text to the number you entered. Your network can view can the view the contents of a text or SMS message.
What is the difference between an iMessage and an SMS text message?
The difference is that when you send an SMS text message, your phone uses your mobile networks texting capability and sends a message straight to another mobile number.
However, when you send an iMessage, your phone needs to be connected to the internet.
This can be through cellular data, or WiFi.
Then, your phone will connect to an iMessage server, and send the message to the mobile number or email you entered.
When you send a message as a traditional text (SMS) it will look green, and when you send a message as an iMessage, it will look blue.
How to delete iMessages
Even though iMessages won’t be shown on your phone bill, they are still viewable on your phone, so you may want to delete them.
Here are two ways you can delete iMessages.
How to delete specific iMessages
Firstly, you need to open up the Messages app.
Secondly, you need to conversation you have with the person or contact.
If you have many, you can use the search function at the top.
Once you have found the conversation you want to delete some specific messages from, open it up.
Next, you need to find a specific message you want to delete.
Then, hold your finger on it, and some options will pop-up.
You need to tap on “More…”
Now, this will bring up checkboxes next to each message in the conversation.
So, you can select all of the messages you want to delete.
Once you have selected them all and you’re ready to delete them, you need to tap on the trash can in the bottom right of your screen.
You will then need to confirm that you want to delete the messages.
How to delete an entire iMessage conversation
Alternatively, you can delete an entire conversation.
Firstly, open up the Messages app.
Secondly, find the conversation you want to delete.
If you have a lot of conversations, you can use the search function at the top of the page.
Once you have found the conversation you would like to delete, put your finger on it and swipe from the right hand side of your screen, to the left.
This will reveal a “Delete” button. The icon looks like a trash can.
Then, you can delete the whole conversation!
How to check how much data iMessage has used
You may want to check how much data iMessage has used.
In order to do this, you need to open up the Settings app.
Secondly, you need to tap on “Mobile Data”.
Then, you will see a list of the data usage of the apps on your phone.
You need to scroll down and look for the option “System Services” and tap on it.
Now, in System Services, look for “Messaging Services” and this is the amount of data that iMessage has used.
Final words
We hope you found this guide about iMessage useful!
Rob’s social media: Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram.
Read more about GuideRealm here.