Lifestyle

Here’s How You Can Send Text Messages on iPhone Without Cell Service or Wi-Fi

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Nov 23, 2024 / 5358 Views

Evan Walker

Whether you’re stuck in a no-network zone, have trouble with your phone’s connectivity or are hit by a catastrophic occurrence that has deprived you of cell signals – you can still sort out the texting problem by sending a text through your iPhone. If you’re operating on iPhone 14, 15 and 16 models (with iOS 18 installed), the satellite connectivity feature enables you to send emergency text messages even when you are without cell service. Read our guide to find out how it works.

The iPhone’s messaging via satellite feature comes in handy when both the Wi-Fi and cell service are down. For example, in the aftermath of the recent Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, iPhone users praised this feature for aiding communication. Here’s how to set up your iPhone to send satellite messages in case of emergencies.

Everything to know about iPhone’s emergency SOS via satellite

iphone text without service — Image credit: Apple

The satellite feature only works on Apple iPhones 14, 15, and 16 which are updated to iOS 18. The recipients of the texts should also be operating on the latest iOS.
For these services to work, make sure you’re outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon.
The number of the person you’re trying to message must be in your contacts list.
The person you’re trying to reach should have interacted with you via iMessage at some point in the last month for this feature to work.
If you want to be reachable to your close ones, you must add them to your emergency contacts or Family Sharing group through Apple’s Health app. In the absence of this, they won’t be able to contact you and you’ll have to initiate conversation.

After you’ve taken care of the aforementioned guidelines, you can start sending satellite messages.

How to send text messages on iPhone without cell service

Head to Messages.
In case you’re out of cell service or Wi-Fi connection, a prompt should automatically appear. Then tap, ‘Use Messages via Satellite’.
Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your phone to a satellite.
Type your messages and send them.

Since you’re operating on satellite service, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to send photo, video or audio messages.

Moreover, satellite messaging isn’t an iPhone-exclusive tool. Android users with a Pixel 9 phone from Google can also send texts to emergency services by following the Google support guide.

(Hero and featured image credit: Apple)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.