How to Set Up iMessage on iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch with iOS 5

iMessage is the new messaging service that is built directly into iOS 5. It’s great because it allows you to send instant messages, text messages, pictures, video, contacts, and locations, across iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, even without an SMS or 3G plan. Of course the other benefit is that even if you do have an SMS plan, sending iMessages can circumvent the SMS protocol, allowing you to send texts for free to other iPhones.
The only real requirement is that the device is running iOS 5, which you can upgrade / download here if you haven’t yet done so through iTunes or otherwise.

If you haven’t setup iMessage as part of iOS 5 yet, you need to take a few minutes to do so. It’s really easy and well worth it, we’ll walk through the set up:

Setting Up iMessage in iOS 5

The set up process is quick and essentially the same on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch:

• Tap on “Settings” and scroll to and tap on “Messages”
• Flip the ON/OFF switch next to ‘iMessage’ so that it’s ON

iMessage will attempt to automatically pull your phone number or Apple ID (or both for iPhone users).
You can edit these if you wish, or if you’re on an iPad or iPod touch you may need to enter an Apple ID manually. Do so by tapping into the appropriate places, your Apple ID is the same account you use to login to iTunes and the App Store. If you don’t have an Apple ID yet, you can just tap on “Create New Account” to make one.

You can also add additional email addresses for you to be reached at via iMessage, just tap on “Add Another Email…” and add the address manually:



You are now free to send iMessages between equipped iOS 5 devices.

How do I use iMessage? Where do I send an iMessage from?

If you just set up iMessage, you’re ready to use it, just tap on the familiar green “Messages” app, yes the same one you use to send SMS and MMS on the iPhone.
Here’s the important thing to remember, iMessage is seamless within the Messages app and works automatically as long as you are messaging another iOS 5 device, there isn’t a separate app or protocol to use, Apple figures it out for you.
Enjoy iMessage