iMessage has become a really integral part of how we communicate, right? It’s evolved so much since it first came out in 2011, adding tons of cool features.
These days, it’s not just about sending plain text or the occasional photo. With all the effects and interactive stuff, our messages are way more fun. And if you’ve got an iPhone X or newer, you can even send Memojis and Animojis, which is pretty awesome.
All this extra functionality often leads to the question: how exactly does iMessage work, and how much data is it actually using? Unlike regular SMS or MMS, iMessage uses the internet, either through Wi-Fi or your cellular data. So, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on, especially if you’re on a limited data plan.
Using iMessage on Wi-Fi won’t touch your data, but using it on cellular can add up. It’s good to know where your data is going so you don’t go over your limit.
Trying to figure out exactly how much data iMessage uses can be tricky, but there are a few general things to keep in mind. Basic text messages barely use any data, usually just about 1 KB per message, which is practically nothing. However, if you’re sending images, videos, or other media, it can use a lot more data. We’re talking possibly several megabytes per message, depending on the size of the files. Keeping that in mind when sending media through cellular data can be really helpful.
Checking your iMessage data consumption on iPhone
So, you want to see how much data iMessage is using on your phone? Here’s how you can do it:
- Start by opening the Settings app from your iPhone’s home screen.
- Next, in Settings, scroll down a bit and tap on Cellular or Mobile Data, depending on how it’s labeled on your phone.
- In the Cellular Data settings, scroll down past the list of all your apps to find System Services. Tap on that.
- You’ll see a breakdown of how much data each of the system services is using. Look for Messaging Services to see how much data specifically iMessage is using.
- These stats show how much data you’ve used since you last reset them. To get a fresh start and track from now on, go back to the Cellular or Mobile Data page and scroll all the way to the bottom. There you will see Reset Statistics, tap it to reset the current data and start tracking fresh.
iMessage definitely provides a great messaging experience without using your text message plan, and without those extra charges for international messages. However, you’ll want to regularly check and manage your iMessage data usage, especially when sending media files on cellular data, to prevent any unexpected costs.