The humble iPhone Messages app holds more than just text and iMessages; it's a treasure trove of hidden features and fun surprises. One of the most well-known is the secret dinosaur game, but there are other cool tricks you might not know about. Let's dive into some of the best iPhone message tricks, focusing on the popular dinosaur game and other hidden gems.
How Do I Get the Dinosaur Game on My iPhone Messages?
This classic game is a simple, yet addictive, endless runner. To access it, follow these steps:
- Turn on Airplane Mode: This disconnects your iPhone from the internet, ensuring the game loads.
- Open the Messages App: Launch the Messages app as you normally would.
- Go Offline: Ensure you are truly offline. If you're connected to Wi-Fi, turn that off as well.
- Open a New Message Thread: Start a new message or open an existing one that's devoid of internet connection (i.e., where you can't send a text because you are offline).
- Tap the Message Field: This will show the keyboard. If you don't see the keyboard due to a previous message, try tapping a blank area of the screen.
- Trigger the Game: Try refreshing the Messages page several times or just wait. You might need to be completely offline and without cellular service to trigger it. The game appears only in certain conditions. If it doesn't appear, try completely closing the app and repeating the process.
- Play the Game: The pixelated dinosaur will appear; simply tap the screen to make it jump over obstacles.
Pro Tip: While the game is primarily designed to appear when offline, some users report success even without explicitly turning on Airplane mode. Experiment to see what works best on your device.
What Are Other Cool iPhone Message Tricks?
Beyond the dinosaur game, there are a number of other hidden features within the Messages app you can explore:
How Do I Send a Hidden Message in iMessage?
While not exactly "hidden," you can use subtle formatting to create a more visually appealing message:
- Bold: Use asterisks (*) before and after the text (e.g., this is bold text).
- Italics: Use underscores (_) before and after the text (e.g., this is italicized text).
- Strikethrough: Use tildes (~) before and after the text (e.g., ~this is strikethrough text~).
These simple tricks can add emphasis or a playful tone to your messages.
Can I Use Different Fonts in iMessages?
Unfortunately, there is no built-in option to use different fonts in standard iMessages. However, you can achieve varied text effects with the formatting mentioned above.
Are there any secret codes or shortcuts in iPhone Messages?
There are no secret codes directly within the Messages app itself that unlock hidden features. However, using standard iOS shortcuts (like selecting text to copy/paste) certainly speed up your texting workflow.
Conclusion: Unlocking the Fun in iPhone Messages
The iPhone Messages app is more than just a communication tool; it's a portal to a bit of fun and a surprising amount of hidden functionality. Mastering these tricks adds a unique touch to your messaging experience. So, go ahead and explore—you might just discover more hidden gems within this everyday app!
