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How do I use text messages on my device?

Find out how to send, delete or forward a text message and how to block spam or change your text alert tone. The icons and screen may differ slightly from the illustrations below depending on your device, operating system and theme.

 

You are not able to choose between SMS or MMS. Your messaging service will automatically switch to MMS if you are sending a picture message, or if your text message goes over the character limit, normal SMS length is 160 characters.

Please note: Not all the options below will be available on older devices. The icons and screen may differ slightly from the illustrations below depending on your device, operating system and theme.

Sending a messageClick to Expand

To create and send a text message, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Tap the compose icon
Tap compose
4 Tap the contact(s) you'd like to message, depending on your operating system you may need to tap Done to confirm your selection
Tap the contact(s) you'd like to message
5 Tap Compose. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 6.
Tap compose
6 Tap your message, then tap the Send
Tap send

Please note: If you exit a message before you send it, the message will be automatically saved as a draft.

Sending an MMSClick to Expand

PLEASE NOTE: MMS or Multimedia Messages may incur a charge from your network provider, or may not be allowed by your network provider depending on your contract. If you are having difficulty sending or receiving MMSs, you should check with your network as to whether they are included in your contract.

An MMS, or Multimedia Message is a type of message sent when attaching media to a text message. To send an MMS, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Tap the compose icon
Tap compose
4 Tap the contact(s) you'd like to message
Tap the contact(s) you'd like to message
5 Tap the attach icon (this may show as a paperclip) or the plus (+) icon
Tap attach
6 Tap Image. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 7.
Tap Image
7 Tap Gallery, Images, Camera, take picture or Other
Tap Gallery, images, camera or take picture
8 Tap your chosen image

To take a picture, press the capture button. 

If you have selected Other, you will need to tap images or Gallery before selecting your image.

Tap on the image you would like to send
9 Tap Send. Depending on your device, you may need to tap Done before proceeding.
Tap Send

If you are experiencing problems sending an MMS, please contact your network provider.

Deleting a messageClick to Expand

To delete a text message, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Press and hold the message(s) you would like to delete or tap All
Press and hold the message(s) you would like to delete
4 Tap Delete
Tap delete
5 Tap Delete again
Tap delete again
6 Your message(s) have now been deleted
Forwarding a messageClick to Expand

The below steps will show you how to use the inbuilt forwarding option on your device.

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to forward
Open the message you wish to forward
4 Press and hold down on the message text until you get a pop up menu
Press and hold down the message text until you get a pop up menu
5 Tap Forward
Tap forward
6 Tap the contact icon. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 7
Tap the contact icon
7 Select your contact(s), then tap Compose or Done. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 8.
Select your contact(s), then tap compose
8 Tap Send
Tap send
Blocking ordinary messagesClick to Expand

To block text messages, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to block
Open the message you wish to forward
4 Tap menu (this may show as three dots or lines)
Tap menu
5 Tap Block number or Block contact

If you want to remove the number from your blocked list, tap Unblock number or Unblock contact

Tap block or unblock messages
6 Tap OK
Tap OK
Blocking SPAM messagesClick to Expand

To block spam text message, you will need to: 

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to block
Open the message you wish to forward
4 Tap Block number. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 6.
Tap Block number
5 Tap OK
Tap ok
6 Make a note of the keywords or phrases that are used in every message

For this example we will be using HMRCUK as a keyword

Make a note of the keywords or phrases
7 Press the back arrow icon
Tap the back arrow
8 Tap menu (this may show as three dots)
Tap menu
9 Tap Settings
Tap Settings
10 Tap Block messages
Tap Block messages
11 Tap Block phrases
Tap Block phrases
12 Enter the keywords or phrases, then tap the plus icon

To remove a keyword or phrase, tap the minus icon

Enter the keywords or phrases, then tap the plus icon

To check your text message spam folder, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Tap menu (this may show as three dots or lines)
Tap menu
4 Tap Settings
Tap Settings
5 Tap Block messages or Blocked numbers and messages
Tap Block messages
6 Tap Blocked messages
Tap Blocked messages
7 Any messages that have been blocked will now show
Blocking MMSsClick to Expand

MMS messaging is provided by your network, and MMS messaging and charges differs by provider.

 

You can block MMS messages on your mobile phone by requesting that your network provider discontinue the service for you.

Delay sending a text messageClick to Expand

To delay sending a text message, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to send a delayed message to
Open the message you wish to forward
4 Type your text message
Type your text message
5 Tap menu, (this may be displayed as three dots) or the cross (x) icon
Tap menu or more
6 Tap Schedule message or Delay message sending. Some devices may need to choose Settings before choosing Schedule message or Delay message sending.
Tap schedule message or delay message sending
7 Choose the date and time, then tap Done
Choose the date and time, then tap done
8 Tap Send
Tap Send
9 An image will appear next to the scheduled message
An image will appear next to your scheduled message
Change the alert toneClick to Expand

Your message notifications will be set to default. To change your default message tone, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Settings
Tap messages
3 Tap Notifications
Tap Notifications
4 Scroll to Messages, then use the toggle to enable or disable your notifications

If you can't see messages, make sure All has been selected. 

Use the toggle to enable or disable your notifications
5 Tapping messages will allow you to customise your notifications
Tap messages to customise your notifications
Set up repeat notifications for a messageClick to Expand

You can set your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to send repeat notifications until you read your text or message. On later models, you can also set which apps and messages to set on repeat.

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Settings
Tap messages
3 Tap Accessibility
Tap Accessibility
4 Tap Advanced settings. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 5.
Tap Advanced settings
5 Tap Notification reminder. Some devices may need to tap Vision before choosing Notification reminder
Tap Notification reminder
6 Use the toggle to enable or disable Notification reminders
Use the toggle to enable or disable notification reminders
7 To change the interval at which you wish to be reminded, choose Reminder interval or Remind every, then select your preferred interval time
Tap Reminder interval
8 To choose which types of notifications are repeated, tap the toggle next to the applicable app
Tap all apps or choose which types of notifications are repeated
Using My Emoji in a messageClick to Expand

PLEASE NOTE: that using the inbuilt emoticons/smilies should not be chargeable when used in a normal length SMS (160 characters). If emojis from a third party keyboard are used these could turn your SMS into MMS which may be chargeable depending on network.

You can express yourself in fun and creative ways with My Emoji. Create an emoji that looks just like you! 

You can capture photos and videos with My Emoji or share stickers of My Emoji with others.

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to send an emoji to
Open the message you wish to forward
4 On the Samsung keyboard tap the Emoji icon. If you can't see this option, choose the smiley face to change your keyboard options.
Tap the Emoji icon
5 Choose your AR Emoji
Choose your AR Emoji
6 Choose the AR Emoji you'd like to use
Choose the AR Emoji you'd like to use
7 Tap Send
Tap send
Using LiveMessageClick to Expand

The Live Message feature allows you to use the S Pen to create a short animated message. The feature is supported by most major instant messaging apps including Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Line and more.

1 Open Air Command by tapping the S Pen button twice
2 Choose Live message. (You can also select it by tapping the Live Message icon on the Samsung keyboard)
3 Choose Pen effects to change the effects you might wish to change. e.g. colour or effects such as Sparkle, and adjust the thickness by swiping the slider
4 Write your message using the S Pen
5 Choose Done once finished
6 Choose Share when you're ready to share your message
7 Choose how you want to share it (e.g. via Messages or email etc), select your recipient and send

Click here to view the Samsung Smart Simulator: an interactive guide for everything from inserting your SIM card, to maximising battery life to using the S Pen.

Send a text by voiceClick to Expand

To send a text message by voice, you will need to:

1 From the home screen, choose Apps or swipe up to access your apps
From the home screen, choose <strong>Apps</strong> or swipe up to access your apps.
2 Tap Messages
Tap messages
3 Open the message you wish to send a message to
Open the message you wish to forward
4 Tap Enter message

On some operating systems, a radio wave icon will be displayed. This will allow you record a voice message but it will be sent as an MMS, which may incur a charge from your network provider.

Tap enter message
5 On the Samsung keyboard tap the smiley face icon. If you can't see this option, press and hold the emoji icon.
Tap the Emoji icon
6 Tap the microphone icon
Tap the microphone icon
7 Start speaking, your device should now type what you say
Start speaking, your device should now type what you say
8 Tap Send
Tap send
Send a text message using BixbyClick to Expand

Please note: Available Bixby functions and features can differ by region and by device.

Before you can send a message using Bixby you will need to make sure that the Bixby Key and Bixby Voice has been enabled. More information on how to set up Bixby services, can be found here.

1 Press and hold the Bixby Key
Bixby button
2 Once Bixby is listening, you will need to tell it who you would like to send the message to and the message you would like to send.
Bixby voice
3 Tap Send or say Yes to send your message
Tap Send or say yes
4 Bixby will confirm once it has sent your message
Message sent

If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.

 

This allows us to a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.

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