Your iPhone’s Messages app enables you to send standard text messages through your mobile carrier, as well as use the iMessage service to communicate with other Apple device users. Although iMessage doesn’t set a character limit for each message, regular text messaging typically has a max of 160 characters per message. This limitation has been enforced by virtually all carriers globally, allowing only 160 characters in a single text message.
If youโve used the messaging service on your iPhone, you wouldโve noticed that it doesnโt show you the character counter by default. Since it doesnโt show the counter, you have no idea how many characters youโve typed in a message. And manually counting the number of characters in a message is a foolish task.
To help you resolve it, iOS does have the option to let you see the character count in the messages app on your devices. With the option enabled on your iPhone, you should be able to see a counter next to where youโre typing a message and that way youโll know if youโve exceeded the regular message character limit. Hereโs how to enable the feature.
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Enabling the Character Counter in the Messages App on Your iPhone
1. Tap on Settings on the Springboard of your iPhone to launch the settings panel. The messagesโ app settings are located in this Settings panel.
2. When the Settings Panel opens, tap on the option that says Messages. Itโs for accessing the Messages app settings on your iPhone.
3. When the Messages settings panel launches, scroll a bit down and youโll see an option saying Character Count. Thatโs the option weโve been looking for.
Turn the toggle to the ON position for Character Count and the feature should be enabled on your iPhone.
4. Press the Home button on your iPhone to get to the home screen. From there, tap on the Messages icon to launch the messages app.
5. When the app launches, tap on the New Message icon on the top to compose a new message using the messages app.
6. Write down your message and when you reach two lines of your message, the counter should appear just above the Send button. Itโll show you how many characters youโve typed so far and also the 160 characters limit.
So, thatโs how you can have your iPhone to show you the character counter when youโre sending a new text message using the Messages app.
If youโve just started to type your message, you wonโt see the counter as I said above. Itโll only appear when youโve typed two or more lines as thatโs when your iPhone thinks youโll need to take a look at the character counter; otherwise, itโs just fine without the counter.
Not only does the counter help you to stay in your carrierโs message limits, but it also lets you know when youโre talking too much. The counter should help you compose small but really meaningful text messages on your iPhone. If this helped you in any way, please let us know in the comments below!