How to Message On an Android Phone or Tablet

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Your Android device can send and receive text messages just like any other mobile device. As long as you have the mobile phone number or a contact for someone you would like to send a message to, you can send a text message to that person.

Text messages (sometimes referred to by its technical name of SMS or Short Message Service) typically contains only the text you type into them. Additionally, you can also send photos and videos while sending text messages (this can sometimes be called MMS or Multimedia Message Service).

This guide will assist in making sense of how to send text messages on your Android device.

Android smartphones.

2. Compose a Text Message

  1. On your home screen, locate and tap the Messages icon.
Android home screen with Messages selected. Screenshot.
  1. Tap the New Message icon in the corner of the screen.
Messages screen with New Message button selected. Screenshot.
  1. Type in the telephone number of the person you would like to text, or begin typing their name. If you have that person saved as a contact, their name will appear below as a "matching contact." Tap their name to choose them as the recipient of your text.
Filling in the contact in a new message. Screenshot.
  1. Tap the Enter Message box, and use the on-screen keyboard to type your message to the recipient.
Composing a new message. Screenshot.

3. Add Photo or Video to a Text Message

  1. While composing your text message, tap the Paperclip icon to the left of the message field.
New message being composed with attachment icon selected. Screenshot.
  1. Tap on the desired media or type of media you would like to insert. Recently added photos and videos will be above, while categories to see all items of a certain type will be below.
Attachment selection screen with the most recent photos will be shown first. Screenshot.
  1. Tap on the photo or video you would like to add to your message, and then tap DONE.
A photo selected on the media selection screen with Done button selected. Screenshot.
  1. Your media will now appear in the composed text message.
New message with newly attached image. Screenshot.

4. Send Text Message

Once you have composed your text message, we can now send it onto its intended recipient.

  1. Tap the Send button on the right side of the message box.
New message with Send button selected. Screenshot.
  1. Your message has now been sent!