How to Install iMessage Apps on iPhone

Learn how to install and use iMessage apps in iOS 10 and in iOS 11. The free update adds support for iMessage apps that range from stickers and shareable photos or videos to games you can play right inside the Message app for the iPhone.

Apple offers an iMessage app App Store that allows you to search for iMessage apps on iOS 10, but it’s not in the main App Store that you are used to. To further complicate things, the iMessage apps don’t automatically install when you install the main app on your iPhone.

You need iOS 10 installed on your iPhone to use iMessage apps, but you can send the stickers and some of the other apps to people who are on iOS 9 or older.

How to Install iMessage Apps

This is how to install iMessage Apps on your iPhone to start sending stickers, playing iMessage games and super-charging your messages.

How to Install iMessage apps on iOS 10.

With iOS 10 installed you need to open up the Messages app and open a message. It can be a new message or an existing one, it doesn’t matter.

In that message, tap on the small arrow on the left side of the screen and then on the App Store logo. Tap on the four squares in the bottom left corner.

Now Tap on the + icon with Store below it to enter the iMessage App Store.

Install iMessage apps from inside Messages in iOS 10.

From here you can search the iMessage App Store or you can tap on the featured apps. To get started try searching for Truth Truth Lie or Mario Run.

Once you find the iMessage app you want, tap to install it and enter a password or use Touch ID to install the app.

How to Use iMessage Apps

Once you have the iMessage apps installed, you can start using them to send stickers and play games. You may need to allow access to your camera and microphone for some of these apps to work.

How to use iMessage apps in iOS 10.

Open a message and then tap on the arrow and on the App Store icon. Now swipe left to see the recently used stickers or swipe right to swipe through your iMessage apps.

On some of these apps you can tap the up arrow in the bottom right to show the app full screen. You can tap to play a game or tap in a search box to search for the photo or video you want to send.

What's New in iOS 11.4.1

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The iOS 11.4 update added Messages in iCloud and AirPlay 2, but it also brought issues along with it. The iOS 11.4.1 update keeps these long anticipated features and includes fixes for some iOS 11.4 problems.  Specifically the iOS 11.4.1 update; Fixes an issue that prevented some users from viewing the last known location of their AirPods in Find My iPhone.  Improves reliability of syncing mail, contacts and notes with Exchange accounts.   This update also includes other bug fixes and security upgrades. It's possible that this update includes a fix for bad iOS 11.4 battery life.  Messages in the Cloud allows you to backup your iMessage conversations to the cloud just like you back up your notes, contacts and photos. This means they are backed up in case something happens to your phone, but that's not all.  Messages in the Cloud syncs deleted messages and threads across your iCloud devices. This means everything will show up the same across your Apple devices. With this in place you should see the same conversations everywhere, all of the time.  This also backs up the photos and attachments in the cloud so you have more room on your iPhone or iPad. When you get a new device all of the messages sync to that device so you don't lose anything.

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