Why are text messages being displayed in green text bubbles?

Friend of mine got a iPhone 6s plus 128GB at the Verizon Corporate store just over 2 weeks ago. iPhone works great.

When texting messaging the 1st week from iPhone to iPhone both being iPhone 6s plus phones, the message bubbles were blue, as should be.

The second week the bubbles started showing up at times green. Now they are always green. I've reset network connection, made sure iMessages is turned on, and looked around online to see if we can get these messages to show up as blue. Any help or ideas? Thanks

Accepted answers

Salisbury

Well it turns out stupid on my end! When at home I tend to go into Wi-Fi from Xfinity then forget to turn on Verizon cellular data back on again. So where iMessages requires Verizon cellular data for Apple server I'll get green bubbles because Verizon will then take over texting so it still gets thru, duh, lol. So I finally figured it out and all is well.

All comments

Elements

Is this issue with a specific message thread, or all iPhone-to-iPhone communications? If it's only to one device, both parties may want to try deleting their message threads and starting a new conversation in case anything in the message history is causing problems. Also make sure mobile data is enabled for both devices, as a data connection is required to send a text as an iMessage.

Salisbury

Elements, thanks for the response but all you mentioned was previously done. Yesterday in texting the message bubbles were alternating from blue to green. This is only happening when texting to this friends iPhone. The text messages are coming through fine, just odd that they are alternating between blue and green. It's not the mobile data internet connection. Haven't come up with anything yet to resolve it.

vzw_customer_support

We want to be sure we determine why the messages are alternating from green to blue, Salisbury and I’m happy to continue helping.

Can you please clarify if both devices have the newest software update? A secure data connection is required for iMessages. Do either of the phones have any trouble accessing data or apps? Does this issue occur indoors, outdoors or both?

Verizon_Customer_Support

If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

Salisbury

Hi, yes the iPhones have the latest software iOS 10.3.1 and Carrier 28.4

The other day the iMessages stayed at Blue all day then the next day alternated between Blue & Green. And it doesn't matter what the location the phones are in. The messaging is coming through fine, but thought it odd that between iPhones it's not staying Blue.

vzw_customer_support

Messaging is how I communicate so I understand how important it is to know everything is working as it should. Just to be clear, a blue background means that the message exchange is happening via iMessage with another iOS device. A green background means that the message is being exchanged with a non-iOS device and was delivered via SMS through your mobile provider. Let us know if this helps and if you have any other questions.

RosanneM_VZW

If my response answered your question please click the ?Correct Answer? button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

Salisbury

Hi RosanneM_VZW, thanks for your response. In my first post I indicated it was between iPhones. I realize a green text bubble indicates an android and iMessages uses blue between iPhones.

The user previously had a cheap android pay as you go thru Verizon. I purchased the iPhone 6s plus for her and added it to my account at a Verizon corporate store, and transferred and kept her same number. Could that perhaps be causing the alternating green and blue bubbles when texting her? Possibly the android wasn't fully deactivated? Just a guess on my part. Other iPhones are coming in Blue when I text with them.

Salisbury