Does turning off cellular data stop iMessage? Explained

When it comes to sending messages, videos, pictures, documents, etc on iphone, imessage is the number one option to use before looking at whatsapp and other instant messaging apps or maybe sms text message.

With imessage you can seamlessly send messages from one iPhone to another no matter where you find yourself.

However, there are some people that don’t fancy using mobile data or cellular data for their imessage or internet activity on their iPhone, and this brings about the question being asked about the imessage.

Does turning off cellular data stop iMessage?

Turning off cellular data doesn’t necessarily stop iMessage if there’s an active Wi-Fi on the cell phone. However, if there’s no active Wi-Fi on the iPhone then turning off cellular data will definitely stop iMessage because it requires internet connection.

If the only option you have for internet connection on your iPhone is cellular data, then why asking does turning off cellular data stop iMessage cause basically once you turn off cellular data or mobile data on your iPhone, you have practically restricted imessage on your iPhone.

Imessage Quick Overview

Imessage which is an instant messaging service by Apple was introduced in 2011 for the purpose of sending messages, pictures, videos, downloads, gifs, etc through the internet. So far the imessage is only available for ios users though android now have their and which is rcs chat feature message.

Being an instant messaging service, imessage doesn’t require the cellular network service like the sms text message, and you can use or not use a sim card while sending iMessages on your iPhone.

If you don’t fancy going old fashioned way by sending mms messaging on your iPhone, you have the imessage at your disposal or maybe use other instant messaging apps like whatsapp, Skype, Facebook messenger, telegram, etc if you are sending messages, pictures, videos, documents, files to an android phone user.

One major disadvantage of the imessage is that it doesn’t work for android users. So if you have an android user that you would want to have a chat with, you will have to use other means and I recommend whatsapp messenger.

Does turning off cellular data stop iMessage

Does turning off cellular data stop iMessage?

Turning off cellular data will stop iMessage if there’s no active Wi-Fi on the cell phone. Once there’s no internet connection on the phone, imessage will not work until there’s internet on the phone.

You shouldn’t think of turning off turning off cellular data on your iPhone if you don’t have an active Wi-Fi because all imessages, whatsapp messages, and all internet apps will stop working on your cell phone.

Imessage vs sms text message

On iphone, imessage and sms text message are quite different in the sense that imessage requires internet like Wi-Fi or cellular data in sending messages, while sms requires a working sim card, cellular network service and a texting plan or airtime.

You can send imessage without paying for phone bill as long as you are using a nearby Wi-Fi, but for sms text message, you must pay for a phone bill, subscribe for a texting plan or buy an airtime.

If you turn off cellular data on your cell phone it won’t stop sms text message simply because it doesn’t require internet connection in sending text messages. So you can turn off cellular data or turn it on when sending sms text messages but remember that you must have a working sim card, cellular network service and texting plan or airtime.

For imessage, you don’t need to turn off cellular data if you don’t have a Wi-Fi because doing so will stop iMessage on your iPhone. So this gives you the answer to the question of does turning off cellular data stop iMessage.

Does iMessage work with cellular data turned off?

Imessage do work with cellular data turned off but the phone must have an active Wi-Fi else it won’t work. It is not a must to use iMessage with a cellular data and with a Wi-Fi you can permanently turn off cellular data on your cell phone.

In order to get the best out of imessage, I recommend using WiFi but only if you any available especially when it comes to sending large files.

So there’s nothing to worry about turning off your cellular data when you have an active Wi-Fi available or on your cell phone.

What happens if I turn off cellular data on my iPhone?

Once you turn off cellular data on your iPhone, internet connectivity will no longer be available if you don’t have an active Wi-Fi and all internet apps and features will stop working on your iPhone.

However, you can turn off cellular data on iphone once you have an active Wi-Fi available on your phone.

When there’s no Wi-Fi and you happen to turn off cellular data on your iPhone, bear in mind that you won’t be able to browse the net, use imessage, whatsapp or any other instant messaging apps, stream online, play online games, download and upload files, etc.

But the truth is all these I mentioned are very good and enjoyable when you have a Wi-Fi or an unlimited data plan on your cell phone.

What you must know

For the fact that I said you must have a Wi-Fi or cellular data in order to use iMessage doesn’t mean imessage merely work when cellular data is turned on, but rather yoi must have an active cellular data.

When there’s no Wi-Fi or active cellular data on the iPhone the imessage will never work.

Whaf I’m trying to say here is that you just don’t need to turn on mobile data or cellular data on your iPhone and expect imessage or any other internet apps and features to work on your iPhone, please that isn’t the case.

You must have an active data plan to use cellular data on your iPhone. This requires you to purchase a data plan from your network service provider and use it for your phone internet connectivity.

How to use imessage on cellular data

To use imessage on cellular data, all you have to do is to subscribe to your preferred data plan and be it limited or unlimited data plan, afterwards you have to turn on cellular data on your iPhone and then start using imessage on your phone.

Without an active data plan on your cell phone you can’t use imessage or any internet apps and phone features except if you are using a Wi-Fi.

Kindly open your message app and start sending iMessages to all your friends, family and colleagues.

REMEMBER

  1. iMessage don’t work for android users as the message will be sent as sms text message which is green in color.
  2. You must enable imessage on your iPhone or iPad.

Once there’s a an active data plan and good network coverage then there’s nothing to worry about. But for me I will always prefer using Wi-Fi than using a cellular data on my cellphone.

Related Questions

Does imessage use data when on Wi-Fi?

When on Wi-Fi imessage doesn’t use cellular data but rather uses the Wi-Fi network and whereas there’s no need to turn on cellular data when on Wi-Fi.

You can’t just be using Wi-Fi and cellular data at same time and that isn’t possible at all, so when you have an active Wi-Fi connection on your cell phone kindly turn off cellular data.

Does imessage use data or Wi-Fi?

Imessage use both Wi-Fi and data in sending instant messages, you can use either Wi-Fi or cellular data for your iMessage or internet activity on your cell phone.

Can you use imessage without cellular data?

You can use imessage without cellular data but you must have an active Wi-Fi connection as imessage requires internet connection in order to work.

Can my parents see my iMessages T Mobile?

No, your parents can’t see your iMessages on T-Mobile because imessages don’t appear on phone bill just like sms text messages. You can only see the accumulated data along with others on your Phone bill.

Please note that what appears on phone bill are sms text messages and phone calls.

Before I wrap it up, does turning off cellular data stop iMessage? Turning off cellular data will stop iMessage if you don’t have an active Wi-Fi on your iPhone.

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

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