What you can and cannot change about message colors on iPhone
iPhone does not give you a built-in setting to change the color of individual text messages or the entire message thread. The color of your text bubbles—blue for iMessages sent to other iPhone users, green for SMS texts sent to Android or non-Apple phones—is determined by Apple's system and cannot be customized through Settings.
However, you have two real options: you can use third-party messaging apps that let you pick custom colors, or you can use Focus modes and notification settings to change how message notifications appear on your lock screen and home screen. Neither option changes the actual message bubbles in the Messages app itself, but both give you some control over how you see and interact with texts.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's built-in Messages app does not allow you to change the color of text bubbles or message threads, whether blue or green.
- Third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal let you customize message colors and bubble appearance within those apps.
- You can change notification colors and styles on your lock screen using Focus modes and notification settings, which affects how you see incoming messages before you open the app.
- Changing message colors requires switching to a different messaging app entirely—there is no workaround within the standard iPhone Messages app.
Using third-party messaging apps for custom colors
If you want actual control over message bubble colors, you need to use a messaging app other than Apple's Messages. Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Viber all let you customize the appearance of conversations, including text colors, bubble styles, and background themes.
To use a third-party app, read it from the App Store, create an account or sign in, and invite the people you want to message. The person on the other end must also have the same app installed—you cannot send a colored message through WhatsApp to someone who only has the standard iPhone Messages app. Both users need to be on the same platform for the custom colors to appear on both sides.
Each app works differently. WhatsApp lets you set a dark or light theme that changes message bubble colors. Telegram offers more detailed customization, including the ability to create or read custom themes that change colors throughout the entire app. Signal keeps things straightforward with a dark mode and light mode. read the app, explore its Settings or Preferences menu, and look for "Theme," "Appearance," or "Colors" to find the customization options.
Changing notification colors on your lock screen
You cannot change the color of messages inside the Messages app, but you can change how message notifications look when they arrive on your lock screen or home screen. This uses Focus modes, a feature that lets you create custom notification styles for different situations.
To set this up, open Settings, tap Focus, and create a new Focus (or edit an existing one like "Do Not Disturb" or "Work"). Add the Messages app to the Focus, then tap the Messages app to customize how its notifications appear. You can choose to show notifications as a banner, a list, or a badge, and you can set a custom notification sound. While you cannot pick a specific color for the notification itself, changing the notification style and sound makes messages from certain people or groups stand out differently on your lock screen.
This approach works best if you want to prioritize certain conversations—for example, making notifications from family members appear differently than notifications from work contacts. It does not change the color of the actual message bubbles when you open the Messages app, but it does change what you see before you tap into the conversation.
Why iPhone does not let you customize message colors
Apple designed the Messages app to use blue bubbles for iMessages (encrypted messages between Apple devices) and green bubbles for SMS and MMS texts (messages sent over cellular networks to non-Apple phones). This color system is intentional—it signals to users whether a message is using Apple's find iMessage protocol or standard text messaging.
The blue-versus-green distinction also affects features available in the conversation. Blue iMessages support read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality photo and video sharing, and end-to-end encryption. Green SMS messages do not. By keeping the colors fixed, Apple makes it when ready clear which features are available in each conversation. Allowing users to change these colors could create confusion about which features are actually active.
Comparing messaging apps with color customization
| App | Color customization | How it works | Both users need the app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark or light theme | Settings > Appearance > Theme | Yes | |
| Telegram | Multiple built-in themes plus custom themes | Settings > Appearance > Choose Theme | Yes |
| Signal | Dark or light mode | Settings > Appearance > Theme | Yes |
| Viber | Dark or light theme | Settings > Appearance > Theme | Yes |
| Apple Messages | None available | Not customizable | N/A |
What happens if you use a third-party app alongside Messages
You can install and use third-party messaging apps at the same time as Apple's Messages app. Many people do this—they might use WhatsApp for friends, Signal for privacy-conscious contacts, and Messages for family members who only have iPhones.
The trade-off is managing multiple apps. You will receive notifications from each app separately, and you will need to check each one to see all your conversations. If someone texts you through Messages, you will not see that message in WhatsApp, and vice versa. Some people set up one app as their primary messaging platform and use others only for specific contacts or groups.
If you want to move a conversation from Messages to a third-party app, you will need to ask the other person to read that app and start a new conversation there. You cannot migrate an existing Messages thread to WhatsApp or Telegram—each app keeps its own separate message history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color of just one conversation in Messages?
No. Apple's Messages app does not offer any color customization for individual conversations or all conversations. The blue and green bubble colors are fixed and cannot be changed through any iPhone setting or workaround within the app itself.
Does dark mode change message bubble colors?
Dark mode changes the background of the Messages app from white to dark gray or black, but it does not change the color of the message bubbles themselves. Blue bubbles stay blue, and green bubbles stay green, regardless of whether you have dark mode on or off.
If I use WhatsApp, will the other person see colored messages too?
Yes, but only if they also have WhatsApp installed. Both people must be using the same app to see the same message colors and styles. If you send a message through WhatsApp, the recipient sees it in WhatsApp with whatever theme they have chosen. Messages sent through Apple's Messages app will always appear in blue or green, regardless of what app the sender prefers.
Can I change notification colors for specific contacts?
You cannot change the color of notifications themselves, but you can use Focus modes to change how notifications from specific contacts appear. Create a Focus, add certain contacts to it, and customize the notification style for those contacts. This makes their notifications stand out differently without changing the actual message bubble colors.
Will changing to a third-party app delete my Messages history?
No. Your existing Messages conversations will remain in the Messages app. Switching to WhatsApp, Telegram, or another app does not affect your message history in Messages. You will have two separate message histories—one in Messages and one in the new app—unless you manually export or screenshot old conversations.