You've seen them before. Someone sends you a "Happy Birthday" text and suddenly, your entire screen explodes with colorful balloons floating from the bottom to the top. It feels festive. It feels intentional. Then you try to do it back and… nothing. Just a plain grey or blue bubble sitting there looking sad.
Honestly, it's frustrating when you can't figure out the "secret handshake" of your own phone. You aren't alone, though. Most people think these effects are automatic or triggered only by specific words. While that's partially true, there is a manual way to trigger them whenever you want, regardless of what you're actually typing.
If you're wondering how do i send text with balloons, you’re basically looking for the "Screen Effects" feature tucked away in Apple’s iMessage ecosystem. It’s been around since iOS 10, yet it remains one of those features that people discover by accident and then immediately forget how to replicate.
The Long-Press Secret to iMessage Effects
The biggest hurdle is the "Send" button. You know the one—the little blue arrow that points up. Most of us just tap it and move on with our lives. But that arrow is actually a gateway.
To get those balloons moving, you have to type your message first. Don't hit send yet. Instead, press and hold that blue send arrow. If you have an older iPhone with 3D Touch, you might need to press a bit harder; on newer models, it’s just a long haptic press.
Once you do that, the screen changes entirely. You'll see two tabs at the top: "Bubble" and "Screen."
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Tapping "Screen" is where the magic happens. The first effect usually isn't the balloons; it’s often "Echo" or "Spotlight." You have to swipe from right to left across the screen to cycle through the options. Keep swiping until you see the balloons. They’re usually the third or fourth option in the deck. When you’re on the balloon screen, just tap the blue arrow again. Boom. Your recipient gets a face full of latex and air—virtually speaking.
Why Do They Sometimes Appear Automatically?
Apple built in "keyword triggers" for those who don't want to fiddle with menus. It's a bit like an Easter egg. If you type "Happy Birthday," the balloons should trigger by themselves.
But it’s finicky.
Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the language settings of the phone and whether or not you've added any emojis that might confuse the algorithm. If you want to be 100% sure the balloons show up, the manual method I mentioned above is the only way to guarantee it.
There are other triggers too. "Congratulations" often sets off confetti. "Happy New Year" usually triggers fireworks. "Happy Chinese New Year" even turns the background red with gold sparkles. It’s a clever bit of coding that makes a digital interaction feel slightly more tactile and human.
The Limitations You Need to Know
Here is the "catch" that nobody mentions in the promotional videos: this only works for iMessage.
If you are texting your friend with an Android phone (the dreaded green bubbles), those balloons aren't going anywhere. You can long-press that send button until your thumb falls off, but the menu won't appear. On the recipient's end, if they have an Android, they might just get a text that says "(sent with Balloons)," which is, frankly, pretty lame. It lacks the punch.
Also, if the person you're texting has "Reduce Motion" turned on in their Accessibility settings, they might not see the animation. People with motion sensitivity often disable these features to prevent headaches or dizziness. In that case, the balloons stay grounded.
Getting Creative with Other Screen Effects
Don't just stop at balloons. Since you're already in that secret menu, you should look at the other options. They all serve a different vibe.
- Confetti: Best for promotions, graduations, or just "I finally finished the laundry."
- Lasers: Perfect for a "let's go out tonight" vibe or something high-energy.
- Fireworks: Usually reserved for big celebrations or, occasionally, a really intense argument (though I wouldn't recommend it).
- Celebration: This one looks like gold sparks. It's sophisticated.
The "Bubble" tab—the one next to "Screen"—is also worth a look. It changes how the individual text bubble behaves. "Slam" makes the bubble hit the screen so hard it kicks up dust. "Loud" makes the bubble shake and grow huge before shrinking back down. "Gentle" makes it tiny and slow.
It adds a layer of "tone of voice" to a medium that is notoriously bad at conveying emotion.
Troubleshooting: When the Balloons Won't Fly
If you're following these steps and nothing is happening, check your settings. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Motion. Ensure that "Auto-Play Message Effects" is toggled to ON. If this is off, you won't see the preview of the effect when you’re trying to send it, and you won't see them when they’re sent to you.
Another common issue is iMessage being disabled. If your text bubbles are green, go to Settings > Messages and make sure "iMessage" is toggled on. If you're in an area with bad data or no Wi-Fi, your phone might default to SMS (green), which kills the balloon dream instantly.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Text
Stop sending "Happy Birthday" as a boring, flat sentence. It’s time to actually use the hardware you paid a thousand dollars for.
- Open a conversation with another iPhone user.
- Type a message that deserves a celebration.
- Hard-press or long-press the blue up-arrow.
- Select the Screen tab at the top.
- Swipe until you see the balloons.
- Hit send and wait for the "How did you do that?" text to come back.
Using these effects sparingly makes them more impactful. If you send balloons with every "Hello," the novelty wears off fast. Save them for the wins, the milestones, and the genuine surprises. It's a small way to make the digital world feel a little less cold.
Check your "Reduce Motion" settings first if things aren't working, then go wild. Your messages are about to get a lot louder.