7 Best iMessage Tricks Like Pew Pew For Adding Special Effects

I accidentally discovered that sending Congratulations in iMessage triggers an animated effect. I know I’m late to the party, but it’s better late than never. If you’ve just bought a new iPhone and received an animated message like Pew Pew or discovered it recently and are now wondering what other special effects tricks of iMessage can do, then let’s set sail together.

If you’ve used Facebook Messenger, similar special effects work on that too. Such special effects add a different and creative touch to your messages. Special effects like Pew Pew in iMessage work on both iPhone and iPad.

Let’s learn other iMessage special effects tricks like Pew Pew and get started.

Note: The special effects mentioned below only work for iMessages between Apple devices, not regular SMS messages. Also, the special effects work on devices running iOS 10 and above.

1. Add Special Effects Using Keyword

Like Pew Pew, you can use other keywords to trigger more animations that fill the entire screen. Special effects work for the following keywords:

• Happy Birthday – Triggers animated balloons
• Congratulations – Shows confetti from the top of the screen
• Happy New Year – Triggers fireworks
• Happy Chinese New Year – Red explosion or celebration effect

Here is a GIF showing the animation in effect.

To use them, simply send any of the above texts to your message and boom! Your entire screen will be filled with animation.

Note: Submit the above keywords alone. So, don’t add more text with keywords, otherwise; special effects will not work.

Interestingly, keywords are not limited to those mentioned above. Words with similar meanings in English or another language will also trigger animations. For example, sending Best wishes text will show animated confetti. You can check the compiled list of words that create special effects.

Pro Tip: See how to use iMessage when the Signed out error is displayed.

2. Manually Add Special Effects

In the above method, you need to submit certain keywords to create an animated effect. What if you want to trigger the special effect for another text? Fortunately, this is also possible in iMessage.

To do this, type your message in iMessage’s write box. A blue submit button will appear on the right side of the write box. Press and hold the blue button and a new screen will appear. Tap the Display tab at the top.

A preview of the first effect will be shown. Swipe left to preview other special effects like spotlight, balloons, confetti, hearts, laser, fireworks, shooting star and celebration. Tap the blue send button to send your message with the selected animation. If you don’t want to add a special effect, tap the cross icon below the send icon.

3. Add Bubble Effect

If you noticed in the above method, we switched from the Bubble tab to the Display tab. Basically, you get more effects under the Bubble tab. Unlike screen effects, they only animate the message bubble, not the entire screen.

There are four types of balloon effects:

• Impact: Shakes all the message bubbles
• Loud: Increases the font size of the message
• Kind: Reduce the font size of the message
• Invisible ink: Hides the message initially. It will only be visible when the recipient taps the message.

To use them, type your message in the write box and then press and hold the send icon.

Under the Bubble tab, tap the circular icon next to the available effects to preview them. To use an effect, tap the submit button next to that effect.

4. Send Handwritten Message

Handwritten messages are very rare these days. If you want to relive those moments and add a personalized touch to your messages, you can create handwritten messages in iMessage. The message will be animated for the recipient as if you were just typing it at the moment.

To send a handwritten note from iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

Stage 1: On iPad, tap the Handwriting icon on the Apple keyboard in the iMessage app. You will need to rotate your iPhone to switch to Landscape mode first. While in landscape mode, you will see the Handwriting icon on your iPhone’s Apple keyboard. Tap on it.

Step 2: Type your message in the writing area with your finger or Apple pencil. Tap the arrows on the left and right margins to increase the writing area. Tap the clock icon to view and send previous handwritten messages. Tap on Done.

Stage 3: Finally, tap the Submit button.

5. Create Your Own Special Effects

In the above methods, we used text with special effects and created handwritten notes. Using the same tips, you can add an emoji, Memoji or handwritten notes and create your own special effects.

For example, type the smiley emoji and then use hint 2 or 3 to add the special effect you want to that emoji. The result will be a special effect.

Similarly, create a handwritten text but don’t send it. Instead, press and hold the send icon and choose the effect you want.

Pro Tip: Learn how to use iMessage (Memoji) stickers in WhatsApp and other apps.

6. Send Disappearing Message Effects

With iMessage you can send disappearing messages just like Snapchat with the help of Digital Touch feature. Messages will disappear two minutes after they are sent. You can submit a hand-drawn sketch or motion graphics to express your emotions such as a heartbeat, taps, fireball, kiss, and a broken heart.

Note: This feature is mainly designed for Apple Watch, where the receiver will feel the vibrations depending on the effect sent. An animation appears on iPhone and iPad.

To send such messages, follow these steps:

Stage 1: In the chat thread, tap the Digital Touch icon (two-fingered heart) in the list of apps in iMessage.

step 2: The Digital Touch screen will open.

Here’s how to use the various effects:

Sketch: Start drawing on the canvas to create a sketch. Tap the color icon on the left to change the color. Tap the send icon to send the message.

Faucets: Tap the canvas area repeatedly to create a ring effect on iPhone and iPad. If you want to change the ringtone color, tap the color icon. When you stop tapping, the animation will be sent.

Fireball: Touch and hold the canvas area with one finger to create a fireball effect. Drag your finger to move the fireball. Live your finger to send the effect.

Kiss: Tap the canvas area with two fingers to send a kiss. To add more kisses, tap again using two fingers without lifting them completely. Lift your fingers to send a kiss.

Heart beat: Tap and hold the canvas area with two fingers until you see a heart. Lift your fingers to send the moving heart.

Broken heart: Tapping the canvas with two fingers creates a heart. But if you drag it down you will have a broken heart effect. So touch and hold the screen with two fingers. Drag down using two fingers without lifting them.

Pro Tip: If you receive a disappearing message, tap the message to view it in full screen.

7. Post Disappearing Photos and Videos

You can send lost photos and videos with the ability to draw and add effects to them using the same Digital Touch feature.

Stage 1: Tap the Digital Touch icon in the iMessage thread. Tap the Video icon next to the canvas.

Step 2: The video preview screen will open. Let’s start with the photos first.

Take a photo using the capture icon. After the photo is taken, draw on it using your finger with the help of the available colors. Or you can add effects like heartbeat, heartbreak, and kiss using the same gestures mentioned above. Tap the send icon.

For videos, you can add an effect or draw on it before or while creating a video. Effects cannot be added after the video has been taken. Press and hold the shutter icon to start recording the video. Draw or add an effect and hit submit.

Pro Tip: If you can’t send pictures with iMessage, learn the various ways to fix it.

Troubleshooting: Can’t See Message Effects

If you cannot see the message effects, you must have disabled the autoplay message setting. To enable it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion. Enable the toggle next to Autoplay message effects.

Add More Effects

If you send photos and videos via iMessage, you can use them with effects, emojis, text, etc. You can decorate more using For that, tap the Camera icon in iMessage. Take a video or photo and tap the Effects icon. Add the desired effect and send the message.

Next: iMessage apps enhance the functionality of messages. Check out the top 5 must-use apps for iMessage from the next link.