Have you ever wanted to make your iPhone messages burst with excitement — literally? Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, saying congrats, or just want to add a little magic to your text, sending a message with confetti on iPhone 13 is the perfect way to do it.
In this guide, we’ll walk you step-by-step through how to send confetti in Messages, troubleshoot if it doesn’t work, and even explore other fun message effects you can use on your iPhone 13.
Let’s dive right in — because your messages are about to get a serious upgrade.
1. What Does It Mean to Send a Message with Confetti on iPhone 13?
When you send a message with confetti on iPhone 13, colorful particles fill the entire screen, showering your recipient with celebration. It’s Apple’s fun way to make ordinary text messages feel extraordinary.
This effect works through iMessage, Apple’s messaging platform, and is available on all iPhones running iOS 10 or later — including your iPhone 13.
So the next time you type “Congratulations!” or “Happy Birthday!” you can make your message sparkle — literally.
2. How the Confetti Effect Works in iMessage
Apple’s Message Effects feature adds animations to your text, emoji, or photos. The confetti effect is one of several screen effects that animate the background when a message is received.
Here’s what happens:
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When you select the Confetti option, your message appears normally.
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The recipient sees confetti raining down across their screen once they open your message.
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The animation plays automatically and gives a festive, eye-catching touch.
In short — it’s Apple’s way of saying, “Let’s celebrate!”
3. Requirements Before You Begin
Before sending confetti messages, make sure the following settings are in place:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| iMessage Enabled | Go to Settings > Messages > iMessage and make sure it’s turned on. |
| Internet Connection | iMessage uses Wi-Fi or cellular data, not SMS. |
| iOS Version | iPhone 13 or any device running iOS 10 or later supports message effects. |
| Recipient’s Device | The other person must also be using iMessage (blue bubbles, not green). |
4. How to Send a Message with Confetti on iPhone 13 (Step-by-Step)
Ready to send your first confetti-filled message? Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open the Messages App
Tap the Messages icon on your iPhone 13’s home screen.
Step 2: Start a New Conversation
Tap the compose icon (a square with a pencil) or select an existing conversation.
Step 3: Type Your Message
Write something fun like:
“Congrats on your new job!”
“You did it!”
“Happy Birthday!”
Step 4: Long Press the Send Button
Instead of tapping the blue send arrow, press and hold it for a second.
Step 5: Select “Screen” at the Top
You’ll see two tabs — Bubble and Screen. Tap Screen to open the full-screen effects options.
Step 6: Swipe Left Until You Find the Confetti Effect
Keep swiping through the screen effects until you see confetti raining down.
Step 7: Tap Send
Once you’ve selected the Confetti effect, tap the send arrow again to send your animated message.
That’s it! Your recipient will see confetti explode across their screen as soon as they open your message.
5. How to Send Confetti Automatically with Keywords
Did you know that iMessage can automatically trigger certain effects when you send specific words?
Typing particular trigger words activates animations like confetti, balloons, or fireworks.
For confetti, try this:
🎉 Type “Congratulations” or “Congrats!” — iMessage will automatically send it with confetti.
Other trigger words include:
| Keyword | Effect Triggered |
|---|---|
| Happy Birthday | Balloons |
| Congratulations / Congrats | Confetti |
| Happy New Year | Fireworks |
| Pew Pew | Lasers |
| Happy Chinese New Year | Celebration |
This feature works only in iMessage (blue bubbles), not SMS.
6. How to Add Confetti Manually Using Screen Effects
If the automatic effect doesn’t trigger, you can manually add confetti using screen effects.
Here’s how:
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Type your message.
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Press and hold the send button.
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Tap Screen.
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Swipe left until you see the confetti animation.
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Tap Send to share it.
This method works for any text — not just specific keywords.
7. How to Preview the Confetti Effect Before Sending
Want to make sure your confetti looks perfect before sending it?
While on the Send with Effect screen, you can:
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Tap the Play button to preview how it looks.
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Swipe to see other effects before confirming.
It’s a great way to test out different animations before choosing your favorite.
8. How to Send Confetti from an iPhone 13 to Android
Here’s the catch — message effects don’t work with Android phones.
If your recipient’s messages appear as green bubbles, they’re using SMS/MMS, not iMessage.
That means:
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Confetti won’t appear on their end.
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They’ll receive a plain text message instead.
So if you really want them to see the effect, consider:
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Sending a short video screen recording of your confetti message.
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Using third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram that support GIFs and stickers.
9. What to Do If Confetti Doesn’t Work on iPhone 13
If you’re trying to send confetti and nothing happens, don’t worry — it’s usually a simple fix.
Here’s what to check:
| Possible Cause | How to Fix It |
|---|---|
| iMessage is Off | Go to Settings > Messages > iMessage and turn it on. |
| Send as SMS Enabled | Turn off “Send as SMS” to force iMessage sending. |
| Reduce Motion is On | Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn off Reduce Motion. |
| Outdated iOS | Update to the latest iOS version under Settings > General > Software Update. |
| Recipient Not on iMessage | Confetti only works if both devices use iMessage. |
After checking these, try sending again — the confetti should appear!
10. How to Enable iMessage Effects on Your iPhone
If message effects are still missing, follow these steps to make sure they’re enabled:
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Open Settings.
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Tap Accessibility > Motion.
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Make sure Reduce Motion is off.
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Also ensure Auto-Play Message Effects is on.
This ensures iMessage animations like confetti, fireworks, and lasers will automatically play when received.
11. Other Message Effects You Can Try (Besides Confetti)
Apple offers several fun screen and bubble effects besides confetti.
Screen Effects
| Effect | Animation |
|---|---|
| Balloons | Floating balloons fill the screen |
| Confetti | Colorful confetti rains down |
| Lasers | Green laser beams shoot across |
| Fireworks | Explosions light up the background |
| Shooting Star | A star shoots across the screen |
| Celebration | Golden fireworks sparkle |
Bubble Effects
| Effect | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Slam | Message lands with impact |
| Loud | Expands then shrinks dramatically |
| Gentle | Appears softly |
| Invisible Ink | Blurs message until it’s swiped |
You can experiment with these effects the same way you send confetti.
12. Can You Use Confetti in Group Chats?
Absolutely! You can send confetti effects in group iMessages too.
Everyone in the group using iMessage will see the same animation. It’s perfect for:
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Group celebrations
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Team achievements
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Family milestones
Just remember — if someone in the group is using Android, they won’t see the animation.
13. How to Turn Off Message Effects If You Find Them Distracting
If you receive a lot of animated messages and find them annoying, you can easily turn them off:
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Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
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Toggle Auto-Play Message Effects off.
This will stop effects like confetti or fireworks from playing automatically.
14. Tips to Make Your iMessages More Fun and Personalized
Want to go beyond just confetti? Try these ideas:
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Use Tapback reactions: Double-tap a message to react with a heart, thumbs up, or emoji.
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Add Memojis: Send animated emojis that look like you.
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Use Digital Touch: Draw or send heartbeats using the heart icon.
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Share stickers and GIFs: Search in the iMessage App Store for endless fun additions.
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Combine effects: Use bubble + screen effects for an even cooler message.
Your creativity is the only limit!
15. Final Thoughts: Make Every Message Count
Sending a message with confetti on iPhone 13 is a simple but powerful way to show excitement, joy, and personality.
Whether you’re congratulating a friend or celebrating an occasion, confetti adds that little touch of happiness that words alone can’t express.
So next time you want to make your message unforgettable — just hold that send button and let the confetti fly!
16. FAQs About Sending Confetti on iPhone 13
1. Why can’t I send confetti on my iPhone 13?
Make sure iMessage is enabled, and Reduce Motion is turned off under Accessibility settings.
2. Does confetti work on Android phones?
No, iMessage effects like confetti only work between Apple devices using iMessage.
3. Can I send confetti from iPad or Mac?
Yes! As long as you’re using iMessage, the confetti effect works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
4. How do I stop confetti effects from playing automatically?
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and disable Auto-Play Message Effects.
5. Can I use confetti in dark mode?
Yes! Confetti effects work perfectly in both light and dark mode on your iPhone 13.
17. Key Takeaways
✅ Confetti effects work only with iMessage, not SMS.
✅ You can send confetti manually or automatically using trigger words like “Congratulations.”
✅ Make sure Reduce Motion is turned off to see effects.
✅ You can use confetti in group chats as long as all members have iMessage.
✅ Explore other effects like fireworks, lasers, or balloons for more fun.
🎉 Now that you know how to send a message with confetti on iPhone 13, it’s time to celebrate your next big moment in style!