Apple's i Message has evolved a lot over the years, adding satellite messaging and customizable backgrounds. Despite these updates, users often lament the inconvenience of their i Message app arrangement, with unused apps at the top and most used apps buried at the bottom. The answer is that users likely haven't taken the time to customize the menu's layout.
Since the introduction of i OS 18, several applications have been installed in the messaging app by default. As of the latest update, i OS 27, 14 apps are included by default, bringing features like sending location, voice recordings, stickers, GIFs, music, photos and polls. Other applications, like ESPN and Venmo, further expand the functionalities of your messaging app.
Rearranging your i Message apps is straightforward. First, make sure you have downloaded the latest i OS. Once updated, open your Messages and either tap a conversation or hit the compose button.
Once a conversation is pulled up, tap the Plus (+) button to find a full list of available i Message apps. Next, hold down the app you want to move until the icon shrinks, drag it to its desired place on the dropdown menu and let go. You can also add more apps to your i Messages by opening your phone's App Store for i Message.
Go to Messages, open a conversation, tap the Plus (+) symbol and touch the circular blue App Store icon. Once you open the App Store, you can peruse Apple's list of popular applications or search for something specific. To download a new app, simply tap the Get button next to the app's name.
If the app requires purchasing it, you will see the app's price rather than a Get button. To exit the app store, swipe down or tap Close (X). In August 2026, Open AI caused a stir when it added i Message integration to its Chat GPT app for Mac, raising privacy and security concerns.
If you are part of a Family Sharing plan, you can take advantage of i OS 27's enhanced parental control features to manage in-app purchasing options. One helpful setting is the Ask To Buy feature, which requires children on your plan to get confirmation before making an in-app purchase. To delete individual apps you've added, visit your Settings app.
From there, tap Apps > Messages > i Message Apps. Here you can decide whether to toggle the application on or off, or delete the app altogether on your device's homepage by tapping and holding down on the icon until a dropdown menu appears, then tapping the red Remove App option at the bottom of the menu. Apple even lets you customize some of your i Message app's functionalities, too, such as adjusting how your i Phone's audio recording app functions within i Message, cycling between voice note and dictation functions.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing