How to Send Effects Like Balloons, Lasers, Fireworks, Confetti, and Shooting Stars

Your iPhone's Messages app isn't just for sending texts. You can also send photos, videos, and a wide variety of special effects

Apple has added several effects to iMessage. If you want to send your messages with a burst of fireworks or partially hide them, you might want to check out all the new iMessage effects. These are not easy to find if you don't use iMessage regularly or if you don't keep up with what's new in latest iOS updates. Here's how to start using effects on iMessage.

While you can pick and choose from some of these effects by holding your finger down on the send button, other effects only activate when you send certain words or phrases.

Apple doesn't advertise these effects — they're hidden "Easter Eggs" on your iPhone instead.

How to send bubble effects such as invisible ink on iMessage
Bubble effects such as Loud, and Slam affect only the text of the message. They may increase or decrease the font size temporarily but they don't add effects to the background. Follow these steps to send bubble effects.

1. Open Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - be sure the device is running iOS 10.
2. Type your message.
3. Tap and hold the blue up-arrow button that you use to send messages.
4. This will reveal a list of effects. Tap Bubble, which is at the top.
5. Now select the effect you want to use from the list. Slam adds a bit of exaggerated emphasis to the message. Loud increases the font size temporarily, while Gentle reduces it. Invisible Ink hides the message.
6. Tap the blue up-arrow button next to the effect to send the message.

How to send screen effects such as fireworks, balloons, lasers on iMessage
Screen effects add full-screen effects to your message. If you want to send messages with confetti appearing in the background or fireworks lighting up the screen, then follow these steps.

1. In the Messages app, type your message, and tap and hold the blue up-arrow button that you use to send messages.
2. Tap Screen at the top.
3. Now just swipe towards the left to scroll through effects. You can choose from Balloons, Confetti, Lasers, Fireworks, and Shooting Star.

The effect in the background gets sent, so when you've picked one, just tap the blue up-arrow button to send it.

The Confetti effect automatically triggers if you type "Congrats" and send it.

Here's a guide to the words and phrases that will cause effects in the Messages app, and hopefully delight both you and your recipient.

"Happy New Year"

Colorful fireworks fill up your screen when you send New Years' wishes. 

This effect is particularly cool, and comes packaged with its own firecracker-esque vibration pattern when you send it.

"Happy Birthday"

When a birthday phone call isn't possible, why not send balloons with your text? 

Text "Happy Birthday" to summon a flood of colorful balloons. Shortened versions, like "HBD," won't trigger the effect.

"Congrats" or "Congratulations"

The fun of confetti, minus the headache of cleaning it up afterward. 

When you congratulate someone, confetti will rain down from the top of your screen. You can also try sending congratulations in different languages, such as the Spanish "Felicitaciones" or Indonesian "Selamat" — these often work as well.

"Pew Pew"

If you unexpectedly see laser beams next time you text "pew pew," don't worry, your phone hasn't been hacked. 

You need no occasion to send a friend laser beams, so why not try "pew pew" in your next text?

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