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You Can Get iMessage on an Android, But You'll Need a Mac Computer
It sounds like a quirky workaround, but blue bubble envy is real. A surprising number of Android users switch to an iPhone simply to gain access to iMessage.
It sounds like a quirky workaround, but blue bubble envy is real. A surprising number of Android users switch to an iPhone simply to gain access to iMessage. What many do not know is that it is actually possible to send and receive iMessages on an Android phone without switching devices. The setup requires access to a Mac computer and a third-party app, but once it is running, it works reliably. Here is how it works.
What You Need.
To get iMessage on Android, you need two things: an Android phone and a Mac computer that remains on and connected to the internet while you use it. The Mac acts as the relay between Apple's messaging servers and your Android device.
Step 1: Set Up Your Apple ID on the Mac.
All iMessages are routed through an Apple ID linked to your phone number. If you do not already have an Apple ID, create one at the official Apple website and link it to your phone number. If you have an existing Apple ID that is not linked to your number, log into the Apple ID website, navigate to Account Security, and add your number there.
Once your Apple ID is configured, open System Preferences on your Mac and sign in. Then go to the Apple ID menu and click Name, Phone, Email in the sidebar. Under the Reachable at heading, click the plus sign, select Phone Number, and enter your number. Apple will send a verification code to complete the process. After that, open the Messages app on your Mac and log into your Apple ID there as well.
Step 2: Set Up AirMessage.
AirMessage is the application that bridges your Mac's Messages app with your Android device. Download AirMessage Server for macOS from the AirMessage website, unzip the file, and move the app to your Applications folder.
Open AirMessage on your Mac and create or connect an account. The app will request full access to your computer's hard disk in order to read and relay messages. This is a significant permission to grant any application, so use AirMessage with that in mind and make sure you are downloading it from the official source.
You also need to prevent your Mac from going to sleep. If the computer sleeps or the lid is closed, the message relay stops working. Adjust this in System Preferences under Energy Saver or Battery settings.
Step 3: Connect Your Android.
Install the AirMessage app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store. Open the app and log into the same account you created on your Mac. The two devices will link automatically. Tap the blue chat icon in the lower-right corner of the app, type in any phone number, and send your first iMessage. You will see a prompt on your Mac asking whether AirMessage can use the Messages app. Allow it, and you are set up.
As long as both your Android and your Mac are powered on and connected to the internet, you can send and receive iMessages and they will show up as blue bubbles on the recipient's end.
One note: messages sent from AirMessage may occasionally display as coming from your Apple ID email address rather than your phone number. The content of the message will be the same.
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