Enhancing your iMessages with animated balloons adds a festive and cheerful touch to your conversations, making them more engaging and fun.

How to Manually Add Balloons in iMessage

You can add balloons or other full-screen effects to any message you send, regardless of its content. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your iPhone and select a conversation or start a new one. Type your message in the text box.

Step 2: Press and hold the send button (the blue arrow) until the "Send with effect" screen appears.

Step 3: Tap on the Screen tab at the top to access the full-screen effects.

Step 4: Swipe left until you find the Balloons effect.

Tap the send button to send the message with the balloons effect, or tap the 'X' to cancel.

Step 5: Tap the send button to send your message with the balloons effect.

You can also choose from other screen effects like Echo, Spotlight, Confetti, Love, Lasers, Fireworks, Shooting Star, and Celebration by swiping left or right on the effects screen.

How to Automatically Send Balloons with "Happy Birthday"

iMessage automatically sends balloons when you send a message containing just the words "Happy Birthday". Here's how:

Step 1: In a conversation, type "Happy Birthday" and send the message. You can include exclamation points or emojis, but make sure not to add any other words.

Sending "Happy Birthday" automatically triggers the balloons effect.

When the recipient opens your message, their screen will automatically fill with balloons.


Adding screen effects to your iMessages is a simple way to make your conversations more vibrant and enjoyable.