A big perk that comes with owning an iPhone is iMessage, which happens to be one of the best messaging services around today. Unfortunately, Android users can't participate in the blue-bubble fun. There has been a lot of buzz around iMessage lately, with everyone from government leaders to big tech competitors chiming in. We've also seen a few failed attempts at bringing iMessage on Android, like Nothing Chats and Sunbird. The fate of Beeper Mini is unknown, too.

Until Apple decides to make iMessage available on Android devices — which might never actually happen — there is a solution. AirMessage is a workaround that allows you to securely send and receive iMessages on your Android smartphone, and it works pretty well despite a few kinks. If you're looking for how to get iMessage on an Android device, this guide will show you how.

What is AirMessage, and how does it work?

AirMessage is mostly like any other messaging service, and it can be your default messaging app on Android. However, unlike most messaging services, AirMessage has the ability to send iMessages from its Android app or web client.

So, how does it work? Essentially, to use AirMessage, you'll need to have a Mac computer that can act as a server. When you send an iMessage from your Android phone, AirMessage will relay that message to your Mac, which will send the contents of the message as a legitimate iMessage. When you receive an iMessage on your Mac, AirMessage will forward that message to your Android phone as well.

How AirMessage is different from other services

A series of texts via iMessage on Android and iPhone.

AirMessage brings blue bubbles to your Android phone by relaying messages through a Mac that you have set up as a server and constantly looking for (or sending) new messages. This is slightly different than BlueBubbles, which integrates with Google's Firebase Console for more efficiency. Instead of constantly looking for new messages, Firebase will let BlueBubbles know when a new message has been sent or received, which is much easier on your phone's battery.

But both AirMessage and BlueBubbles use your Mac as a server, which is more secure than other options. Apps like Beeper, Nothing Chats, and Sunbird all funnel your messages through Mac server farms. This is good, in a sense, because it doesn't require you to have a spare Mac, but it's concerning from a security standpoint, which is why Nothing Chats and Sunbird have been temporarily shuttered. If you want to get iMessage on Android, we recommend either AirMessage or Bluebubbles.

What you need to get started with AirMessage

AirMessage is a great tool for Android users, but you have to have at least a foot in the door of Apple's ecosystem to take advantage of it. You need a Mac computer that can run as a server — meaning that it must be connected to power and the internet at all times — so you can send and receive iMessages on Android, but it's possible to use another laptop as an AirMessage server. However, if you plan to go that route, you must follow additional guidance.

Luckily, you don't need the newest tech to get started. The AirMessage Server program can run on macOS 10.10 Yosemite or later, which covers a lot of Macs. In fact, we tested AirMessage Server on an iMac from 2007 that featured an Intel Core Duo processor, and it worked great. After the server is set up, all you'll need to do is download the AirMessage app from the Google Play Store or access the web client from a supported browser.

Screenshots throughout this guide were taken on a Mac running macOS Ventura, which features a redesigned System Settings menu. If you are on an earlier version of macOS, the steps in this guide will still be the same, but you will be navigating a System Preferences menu that looks a bit different.

How to install AirMessage Server on your Mac

Getting iMessage on your Android phone starts with installing AirMessage Server on a Mac. You can visit AirMessage's official website to find the download link yourself, or simply click the direct link from Github in the steps below.

  1. Download AirMessage Server. (Click this link to download)
    The download page for AirMessage server in Safari.
  2. Find the AirMessage Server download in the Downloads folder or in Safari.
    The downloads folder in Safari with AirMessage Server.
  3. Double-click the AirMessage Server download to open it.
  4. Click the blue Open button to confirm you want to open the application.
    A prompt that asks if you want to open AirMessage Server.
  5. After the AirMessage app opens, press the blue Connect an Account button.
    The connect an account page in AirMessage Server.
  6. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect a Google account to AirMessage.
  7. After you've connected an account, press the blue OK button to finish.
    The "OK" button that finishes AirMessage Server registration.

Now, you'll need to grant AirMessage Server the permissions needed to relay iMessages to and from your Android devices. For this, you'll need to give the application full disk access to your Mac, as well as a few Accessibility settings. It is a lot to ask, but it is necessary, given how AirMessage works.

  1. Click the blue OK button to allow AirMessage to control Messages.
    The security setting that allows AirMessage to control Messages.
  2. Click the blue OK button to allow AirMessage to control System Events.
    The AirMessage setting that allows it to control system events.
  3. Click the gray Open System Settings (Preferences) button to give AirMessage access to Accessibility features.
    The open system settings button in AirMessage.
  4. Click the gray toggle next to AirMessage in the list that opens. You will be asked to enter your Mac's password.
    The accessibility toggle for AirMessage in System Settings.
  5. A prompt will open asking you to grant AirMessage full disk access. Click the blue Open Full Disk Access Settings to get started.
    The button to open full disk access settings for AirMessage in System Settings.
  6. Click the gray toggle next to AirMessage in the list that opens. You will be asked to enter your Mac's password.
    The toggle for Full Disk Access for AirMessage in System Settings.
  7. Press the blue Quit & Reopen button that appears.
    The quit and reopen button in System Settings.
  8. Wait for AirMessage to restart. After AirMessage restarts, it will have the ability to send and receive iMessages.

Change your settings so your Mac runs as a server

Macs aren't set up to run as a server straight out of the box, so you'll need to change a few settings to make sure your Mac stays on. Here are a few settings you need to change to keep your Mac running as an AirMessage server.

MacBooks will always put themselves to sleep when the lid is closed, so if you're using a MacBook as a server, the lid must remain open. Alternatively, you can use a third-party program like Amphetamine that will keep your MacBook running even when the lid is closed.

For a Mac computer or laptop running macOS Ventura or later:

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click on the Displays tab.
  3. Click the Advanced button.
  4. Click the toggle next to Prevent automatic sleeping while the display is off.
    The button that prevents automatic sleeping in System Settings.

For a Mac computer or laptop running macOS Monterey or earlier:

  1. Open System Preferences.
  2. Click on the Energy Saver tab.
  3. Drag the computer sleep bar to Never.
    The computer sleep bar in System Settings.

Download AirMessage on your Android smartphone

After getting your AirMessage server up and running, the easy part is getting AirMessage on your Android phone. All you need to do is download it from the Google Play Store and sign in with the same Google account used for the AirMessage Server setup.

  1. Find AirMessage in the Google Play Store and install the app.
  2. Sign in with your Google account from the above steps.
  3. Start sending iMessages on your Android device.

Troubleshooting AirMessage on Android and Mac

Since AirMessage is a workaround to an intentional compatibility issue, you'll run into occasional annoyances with AirMessage on Android. Luckily, there are a few fixes to some of the most common errors you'll see:

  • If you get an error message that says your device is not connected to the internet, check your connection and completely restart the app. Usually, this issue is corrected by force closing and reopening AirMessage for Android.
  • If you get a "connection compatibility error," this typically means your Wi-Fi or cellular connection is weak. Check your connection and completely restart the app. This issue can be fixed by force closing and reopening your app, but changing your network can also help.
  • If you get a "personal server not available" error, that means something has gone wrong with your server. Usually, restarting the AirMessage Server app on your Mac will fix this issue. But, if you're away from home, you will most likely be out of luck.

Though AirMessage isn't a perfect solution, it is one of the few reliable ways to use iMessage on an Android device. Until (and if) Apple and Google agree to work together, AirMessage is a way for the tech-savvy person to enjoy some of the blue-bubble perks while still retaining the flexibility of Android.