How to send animations in Messages in iOS 10

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Messages-animations
Animations in action.
Photo: Apple

To ensure it remains the most popular app on iOS, Apple is giving Messages a big overhaul with iOS 10. Users have a whole bunch of awesome new features to look forward to — including the ability to send animations. Here’s how.

Open up the Messages app, then find a conversation or create a new message. Once you’ve typed what you want to say and you see the blue send arrow, tap and hold it, or press it with force if you’re using an iPhone 6s.

Messages send arrow iOS 10
Tap and hold the blue arrow.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

This takes you into the effects menu. Tap the Screen tab to find all the animations that are available to you, like balloons, confetti, lasers, fireworks and shooting stars. Simply swipe left and right to move between them.

iOS 10 Messages animations
All the animations available in iOS 10.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Once you’ve found the animation you want to send, tap the blue send arrow once.

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