Apple has a secret iMessage effect so hidden that there’s only one way to unlock it, and that’s not digging through settings, tools, effects, or the Messages app interface. However, it’s used the same whether you’re messaging from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, so it’s easy to remember if you know it.
Images, emoji, stickers, GIFs, and videos can help you visually express your emotions, feelings, or ideas in a text conversation, and you can use Apple’s bubble effects to highlight any of these things. But when you want to add zest to what you say or visualize, you should use Apple Message Effects.
Message effects trigger screen-wide animations in iMessage conversations for both the sender and recipient, making them a great way to draw attention to specific text or images. In iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, and earlier versions of the software, there are a total of eight message effects, most of which have been around for more than five years:
- Echo, Spotlight, Balloons, Confetti, Love, Lasers, Fireworks, Holiday
While not many people know about it, there is also a hidden effect of the Shooting Star message that Apple doesn’t advertise or mention anywhere. This is strange because it was officially available in iOS 10-13 and was never available in macOS. However, it can be used if you know the secret trigger, which Apple still doesn’t reveal.
To enable the full-screen Shooting Star effect on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, send any of the following greetings in the Messages app. They are usually capitalized, but sending one of the lowercase letters will also cause the effect.
- “Eid Mubarak”
- “Happy Eid”
Once you hit send, a starburst will sweep across the screen from left to right, exploding with an enchanting sound effect as it falls from the starry night sky.
Eid al-Adha is a traditional Muslim greeting used primarily for the holy holidays of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr is the “Feast of breaking the fast”and is celebrated when many adult Muslims fast at the end of Ramadan. Just over two months later, Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, is celebrated when many Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
“Eid” in Arabic means “celebration”, and “Mubarak” means blessed. Together, the literal translation sounds like “blessed holiday”, but it can be translated as “blessed holiday”, “blessed feast”, “blessed holiday”or another option. It is often shortened to “Blessed Eid”or “Happy Eid”.
If you’re a Marvel fan, you might remember Ms. Marvel Episode 2 – “Crushed”, which prominently featured the “Eid Mubarak”greeting being said during Eid al-Adha and Kamala calling it “the lesser one”. “Id.
Eid Mubarak of #MsMarvel pic.twitter.com/RuqX3YldAJ
Most other full screen message effects for iMessage have keyword or phrase triggers that automatically send an animation. While there are only two for Shooting Star (as far as we know), most of the others have many different variations. There are over 200 triggers in over 40 different languages!