Apple has a secret iMessage effect so hidden that there’s only one way to unlock it, and not dig through settings, tools, effects, or the Messages app interface. However, it’s used the same whether you’re messaging from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, so it’s easy to remember if you know it.
Images, emojis, 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 if 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. Starting with iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS 12, there are a total of eight message effects – Echo, Spotlight, Balloons, Confetti, Love, Lasers, Fireworks, and Celebration. most of which have been in existence for over five years.
While not many people know about it, there is also a Shooting Star message effect that Apple doesn’t advertise anywhere. It’s weird because it was officially available in iOS 10, 11, 12 and 13 and was never available in macOS, but it’s usable if you know the secret trigger.
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 written in capital letters, but sending all lowercase letters will also cause the effect.
- “Eid Mubarak”
- “Happy Eid”
Once you hit submit, a starburst will ripple across the screen from left to right, exploding with some kind of bewitching 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”celebrated at the end of Ramadan, when many adult Muslims fast. 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”.
Most other full screen message effects for iMessage have keyword or phrase triggers that automatically send an animation. And although there are only two of them for Shooting Star, most of the others have many different variations. In total there are over 200 triggers in over 40 different languages.