How to use iMessage on any ANDROID device (with one tiny drawback)

With 1.3 billion iPhone users worldwide, iMessage reigns as the supreme messaging app - and Android users are not invited to the party.

Thankfully, there are several ways to get Apple’s ubiquitous messaging app to work on Android handsets.

Android users can download several apps to access iMessage, which also comes with the iconic 'blue bubbles.'

Below are some best ways to get iMessage working on your Android.

AirMessage

AirMessage offers a simple way to get iMessage running on your Android - with one slight drawback.

To make it work, you’ll need a Mac, a phone, and AirMessage installed on both (and you’ll also need to ensure the Mac stays on).

First, on your Mac, install AirMessage Server.

Then click Connect an account: use a Google account to register your computer with AirMessage.

When prompted, allow Airmessage automation access, and then go to Under System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access and add AirMessage.

AirMessage means your Mac works as a server, so you’ll need to disable sleep settings: go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and ensure your Mac doesn’t sleep or switch off.

Once the app is set up (it doesn’t read anything bar your iMessages), you can then access AirMessage both in a browser on a PC at https://web.airmessage.org/ or via the Android app.

To use it, just log in via the Google account you used to set up AirMessage on your Mac.

Blue Bubbles

Blue Bubbles is similar to AirMessage but open source and available via the project’s page on the programming site GitHub.

Drag the DMG file to your Mac, open it, and follow the steps in the installation guide (as with AirMessage, you’ll need to enable accessibility and full disk access).

Follow the steps in the software to set up (use your Google account and opt for Cloudflare).

Then, you download either the Android or PC client from Blue Bubbles.

Enter your Google account, sync your messages, and you should be good to go.

Beeper

Anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of messaging apps on their device will admire the idea behind Beeper - all your messages in one place.

Even better, you don’t need an Apple device: you can set up an iMessage account with just your email.

Beeper aggregates up to 15 different messaging services into one app.

There are just two hiccups: there’s a ‘warm up’ period where you’ll be unable to message via your new iMessage account for 48 hours, and there is also a waiting list for the Beeper app at present.

To join the waiting list, download the app or go to the Beeper website and join the waiting list with your email.