Will iMessage say delivered if my phone is off?

The iMessage Delivery Mystery: What Happens When Their Phone is Off?

We’ve all been there. You send an important iMessage, eagerly awaiting that satisfying “Delivered” notification. But what happens when the recipient’s phone is off? Does the message even get sent? And more importantly, will you see that coveted “Delivered” confirmation?

The short answer is: no, the “Delivered” notification won’t appear until the recipient’s device is back online and actively using iMessage.

Think of it like this: iMessage relies on a connection to Apple’s servers. When you send a message, it’s essentially placed in a digital queue, waiting for the recipient’s device to become available. While your message is successfully sent to Apple’s servers, it can’t be marked as “Delivered” until the recipient’s iPhone or other Apple device is powered on, connected to the internet, and actively using the iMessage application.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Phone Off: Your message is sent to Apple’s servers and patiently waits. The recipient won’t receive any notification, and you won’t see “Delivered.”

• Phone On, but iMessage Inactive: Even if their phone is on, if iMessage isn’t running in the background or actively used, the message may be delayed. The “Delivered” status will only appear once iMessage processes the message.

• Phone On and iMessage Active: This is the ideal scenario. Your message is delivered almost instantly, and you’ll receive the satisfying “Delivered” notification.

Therefore, the absence of a “Delivered” notification doesn’t necessarily mean the message wasn’t sent. It simply means the recipient’s device wasn’t available to receive and process it at the time. Once their phone is back online and active on iMessage, the message will be delivered, and you’ll eventually see that confirmation. Patience is key! In the meantime, consider sending a text message via SMS if immediate confirmation is crucial. While less convenient within the Apple ecosystem, SMS will usually deliver regardless of the recipient’s device status. Just remember that SMS messages typically don’t offer the same level of encryption as iMessages.