> iMessage issues

When I try to send someone a message using my iPhone, it offers to add handwritten content. Is this just the way that I’m holding it, or is this an unwanted feature? And how do I make sure it stops happening?

When you’re composing and sending messages on your iPhone, be careful how you hold it and what you touch; the Messages app’s controls are tightly spaced, and it’s easy to tap the wrong one.

To start writing your message, hold your iPhone in portrait orientation. When some iPhone models running recent versions of iOS are held in landscape mode, they may assume that you’re going to compose an animated handwritten message. iPads can be used in either orientation, and you have to tap the handwriting sign on the keyboard to start a handwritten message.

The left-most of the controls – a camera icon – enables you to add photos and video to your message.

The icon bearing the letter “A” opens a drawer of different apps that you can use in iMessages, including stickers and animated GIFs. Among them, the heart icon with two fingers overlaid is for Digital Touch, which enables you to send a freehand sketch and various animated images. To the right of your message text is a microphone icon, which you can hold a finger on to record audio messages.

If you inadvertently tap one of these icons, tap in the text box where you would type a message, or tap Cancel. Finally, when you tap the Send button to dispatch your message, don’t hold your finger on it, as this is used to bring up a pane in which you can choose a special animated effect for your message’s presentation.

This may seem like a minefield, but once your fingers are used to it, the errors you’ll experience when using Messages will be few and far between.