How to use your iPhone to text on satellite when you’re on an adventure

Traveling is stressful enough for most of us, but not being able to text while you’re on the road is a real nightmare. On one Apple iPhoneyou’ll see the dreaded words “not delivered” with an exclamation mark in a red circle whenever a message can’t get through. It’s a worse feeling than losing your luggage for some of us, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar area and need to contact someone – a rental property manager, your family, a driver – right away.

Fortunately, Apple recently added SMS to satellite with iOS 18 for iPhone 14 and newer models. This expansion of the satellite connectivity of the iPhone – Apple previously provided only emergency satellite SOS service-brings a regular text messaging service to areas without cellular coverage; It is like sending the cavalry if you are in a remote place.

Interestingly, although satellites are available from anywhere on the planet, you can only text via satellite when traveling in the United States and Canada. This means that there are two common scenarios that can happen when you travel. One is when you go into nature. Cell towers do not always extend their signal in national and state parks, near rivers, or in some rural areas. In downtown areas, tall buildings and poor infrastructure can also zap cell signals. But in these places, a satellite connection is still viable.

Fortunately, the steps to connect to a satellite for text are simple. Here’s how to make sure you can still send a message to anyone from anywhere in the US or Canada.

Prepare for your trip

The first step before going on any trip is to check a cell service coverage map. You can contact your wireless carrier to ask about coverage areas, but a great resource is this FCC map. You can select your carrier and see voice and data coverage.

I planned a trip to a state park in my area where I noticed most of the cabins and an entire ravine by a river were not covered by voice or data service. Knowing if you can connect will help you avoid surprises. If you are traveling with a few people, not being able to text anyone can lead to some serious confusion. You will find patches with no signal even in the city; I visited a specific area of ​​downtown Minneapolis (right near Target Center) where cell coverage is notoriously sketchy.

The FCC’s coverage map shows exactly where cell coverage might not work, and it’s surprisingly detailed. You can zoom in on specific city blocks or streets in a park to see if they are covered. (Also, if your phone is struggling to find a signal, its battery will drain faster. So if you’re going to a remote area, bring a battery pack.)

How to connect to a satellite to send messages

Once you arrive at your destination, you will notice that cell service will deteriorate as you enter a remote area. For me, when I visited the state park, I first noticed that my AT&T service said 5G+ in the upper right corner, then 5G, then eventually it said LTE. It seems like you are going back in time, technologically. At the river, the LTE icon went completely blank and then showed a satellite icon. That was my first clue that I had an alternative way of texting.

I went to the Messages app and a prompt appeared at the top of the screen: “Stay in touch while others know you’re available via satellite” followed by a button that said “Use messages via Satellite.” Click the button, and you will see a screen showing the curvature of the planet and a message that says “Satellite Available Ready”. It seems a bit like a treasure hunt at this point. You will see a prompt to turn left or right towards the satellite. Click on the satellite that appears and stay still, lying in the same direction for about a minute. Eventually, the screen will light up with a green beacon. You are now logged in! You’ll see options to connect via Messages, use the Find My app, request roadside assistance, or send an SOS.