Standard text messages (SMS) are limited to 160 characters per segment. Go over that, and your message is split into several parts or converted to MMS, which can count against a limited texting plan or arrive out of order on older phones. The iPhone can show a live character counter while you type so you know when you’re close to the limit. This guide shows how to turn on the character count on an iPhone 7 and newer iPhones, and explains when it appears.
Quick Answer
Yes. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages (or Settings > Messages on iOS 17 and earlier), scroll to SMS/MMS, and turn on Character Count. The counter appears above the send button when an SMS message wraps onto more than one line.
How to Turn On Character Count
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Messages. On an iPhone 7 (iOS 15) or other older versions, tap Messages directly from the main Settings list.
- Scroll down to the SMS/MMS section.
- Turn on Character Count.
When Does the Counter Appear?
- It shows only for SMS text messages (green bubbles), not for iMessage (blue bubbles) or RCS, because those don’t have the 160-character limit.
- It appears once your message is long enough to wrap onto a second line in the text box, showing something like 85/160.
- If a message goes past 160 characters, the count may show how many characters you’ve used in the current segment and the number of segments.
- Emoji and some special characters use more space, lowering the limit to 70 characters per segment.
If you want to see the count for an iMessage, you won’t; iMessages can be much longer without splitting.
Why Character Count Matters
- Limited plans: some prepaid or international plans charge per SMS segment.
- Short-code services: texting a number for alerts, votes or verification codes may require short messages.
- Older phones: long messages can arrive in pieces on basic phones.
Count Characters in Other Apps
The iPhone doesn’t have a system-wide character counter. For posts or longer text, paste it into Notes and use a word counter shortcut, or use apps like Pages (tap the ⋯ > Word Count). Social apps usually show their own limits while you type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see Character Count in settings?
Make sure you’re in the SMS/MMS section of Messages settings. The option is available on all iPhones that can send SMS.
Why doesn’t the counter show while I type?
You’re probably sending an iMessage or RCS message, or the message is still on one line.
Does this work on iPad?
Character Count is an iPhone setting for SMS. iPads don’t send SMS on their own, so you generally won’t see the counter there.
Summary
- Settings > Apps > Messages (or Settings > Messages).
- Turn on Character Count under SMS/MMS.
- Type a longer SMS to see the counter.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.