What words trigger the iPhone effect?

Asked by: Damion Lesch PhD  |  Last update: February 15, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (58 votes)

iPhone "effect" words trigger iMessage animations like balloons for "Happy Birthday," confetti for "Congratulations," and fireworks for "Happy New Year," with other phrases like "pew pew" activating laser shows, though you can manually add effects like Slam, Loud, Gentle, Echo, Spotlight, Love, and Invisible Ink by holding the send button and selecting screen or bubble effects.

What words trigger effects on iPhone?

On iPhone (iOS 18+), you add effects to words in Messages by typing your text, selecting the word(s), tapping the new Text Effects button (or long-pressing the Send button), and choosing from options like Bold, Italic, Shake, Explode, Ripple, or Jitter, which apply to individual words or emojis, while full-screen effects (Balloons, Fireworks) use keywords or the send button menu for the whole message.
 

How to trigger Apple effects?

Send a message with effects

  1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
  2. Enter your message or insert a photo, then touch and hold the Send button .
  3. Tap the gray dot. to preview bubble effects.
  4. Tap the Send button .

How to do the secret iPhone texting trick?

To do "magic text" (special effects) on your iPhone, type your message in the Messages app, then press and hold the blue send arrow to open the effects menu, where you can choose from bubble effects (like Slam, Gentle) or full-screen animations (like Balloons, Confetti), including Invisible Ink by selecting the "Bubble" tab and tapping "Invisible Ink," then send with the effect. These effects work with iMessage (blue bubbles) and add personality to your texts.
 

What are the text tricks like Pew Pew list on iPhone?

A few examples are listed below:

  • Happy Birthday: A cascade of balloons rises from the bottom of the screen.
  • Happy New Year: It'll trigger a fireworks show.
  • Congratulations: Confetti showering down from the top of the screen.
  • Pew Pew: Laser beam shooting out from the text.

How to add special effects to your text message(iphone)

16 related questions found

What are some cool iPhone text tricks?

iPhone text tricks involve using code words (like "pew pew" for lasers, "happy birthday" for balloons) and long-pressing the send button for effects like Slam, Loud, Gentle, or Invisible Ink, plus full-screen effects (Confetti, Fireworks, Spotlight) accessed via the Screen tab. You can also use Tapbacks (emoji reactions), Digital Touch (sketches), pinned conversations, and text formatting with symbols.
 

Where does "pew pew" come from?

"Pew! Pew!" is a phonetic representation that native (American) English speakers make to simulate the sound and explosive nature of gunfire. Young boys typically made (still make) this sound when simulating gun battles, initially simulating firearms, and over time evolving to also represent science fiction weapons.

How to make text shiver on iPhone?

Format or animate text within messages

The Messages app may suggest effects to apply as you enter your message. above the keyboard, then select your preferred formats (bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough) or animated effect (big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, or jitter).

How can I get my husband's text messages on my iPhone?

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages. Tap Text Message Forwarding. (If you don't see it, turn iMessage off and back on, then tap Send & Receive and sign in again.) Tap to turn on each device that you want to allow to send and receive messages from this iPhone.

How to trigger iPhone reactions?

You can do reactions on your iPhone in two main ways: using Tapbacks (emoji/sticker reactions to messages) by double-tapping a message bubble and selecting an emoji, or using Live Reactions (video/gesture reactions) in FaceTime by enabling them in Control Center and using hand gestures like a thumbs-up or heart to trigger animations. Tapbacks are for text, while Live Reactions add fun effects to video calls, working in FaceTime and some third-party apps like Zoom.
 

What other words like pew pew on iPhone?

There are lots of phrases that trigger screen effects on an iPhone. For instance, “pew pew” triggers a laser show, “congratulations” triggers confetti, and “happy birthday” triggers balloons. You can also manually add screen effects to any text message by long-pressing the send button and swiping through the effects.

What are the four types of text effects?

The Text Effects menu also has the options Outline, Shadow, Reflection, and Glow.

What else can you do besides pew pew?

Some of the more secret code phrases include "happy Eid" for the shooting star, "pew pew" for lasers, "best wishes" for confetti, "happy Deepawali" for fireworks, "happy lunar new year" for celebration, and "iyi ki dogdun" for balloons. To see all 340+ available, check out the complete list.

What does *#33 do on iPhone?

The iPhone code *#33# is a USSD code used in the Phone app to check the status of your call barring settings, showing if calls, SMS, and data are blocked or allowed by your carrier; it reveals configurations for calls, SMS, and data, helping you see if certain services are restricted by default or due to network settings. Other related codes include *33*PIN# to enable call barring and #33*PIN# to disable it, requiring your SIM PIN for activation. 

How is my wife reading my texts on my iPhone?

Your wife might see your iPhone texts if she has your Apple ID & password, if text forwarding is set up, if your messages sync through a shared Apple ID on another device (iPad, Mac), or if monitoring software/carrier features are active, but generally, iMessages are secure unless these settings are intentionally or accidentally shared, often stemming from using the same Apple ID for services like iMessage and iCloud.
 

What is the iPhone trick *#21?

Dialing *#21# on your iPhone is a secret code to check the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if your calls (voice, data, SMS) are being redirected to another number, but it doesn't detect wiretaps or hacking, serving only as a carrier-based status check. It's a quick way to see if the feature is active and to what number, providing information from your cellular provider, not your device's internal security.
 

How to do cool iPhone text tricks?

iPhone text tricks involve using code words (like "pew pew" for lasers, "happy birthday" for balloons) and long-pressing the send button for effects like Slam, Loud, Gentle, or Invisible Ink, plus full-screen effects (Confetti, Fireworks, Spotlight) accessed via the Screen tab. You can also use Tapbacks (emoji reactions), Digital Touch (sketches), pinned conversations, and text formatting with symbols.
 

What words have effects on iPhone?

On iPhone (iOS 18+), you add effects to words in Messages by typing your text, selecting the word(s), tapping the new Text Effects button (or long-pressing the Send button), and choosing from options like Bold, Italic, Shake, Explode, Ripple, or Jitter, which apply to individual words or emojis, while full-screen effects (Balloons, Fireworks) use keywords or the send button menu for the whole message.
 

What does grab a pew mean?

(UK, idiomatic) To take a seat; to sit down.

Is "pew pew" slang?

To use “pew pew" as slang, it means that someone is taking shots at someone else.