On an iPhone, a blue dot next to a text message typically means that the message has not been read yet. This blue dot is used as a visual indicator to help you quickly identify which messages have been read and which ones have not. However, the blue dot may also have other meanings depending on the context in which it appears.
Here are some of the possible meanings of a blue dot next to a text message on an iPhone:
- Unread Message: As mentioned earlier, the most common meaning of a blue dot next to a text message on an iPhone is that the message is unread. This means that the recipient has not yet opened the message, and the sender is still waiting for a response.
- New Message: In some cases, a blue dot may appear next to a text message that is new, meaning that it was recently received by the recipient. This can be useful in situations where you receive a lot of messages and want to quickly identify which ones are new.
- Group Messages: When you are in a group chat on your iPhone, a blue dot may appear next to a message to indicate that someone in the group has not read the message yet. This can be helpful in situations where you want to know if everyone in the group has seen the message.
- Shared iCloud Photo Library: When you share an iCloud photo library with other users, a blue dot may appear next to photos or videos that have been recently added to the library. This can be useful in situations where you want to quickly identify new content that has been added to the shared library.
- Message Forwarding: If you forward a message to someone on your iPhone, a blue dot may appear next to the message to indicate that it has been forwarded. This can be helpful in situations where you want to keep track of which messages you have forwarded to other people.
- Do Not Disturb: If you have enabled the Do Not Disturb feature on your iPhone, a blue dot may appear next to messages that you have received during this time. This can be useful in situations where you want to quickly identify which messages you missed while your phone was in Do Not Disturb mode.
- SMS/MMS Messages: In some cases, a blue dot may appear next to SMS/MMS messages on your iPhone. This can be helpful in situations where you want to quickly identify which messages are SMS/MMS messages and which ones are iMessages.
It is worth noting that the meaning of a blue dot next to a text message on an iPhone may vary depending on the iOS version you are using, the messaging app you are using, and the settings you have enabled on your device. For example, some third-party messaging apps may use a different color or symbol to indicate unread messages.
If you want to disable the blue dot notification on your iPhone, you can do so by turning off the “Badge App Icon” feature in your device’s settings. This will remove the blue dot from your messages app icon, but it will not affect the blue dots that appear next to individual messages.
In conclusion, a blue dot next to a text message on an iPhone typically means that the message is unread, new, or has not been seen by everyone in a group chat. However, the exact meaning may vary depending on the context in which it appears. If you want to disable the blue dot notification on your iPhone, you can do so by turning off the “Badge App Icon” feature in your device’s settings.