How to Replace the Default Messaging App w/ a Better One in iOS 7 (Video)

Unlike Android, Apple doesn’t allow you to replace any of the default apps with other versions. So the phone, messaging, and email app are ones you have to be stuck with. That is, of course, if your not jailbroken. Once you jailbreak, you can make those changes so long as developers have made new versions of the apps in question. Thankfully the team behind BiteSMS has taken up the challenge for jailbroken only devices and released a replacement messaging app. With tons of new features, including quick reply and quick compose, adding contact pics to the messaging threads, and tons of customization options, it’s worth checking out. Oh, and it’s free.

I. Jailbreak your iPhone/iPad

To do this procedure you must be jailbroken. If you aren’t, you can head to our Jailbreak How To’s section and pick the jailbreak for your version of iOS (currently at the time of writing this is 7.0.4). Once done with that procedure and you have Cydia installed, head back here to continue.

II. Add BiteSMS Repo to Cydia

1. Open Cydia.

2. Tap on Manage at the bottom.

3. Tap on Sources.

4. Tap on Edit at the top right.

5. Tap on Add at the top left.

6. Enter the following into the text field that appears and hit Add Source when done.

http://test-cydia.bitesms.com

7. Tap Return to Cydia.

III. Install BiteSMS

1. Open Cydia (if it isn’t still open from the section above).

2. Tap Search in the bottom right corner.

3. Type in BiteSMS.

4. Tap on BiteSMS when it shows up and make sure it says a version higher than 8.X.X (i.e. 8.0.7 at the time of writing this).

5. Tap Install in the top right corner.

6. Tap Restart.

III. Setup BiteSMS

1. Open BiteSMS (it will be wherever you had the messaging app).

2. Pull down from the top on the message list to get the search bar to open at the top.

3. Tap Settings to the left of the search bar.

4. Explore the plethora of settings including, but not limited to, the following:

• Themes – Change the look and feel of the messaging app (feature wasn’t ready at the time of writing, but coming soon).
• Quick Compose – Enable composing a messaging while in any app by tapping a volume button and then tapping the icon that displays after that. You can also use an Activator trigger (4 finger swipe, 2 finger tap, etc.). Here’s a video on how to set up Activator (tons of other configurable options).
• Quick Reply – Whenever you receive a message have a popup notification appear that you can reply to over any app you are using (tons of configurable options as well).
• Contact Pics – Add contact pics to your messages (you can also add this to your original messaging app using this video on how to Customize your Messaging app).