iOS 11 Introduces Two New Screen Effects Within Messages Called 'Echo' and 'Spotlight' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 11 Introduces Two New Screen Effects Within Messages Called 'Echo' and 'Spotlight'

Messages users sending texts in iOS 11 this fall will be able to share iMessages with two all-new Screen Effects in Apple's texting app.

Specifically, a new "Echo" option sends any selected piece of text to friends by multiplying the message all over the screen. The second, "Spotlight," puts an emphasis on your message by placing a large spotlight on the text as it's sent over to your friend's iOS device.

No new Bubble Effects have been added to iOS 11, at least not in the first developer beta of the software.

ios 11 screen effects
Screen Effects and Bubble Effects made their debut in iOS 10 last year, where Messages as a whole received a major overhaul thanks to the addition of the Messages App Store. On the new platform, apps have become available to download as miniature versions within Messages, including apps for payments, games, dinner reservations, and stickers.

Messages will be getting another overhaul in iOS 11, although one that's not as big as last year's update. This fall, the app's main new addition will be a redesigned App Drawer for your Messages apps, which are placed as a scrollable toolbar below the texting field. Apps should be easier to access in comparison to iOS 10's user interface, which requires one tap to get into the App Drawer, and another to go to Recents to find the app you want.

Check out the full MacRumors iOS 11 roundup for more features coming to Messages, including peer-to-peer payments using Apple Pay and full chat archive synchronization in iCloud, so transferring over to a new iPhone retains all of your old conversations.

(Thanks, Koohyun Y!)

Related Forum: iOS 11

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Unveiled Four New Products Today

Tuesday August 25, 2026 8:39 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs. To learn more about these products, read our coverage below: Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More Apple Unveils New Mac Studio With M5 Max and M5...
apple magic keyboard with glyphs 2026 refresh

Apple Quietly Refreshes Magic Keyboards

Tuesday August 25, 2026 7:22 am PDT by
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling. On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...
Apple Logo Gradient 16x9 1

Apple Just Made an Extremely Rare Product Announcement

Thursday August 27, 2026 7:58 am PDT by
The new Mac mini and Mac Studio models unveiled by Apple this week are the company's first new Macs announced in August since 2020. It is extremely rare for Apple to announce new products of any kind in August, excluding smaller things like new color options and accessories. As mentioned, Apple's last notable August product announcement was in 2020, when it updated the 27-inch iMac and a...

Top Rated Comments

Joe Rossignol Avatar
120 months ago
Imagine the poop emoji sent with Echo lol


Attachment Image
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
120 months ago
Imagine the poop emoji sent with Echo lol
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
120 months ago
I'd be interested in seeing the full effect rather than just a couple screenshots.

EDIT: An hour later, beta installed, and…



EDIT EDIT: Damn, beaten by a few other posters.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zaft Avatar
120 months ago
I enjoy all these effects iMessage is awesome, my friends/family and I enjoy group iMessage as well. A lot of fun.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yanki01 Avatar
120 months ago
i forgot about those features.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
120 months ago
MacRumors if Apple doesn't do fun stuff / "Why doesn't Apple compete with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp? It's 2017, they should at least have x, y, and z feature. I love this company, but they've lost their magic."

MacRumors when Apple does fun stuff / "THIS IS SO STUPID." "I just want to send a text." "More bloatware to slow down iOS 11." "These got old so fast." "Maybe instead of spending time on this, they should update the Mac mini because clearly you can only work on one of those at the same time." ":rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:" "Watch bands!!!!!"
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)