Even though iOS 8 brought a number of cool new features and improvements to the Messages app, it still lacks a few important features and customization options which can be achieved by jailbreaking your device.
Here’s a list of our favorite jailbreak tweaks for the Messages app for iOS 8 that you should definitely check out on your device.
Custom Messages
If you ever wish to customize the look of the Messages app on your iPhone, you should consider checking out Custom Messages. The tweak allows you to change the color of the message bubbles in the stock Messages app, set a custom border around the messages as well as change the background color of the conversations in the app.
Custom Messages can be purchased for $1.99 from Cydia’s BigBoss repo.
➤ Read our Custom Messages review
Messages Customiser
If you are looking for a free way to spice up the look of your Messages app then you should check out Messages Customiser. The tweak allows you to customize various aspects of the Messages app ranging from the message bubbles to the conversation background and the tint color of the app.
It is currently in the beta phase which means that you might face issues while using the tweak but if you’d like to give it a try, it is available in the following repo: http://chewitt.me/repo/ .
➤ Read our Messages Customiser review
MessageHeads
MessageHeads is a popular tweak that brings the Facebook-style Chat Heads concept to the Messages app. The tweak allows you to access all your active conversations from the stock Messages app via the chat heads. Tapping on one of the chat heads opens up a small interface where you can type in your message, mute the conversation as well as send a picture just like how you can do in the Messages app.
The chat heads will float on your screen and you can freely move them to any edge of the screen as well as minimize all of them with just the press of a button.
MessageHeads is available for $0.99 on Cydia’s BigBoss repo.
➤ Read our MessageHeads review
MSGAutoSave8
Normally, when you receive images or videos in the stock Messages app, they will not get saved to your Camera Roll. MSGAutoSave8 lets you save all the media contents that you receive to your Camera Roll allowing you to view them later from the Photos app. The media contents include both images as well as videos received. This is quite similar to how WhatsApp handles the media contents you receive in the app.
➤ Read our MSGAutoSave8 coverage
Prettier Banners
When you receive a message in iOS 8, the Messages app icon appears in the notification banner. Prettier Banners allows you to replace the app icon with the picture of your contact. The same applies to text message notifications that appear on the Lock screen.
➤ Read our Prettier Banners review
Remote Messages (iOS8)
You can use iMessage on your Mac to stay in contact with your friends. However, if you own a computer running Windows, Linux or other operating system, this is not possible. Remote Messages is a unique tweak that allows you to remotely access the iOS 8 Messages app from any computer and send and receive both iMessage and SMS from your contacts.
You can also attach pictures from the computer, send emoji icons, access your Camera Roll and more.
Remote Messages is available for $3.99 on Cydia’s BigBoss repo.
SendDelay
Have you ever sent a message accidentally to the wrong person? If so, you should probably check out SendDelay. Just as the name implies, the tweak delays your message for a short period of time before sending it to your receipient.
After the send button is pressed, it will be replaced by a red ‘Stop’ button giving you the chance to stop the message from getting delivered. However if you don’t press it after a specified period of time, the message will be sent right away.
SendDelay can be downloaded for free of charge from Cydia’s BigBoss repository.
TypeStatus
TypeStatus is one of the most popular tweaks which adds a typing indicator to the Status Bar notifying you when someone is replying to you on iMessage or has read your message. This means that you no longer need to check your Messages app to see if someone is replying back or your message has been read as the tweak works system-wide.
TypeStatus is can be downloaded for free from the BigBoss repo.
➤ Read our review of Type Status
These are some of the best jailbreak tweaks for iOS 8 which will spice up your Messages app. If you feel that we missed an important tweak that deserves to make it to the list, make sure to let us know in the comments section below.
