iMessage Typing Indicators API — Show Typing Bubbles

Why Typing Indicators Matter

When a real person texts you, you see the typing bubble first. It signals that someone is actively engaged in the conversation. Sendblue lets you replicate this behavior programmatically — show the typing indicator, pause for a natural delay, then deliver your message.

The result: higher open rates and faster responses. Recipients perceive the message as personal rather than automated. It's a small detail that makes a significant difference in engagement.

How It Works

Add the send_style parameter to your API call, or use the dedicated typing indicator endpoint. Sendblue shows the typing bubble on the recipient's phone, waits the specified duration, then delivers your message.

Send a Message with Typing Indicator

curl -X POST https://api.sendblue.co/api/send-message \
  -H "sb-api-key-id: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "sb-api-secret-key: YOUR_SECRET_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "number": "+19998887777",
    "content": "Hey! Just wanted to follow up on our conversation.",
    "send_style": "invisible",
    "status_callback": "https://yourapp.com/webhook/status"
  }'

Key Capabilities

Use Cases

The Psychology of Typing Bubbles

Typing indicators create anticipation. When a recipient sees the dots, they're primed to read whatever comes next. Studies on messaging behavior show that messages preceded by typing indicators receive faster responses because the recipient is already focused on the conversation.

For automated messaging, this is powerful. Without the typing bubble, a message appears instantly — and the brain registers it as automated. With the bubble, there's a moment of "someone is talking to me" that changes how the recipient processes the message.

Combine typing indicators with Sendblue's read receipts to build a complete feedback loop: know when messages are read, show typing for follow-ups, and track engagement via webhooks. Access all of this through our REST API, CLI, or MCP server.