An iPhone may send messages originating from an associated email address, instead of the expected phone number, due to settings configurations or iMessage activation issues. This often occurs when iMessage is not fully activated with the user’s phone number, or when the device identifies the email address as the primary contact method for iMessage.
Understanding this behavior is important because it impacts message delivery, recipient identification, and overall communication clarity. Historically, SMS and MMS messages relied solely on phone numbers. The introduction of iMessage blurred this line by integrating email addresses for cross-platform messaging within the Apple ecosystem. Proper configuration ensures messages are sent and received using the desired identifier, maintaining seamless communication.