---
title: alternateLayout
framework: messages
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: messages/msmessagelivelayout/alternatelayout
---

# alternateLayout

A template layout to be displayed when the live layout is unavailable.

## Declaration

```swift
var alternateLayout: MSMessageTemplateLayout { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion To display the live layout, the device must be running iOS 11 or later, and must have your iMessage app installed. All other devices, including devices that do not support iMessage apps (macOS, iOS 9 and earlier, and SMS devices), use the  alternate layout.