How to Turn Off iMessage on iPhone and Mac
Yes, you can turn off iMessage and still use your favorite Apple devices. Here’s how to do this on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iMessage is an excellent platform for texting other users with Apple devices. Not only does it offer an alternative to WhatsApp and other messaging platforms, but it also allows you to send messages to iPads and Mac devices.
That said, iMessage’s focus on Apple devices makes it less useful for users who want to communicate with Android and Windows users. If you’d prefer a more platform-agnostic approach, you may want to look into how to turn off iMessage on your iPhone or Mac. You can then switch to another platform, from WhatsApp to Telegram.
How to Turn Off iMessage
Most of the time, iMessage isn’t a problem, as text messages to non-Apple users will send as standard SMS messages. However, if you’ve purchased a non-Apple phone, it can cause issues if you leave iMessage enabled. Other Apple users may send you a message through iMessage that you won’t be able to read or receive on your device.
The only option is to switch iMessage off, especially if you’ve decided to keep the same phone number. You can disable iMessage by following the steps below.
Disable iMessage On iPhone
Ideally, you should switch iMessage off before removing the SIM card from your iPhone. From there:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Tap Messages.
- Toggle off iMessage.
Next, you’ll need to deactivate FaceTime on your iPhone:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Tap FaceTime.
- Toggle off FaceTime.
If you have already removed the SIM card from your iPhone, you must follow a different set of steps. In this case, you must deregister iMessage using a tool on the Apple website. You’ll need to use the tool to generate a confirmation code to deregister iMessage.
Apple will send this number to your new phone, which now uses the number once used on your iPhone. Once you enter the generated code on the website, Apple will deactivate iMessage for your phone number. Apple’s messaging service will also turn off on your Apple Watch.
Disable iMessage On iPad
You can also turn off iMessage on your iPad, where the steps are similar to those required by iPhone users. You’ll need to switch iMessage and FaceTime off using the Settings app on your device.
To disable iMessage on your iPad:
- On your iPad, go to Settings.
- Tap Messages.
- Toggle off iMessage.
Next, you must deactivate FaceTime on your iPad:
- On your iPad, go to Settings.
- Tap FaceTime.
- Toggle off FaceTime.
Disable iMessage On Mac
To stop Apple’s messaging system from working on your Mac:
- Open iMessage.
- Click Messages on the menu bar at the top left.
- Select Preferences.
- Choose iMessage.
- Select Sign Out and follow any additional directions.
Similarly, you must also turn off FaceTime:
- Open FaceTime
- Click FaceTime on the menu bar at the top left.
- Select Sign Out and follow any additional directions.
Stepping Away From Apple
As you can see, it takes just a few steps to turn off Apple’s native messaging system on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Just don’t forget to turn off FaceTime when you do so.
If you’re leaving the Apple ecosystem, you may want to consider deleting your Apple ID to wipe your data. You can always keep your account and use it on non-Apple devices, but you may want to enable two-factor authentication to secure your account first.
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
