Manage safety settings in Messages (2024)

In the Messages app , you can send text messages in two different ways:

Over Wi-Fi or cellular service, using iMessage with others who also use iMessage on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Your iMessage texts appear in blue bubbles.
With SMS/MMS messages forwarded from your iPhone to other devices. Your SMS/MMS messages appear in green bubbles.

You can use iMessage to send messages, photos, or videos to another iPhone, iPad, or Mac over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. These messages are always encrypted and appear in blue text bubbles on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Find out how: To view a task below, select the plus button next to its title.

Limit Messages to one device

If you want to limit Messages to one device, you must sign the account out of Messages on the devices you no longer want to receive messages on, and turn off Messages in iCloud.

Do one of the following:
- On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Messages, then turn iMessage on or off.
- On your Mac: In the Messages app , choose Messages > Settings, click iMessage, then click Sign out. Confirm you want to sign out, then click Sign out again.

Turn off Messages in iCloud from iPhone or iPad

When you use Messages in iCloud, all the messages you send, receive, and delete are updated on all your Apple devices automatically.

Turn off Messages in iCloud from Mac

When you use Messages in iCloud, all the messages you send, receive, and delete are updated on all your Apple devices automatically.

In the Messages app on your Mac, choose Messages > Settings, then click iMessage.
Click Settings, then deselect Enable Messages in iCloud.
Choose one of the following:
- Disable All: Turns off Messages in iCloud on all your devices. Messages are no longer stored in iCloud and are instead stored on each device.
- Disable This Device: Turns off Messages in iCloud on your Mac only. Messages on your Mac are no longer stored in iCloud; on any other device where Messages in iCloud is turned on, messages continue to be stored in iCloud.

Turn iMessage on and off

iMessage uses end-to-end encryption, protecting your messages across all of your devices so they can’t be accessed without your passcode by anyone, including Apple. Because iMessage conversations take place over Wi-Fi and cellular networks, information related to the person you message doesn’t appear on your phone bill. iMessages can be backed up, so that if your device is lost or stolen, you can still reproduce important message threads.

Important: For Messages to be saved to iCloud, you must have enabled backup. If you haven’t, your messages won’t be restored. See Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.

When iMessage is on

You can send an iMessage using a Wi-Fi connection when you don’t have access to cellular service. The Recently Deleted feature saves deleted messages for up to 30 days, so if you’re concerned someone may have deleted messages from your device, those messages may still be in this tab.

When iMessage is off

When iMessage is turned off, features like message editing, message unsend, and read receipts aren’t available. Messages are sent using SMS/MMS instead.

Important: When using SMS/MMS, records of these messages may appear in your phone bill and those message records may be released through the cellular provider to the account owner for that phone number.

On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Messages, then turn iMessage on or off.
On your Mac running macOS 13 or later: Open Messages choose Messages > Settings, click iMessage, then click Sign out. Confirm you want to sign out, then click Sign out again.
On your Mac running macOS 12 or earlier: Open Messages choose Messages > Settings, click iMessage, then click Sign out. Confirm you want to sign out, then click Sign out again.

Turn read receipts on and off

iMessage read receipts let iMessage users know when their messages have been read. With read receipts on, the person who sent you the iMessage gets a Read indicator below the message after you’ve read it. With read receipts off, they see only that the message has been delivered.

You have the option to send read receipts for all conversations, or only for individual ones. If you’ve turned on read receipts for all conversations, you can still turn them off for individual ones—and vice versa.

Note: Read receipts aren’t supported with SMS messaging and with group texts.

On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Messages, then turn Read Receipts on or off.
On your Mac running macOS 13 or later: Open Messages , go to Messages > Settings, click the iMessage tab, then select or deselect Send Read Receipts.
On your Mac running macOS 12 or earlier: Open Messages , go to Messages > Preferences, click the iMessage tab, then select or deselect Send Read Receipts.

Edit a sent message

In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS 13, or later, you can edit a recently sent message up to five times within 15 minutes of sending it. This allows you the opportunity to fix a typo. Recipients see that a message was edited and are able to view the edit history.

Note: SMS messages can’t be edited.

If your recipients have Apple devices with earlier versions of iOS, iPadOS or macOS, they receive follow-up messages with the preface “Edited to” and your new message in quotation marks.

On your iPhone or iPad: Tap Messages , touch and hold the message bubble, tap Edit, then edit the message and send it again.
On your Mac running macOS 13: Open Messages , Control-click the message bubble, select Edit, then edit the message and send it again.

Unsend a message

In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS 13, or later, you can unsend a recently sent message for up to 2 minutes after sending it. This allows you the opportunity to pull back a message that was accidentally sent to the wrong person. Recipients see that a message was unsent.

Note: SMS messages can’t be unsent.

On your iPhone or iPad: Tap Messages , touch and hold the message bubble, then tap Undo Send.
A note confirming that you unsent the message appears in both conversation transcripts—yours and your recipient’s.
On your Mac running macOS 13 or later: Open Messages , Control-click the message bubble, then select Undo Send.
A note confirming that you unsent the message appears in both conversation transcripts—yours and your recipient’s.

See alsoChange your Apple ID – Apple Support articleIf you forgot your Apple ID password – Apple Support articleIf you think your Apple ID has been compromised – Apple Support articleAdditional safety resources

Download this guide as a PDF

Manage safety settings in Messages (2024)

FAQs

How do I manage message settings? ›

Manage & control access to your messages

Open your phone's Settings .
Tap Apps & notifications Advanced Permission manager. SMS. If you allowed or denied any permissions for apps, you'll find them here.
Tap an app to change its permissions. Allow or Deny.
Repeat these steps for every app.

Read On ›

How do I manage message settings on iPhone? ›

Settings app.

Scroll to and select Messages. Adjust message settings as desired.

Discover More Details ›

How do I make my text messages private? ›

Open the Settings app on your Android device. Choose Apps & notifications > Notifications. Under the Lock Screen setting, choose Notifications on lock screen or On lock screen. Select Don't show notifications.

How to change text message privacy on iPhone? ›

Here's how to do it:

Open the Settings app.
Tap Notifications > Messages > Show Previews.
Select Never or Off to turn off message previews.
If you'd like to read message previews when you're using your iPhone (after you've entered your passcode), select When Unlocked.

See Details ›

Can someone see my texts from another phone? ›

Can someone view your text messages from another phone? Yes, people are able to read your text messages from another phone. However, they need to get access to your device or accounts to do so.

Find Out More ›

Who has access to my text messages? ›

Spyware or Malicious Apps: Malicious software or spyware installed on your phone can grant unauthorized access to your text messages. Cloud Backups: If you have enabled cloud backups for your text messages, they may be accessible to others if they gain access to your cloud storage account.

Tell Me More ›

How do I fix iMessage settings? ›

Turn off and restart iMessage and FaceTime

Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.
Go to Settings > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.
Restart your iPhone.
Turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.

May 21, 2024

Show Me More ›

How to reset iPhone message settings? ›

In the Settings app, tap Messages. Turn iMessage off and then back on. Tap Send & Receive. Tap the phone number that you want to use with Messages.

Explore More ›

Why are my Messages not sending on my iPhone? ›

By toggling Airplane Mode on and off, you'll force the iPhone to request a new connection to the network, and texting should start working again. Quit and restart the Messages app. Sometimes apps encounter conflicts and need a helping hand (er, finger swipe). Force-quit the messaging app, then try again.

Are text messages private? ›

While SMS lacks end-to-end encryption, it still offers some degree of security compared to other forms of communication. For instance, SMS messages are sent over cellular networks, which are generally considered more secure than public Wi-Fi or other internet connections.

Show Me More ›

How do I make my text messages private on my lock screen? ›

Android

Open the Settings app on your phone.
Tap Notifications or Apps & notifications.
Tap Messages or your default SMS app.
Tap Notifications again if needed.
Tap Notifications on lock screen or On lock screen.
Choose Don't show notifications, Don't show notifications at all, or Hide sensitive notification content.

May 22, 2023

Read The Full Story ›

Can iPhone have private Messages? ›

Turn Off Message Preview to Make Message Private on iPhone

Open Settings app on your iPhone. Navigate to Notifications > Messages. In the Messages section, you will see two options; you can either use the Message Preview feature to turn on for the Lock Screen or disable the feature completely.

See Details ›

How do I restrict text messages on my iPhone? ›

Block messages from a specific person or phone number

Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
In a Messages conversation, tap the name or number at the top of the conversation.
Tap Info , scroll down, then tap Block this Caller.

Get More Info Here ›

Is there a way to hide Messages without deleting them? ›

Archiving Android Messages

Messages allows you to archive conversations so that you can hide them from the home screen without having to delete them permanently. Tap and hold the conversation you want to hide. A list of icons will appear at the top of the screen. Tap the folder with a downward-pointing arrow.

Where are my text message settings? ›

2 Access your SMS settings

Depending on your device model and operating system, the SMS settings may be located in different places. For example, on Android phones, you can go to Settings, then Apps and Notifications, then Messages, then Advanced. On iPhones, you can go to Settings, then Messages.

Where do I manage Messenger settings? ›

You can access the Settings screen by logging in to Messenger and clicking the settings gear in the menu on the left side.

View Details ›

Why is my phone not notifying me when I get text messages? ›

Go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and make sure it's turned off. 2. **Check Notification Settings for the Messaging App**:- Go to Settings > Apps > [Your Messaging App] > Notifications. Ensure that notifications are allowed and the notification style is set to make sound.