How to disable iMessage
iMessage is Apple's messaging service that sends texts over Wi-Fi or data instead of using your phone plan's text messages. You turn it off in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or in Messages preferences on Mac. The process takes about 30 seconds, but the timing matters — if you switch to Android or another phone later, you should disable iMessage first to avoid missing texts from other iPhone users.
When iMessage is on, your phone number or email appears as an iMessage address to other Apple users. When you turn it off, those users' phones will stop routing messages through iMessage and will use regular SMS text messages instead. If you do not disable it before switching phones, Apple's servers may keep trying to send messages to your old phone for days or weeks, and you will not receive them on your new device.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, tap Messages, and toggle iMessage off — it takes one tap after you open the app.
- On Mac, open Messages, click Messages in the menu bar, select Preferences, click Accounts, and uncheck Enable this account.
- Disabling iMessage does not delete your message history — your old conversations stay in the Messages app.
- If you are switching to a non-Apple phone, disable iMessage on your iPhone before you stop using it, or you may miss texts from iPhone users.
- You can turn iMessage back on anytime by reversing the same steps.
Disable iMessage on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see Messages. Tap it. At the top of the Messages screen, you will see a toggle switch next to iMessage. If it is green or blue, iMessage is on. Tap the toggle to turn it off — it will become gray.
That is the entire process. Your phone will no longer send or receive iMessages. Text messages from other iPhone users will now arrive as regular SMS texts instead, and your outgoing messages will go out as SMS as well. You can still see all your old iMessage conversations in the Messages app — turning off iMessage does not erase them.
If you have multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), each one has its own iMessage setting. Turning it off on your iPhone does not turn it off on your iPad. If you want iMessage off on all your devices, repeat these steps on each one.
Disable iMessage on Mac
Open the Messages app. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Messages, then click Preferences. A window will open showing your Messages settings.
Click the Accounts tab. You will see a list of accounts on the left side — your iCloud account or phone number should be listed. Click it to select it, then look for a checkbox that says Enable this account. Uncheck that box. Close the Preferences window, and iMessage is now off on your Mac.
Your Mac will no longer send or receive iMessages, but you can still read old message threads in the Messages app. If you want to turn iMessage back on later, follow the same steps and check the Enable this account box again.
What happens after you disable iMessage
Once iMessage is off, all your text messages will use your phone plan's regular SMS service. This means they will count against any text message limits in your plan, whereas iMessages sent over Wi-Fi or data do not. If you have an unlimited texting plan, this will not matter.
Other iPhone users will see your messages arrive as regular texts instead of iMessages. In their Messages app, the message bubbles will appear in green instead of blue. This is purely visual — the messages work exactly the same way, and the other person will not notice any difference in how fast they arrive or whether they can read them.
If you turn iMessage back on later, you do not need to do anything special. Just follow the same steps and toggle it back on. Your phone will start sending iMessages again the next time you restart the Messages app or send a message.
Why you should disable iMessage before switching phones
If you are moving from iPhone to Android, Windows Phone, or any non-Apple device, Apple's servers may not know you no longer have an iPhone. When other iPhone users text you, their phones will try to send the message as an iMessage to your old phone number. Since you no longer have that iPhone, the message will not reach you, and the sender will not know anything went wrong.
The best way to prevent this is to disable iMessage on your iPhone before you stop using it. This tells Apple's servers that your phone number is no longer an iMessage address. After that, when iPhone users text you, their phones will automatically send regular SMS messages instead, and you will receive them on your new phone.
If you have already switched phones and are missing texts from iPhone users, you can still fix this. Go to Apple's iMessage registration page on a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and remove your phone number from iMessage. This tells Apple to stop routing messages to that number as iMessages.
Turning iMessage back on
If you decide you want iMessage on again, the process is identical to turning it off. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, go to Messages, and toggle iMessage back on. On Mac, open Messages Preferences, click Accounts, select your account, and check the Enable this account box.
When you turn iMessage back on, your phone will need a moment to register with Apple's servers. You may see a brief loading screen. After that, your phone number will be an iMessage address again, and messages from other iPhone users will come through as iMessages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off iMessage delete my old messages?
No. All your old message conversations stay in the Messages app. Disabling iMessage only stops new messages from being sent and received as iMessages — it does not touch anything you have already received or sent.
Can I turn off iMessage on just one device if I have multiple Apple devices?
Yes. Each iPhone, iPad, and Mac has its own iMessage setting. You can turn it off on your iPhone and leave it on on your iPad, or vice versa. They do not affect each other.
What is the difference between iMessage and regular text messages?
iMessage uses Wi-Fi or cellular data and only works between Apple devices. Regular SMS text messages use your phone plan and work with any phone. iMessages show as blue bubbles in the Messages app, and SMS messages show as green bubbles.
If I turn off iMessage, can I still text other iPhone users?
Yes. Your messages will simply be sent as regular SMS text messages instead of iMessages. The other person will still receive them normally — the only difference is the bubble color in their Messages app.
Do I need to disable iMessage before switching to Android?
You should, but it is not required. If you forget, you can still fix it later by visiting Apple's iMessage registration page and removing your phone number. Without this step, you may miss texts from iPhone users for several days or weeks.