What happens when you turn off iMessage

When you turn off iMessage, your device stops sending and receiving messages through Apple's encrypted network. Instead, text messages will route through your carrier's standard SMS or MMS system. People who message you will still reach you, but the conversation will no longer show the blue message bubbles that indicate iMessage — they'll show green bubbles instead, which means standard text messaging.

You might want to turn off iMessage if you're switching to an Android phone, if you're having trouble with message delivery, or if you want to reduce data usage. The process takes less than a minute and you can turn it back on anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • iMessage turns off in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or in Messages preferences on Mac — the location differs by device type.
  • When iMessage is off, your messages will send as green SMS texts instead of blue iMessages, and you'll use your cellular plan's text allowance instead of data.
  • If you're switching to Android, turn off iMessage on your iPhone before you stop using it, or you may not receive texts from other iPhone users.
  • You can turn iMessage back on at any time by reversing the same steps.

How to turn off iMessage on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap Messages.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to iMessage to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray when it's off.

That's all you need to do. Your iPhone will now send text messages through your carrier instead of through iMessage. If you have multiple Apple devices, you'll need to repeat this process on each one — turning off iMessage on your iPhone doesn't turn it off on your iPad or Mac.

How to turn off iMessage on iPad

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPad.

Step 2: Tap Messages in the left sidebar (on iPad, settings are organized in columns).

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to iMessage to turn it off.

Your iPad will no longer send or receive iMessages. Note that if you turn off iMessage on your iPad but leave it on your iPhone, you'll still receive iMessages on your iPhone — the devices work independently.

How to turn off iMessage on Mac

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your Mac (find it in Applications > Messages or search for it with Spotlight).

Step 2: Click Messages in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS).

Step 3: Click the Accounts tab.

Step 4: Select your Apple ID account from the list on the left, then uncheck the box next to Enable this account.

Your Mac will stop using iMessage. If you want to keep using the Messages app but just turn off iMessage specifically, you can instead uncheck iMessage in the account settings while leaving the account itself on.

What to do before switching to Android

If you're moving from iPhone to Android, turn off iMessage on your iPhone before you switch devices. When iMessage is on and you stop using your iPhone, other iPhone users won't know that you've left the Apple ecosystem — their messages will still try to route through iMessage and you won't receive them.

The safest approach: turn off iMessage on your iPhone, wait a few hours, then switch to your Android phone. This gives Apple's servers time to update and stops routing your phone number to iMessage. If you've already switched and aren't receiving texts from iPhone users, you can turn off iMessage remotely by visiting iCloud.com, signing in with your Apple ID, and removing your phone number from iMessage through the account settings.

Turning iMessage back on

If you change your mind, you can turn iMessage back on by following the same steps and toggling it on instead of off. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Messages and turn the iMessage toggle back on. On Mac, go to Messages > Settings > Accounts, select your Apple ID, and check the box next to Enable this account or iMessage.

Your device will reconnect to iMessage within a few seconds. Any conversations you had before will still be there, and new messages from iPhone users will come through as iMessages again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know I turned off iMessage?

No. Your contacts won't see any notification that you've turned off iMessage. Their messages will simply arrive as SMS texts instead of iMessages, and the message bubbles will change from blue to green on their end.

Can I turn off iMessage on just one device?

Yes. Each device — iPhone, iPad, and Mac — has its own iMessage setting. You can turn it off on your iPhone and leave it on your iPad, for example. They don't affect each other.

What if I turn off iMessage but still want to use the Messages app?

You can. The Messages app will still work and receive SMS and MMS texts. On Mac, you can keep your account active while disabling iMessage specifically, so you can still send and receive regular texts through the app.

Why aren't iPhone users' messages reaching me after I switched to Android?

This usually means iMessage wasn't turned off on your iPhone before you switched. Visit iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, go to account settings, and remove your phone number from iMessage. It can take a few hours for the change to take effect.

Do I need an Apple ID to turn off iMessage?

No. You can turn off iMessage in Settings without signing out of your Apple ID. iMessage is just one feature within your account, and disabling it doesn't affect anything else.