Sign out of Messages by going to the menu bar

To sign out of Messages on your Mac, open the Messages app and look at the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click Messages in the top-left corner, then select Sign Out from the dropdown menu. Your account will disconnect immediately, and you will no longer receive messages on that Mac.

This is the fastest way to disconnect if you are leaving the computer or handing it to someone else. After you sign out, the next person who opens Messages will see a login screen instead of your conversation history.

If you do not see a Sign Out option in the Messages menu, your Mac may be running an older version of macOS. In that case, use the account settings method described in the next section.

Key Takeaways

  • The quickest way to sign out is to click Messages in the menu bar, then select Sign Out.
  • If Sign Out does not appear in the menu, go to System Settings, find Messages in the sidebar, and click Sign Out there instead.
  • Signing out removes your account from that Mac but does not delete your message history on other devices or in iCloud.
  • After you sign out, anyone using that Mac will need your Apple ID and password to access Messages again.

Remove your account through System Settings

If the Messages menu does not show a Sign Out option, you can disconnect through your Mac's system settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. In the sidebar, scroll down and click Messages.

You will see your Apple ID listed with your name or phone number. Click the Sign Out button next to your account. Your Mac will ask you to confirm — click Sign Out again to complete the process.

This method works on all recent versions of macOS and achieves the same result as signing out through the app menu. Your messages will remain stored in iCloud and will still appear on your other Apple devices.

What happens after you sign out

Once you sign out, Messages stops syncing with your Apple ID on that specific Mac. You will not receive new messages on that computer, and anyone who picks it up will not see your old conversations without signing in with your credentials.

Your message history is not deleted — it stays in iCloud and will reappear if you sign back in with the same Apple ID. On your iPhone, iPad, or other Macs where you remain signed in, your messages continue to work normally.

If you sign out because you are selling or giving away the Mac, make sure you also sign out of iCloud and your other accounts. Signing out of Messages alone leaves your other data accessible.

Sign out before you hand off your Mac

If you are giving your Mac to someone else or taking it to a repair shop, sign out of Messages before you hand it over. This prevents the new user from reading your past conversations or sending messages as you.

You should also sign out of iCloud, Mail, and any other accounts that hold personal information. If you are selling the Mac, erase it completely using the Erase Mac option in System Settings under General — this removes all accounts and data at once.

For repair situations, ask the technician whether they need you to stay signed in. Most repairs do not require access to your accounts, and signing out is the safer choice.

Sign back in to Messages

To use Messages again on that Mac, open the app and you will see a login screen. Enter your Apple ID (your email address or phone number) and your password. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you will need to approve the sign-in from another Apple device or enter a verification code.

After you sign in, Messages will sync your recent conversations from iCloud. This usually takes a few seconds, but if you have years of message history, it may take a few minutes to download everything.

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com. You will need access to your recovery email or phone number to complete the reset.

Troubleshooting: Sign Out button is missing

If you cannot find a Sign Out option anywhere, your Mac may be running an older version of macOS that does not support this feature. Check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac. Look at the version number listed under macOS.

If you are running macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or older, you may need to update your system to access the Sign Out feature. Go to System Settings, click General, then Software Update to check for updates.

As a workaround on older systems, you can remove your iCloud account entirely, which will also sign you out of Messages. Go to System Settings, click Apple ID in the sidebar, scroll to the bottom, and click Sign Out. This removes all iCloud services from that Mac, so use this only if you are certain you want to disconnect completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my messages be deleted if I sign out?

No. Your messages stay in iCloud and will reappear when you sign back in with the same Apple ID. Signing out only disconnects that Mac from your account — it does not erase anything.

Can I sign out of Messages without signing out of iCloud?

On newer versions of macOS, yes. You can sign out of Messages alone through the Messages menu or System Settings without touching your iCloud account. On older versions, you may have to sign out of iCloud entirely to disconnect Messages.

What if I sign out by mistake?

Simply sign back in with your Apple ID and password. Your message history will sync back down from iCloud within a few seconds. There is no penalty for signing out and back in.

Do I need to sign out of Messages before updating macOS?

No. You can leave Messages signed in during a macOS update. The update will not affect your Messages account or your message history.

If I sign out on my Mac, does it sign me out on my iPhone too?

No. Each device is independent. Signing out on your Mac does not affect Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or any other Apple device. You would need to sign out separately on each device.