Do you never use Apple’s messaging service, or have you switched to the Android camp? In this article, we’ll show you how to turn off iMessage on all your Apple devices.
This is how you turn off iMessage
Do you never actually use iMessage, because all your friends have WhatsApp, for example? You’re not the only one. Perhaps it would be useful to turn off Apple’s messaging service completely. After all, you don’t have to keep track of multiple apps.
How to turn off iMessage on iOS and iPadOS:
- Grab your iPhone or iPad and open the Settings app;
- Scroll down and tap ‘Messages’;
- Tap the switch next to iMessage so that the box turns gray.
Apple’s messaging service is now turned off. You can still use the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad, but sending messages will now be at the expense of your (SMS) bundle. Free chat with other Apple users is therefore no longer possible.
You can still read previously sent messages via the app, so it is not the case that your conversation history is suddenly gone.
Do you want to turn iMessage back on? Then follow the steps above, but slide the switch from step three the other way. The box then turns green, indicating that Apple’s messaging service is active again.
Disable iMessage on Mac
Of course you can also turn off iMessage on a Mac (Book). It works much the same as on the iPhone and iPad:
- Open the Messages app on your Mac;
- Click on ‘Preferences’ in the menu;
- Go to the ‘iMessage’ tab and select ‘Log out’.
The messaging service is now disabled and you can no longer send free messages to other Apple users.
The alternative
The best-known alternative to iMessage is of course WhatsApp. Facebook’s messaging service is one of the most popular apps in the Netherlands (and the world). Almost everyone can send an app, but the chat app has more to it. Read our overview of lesser known WhatsApp features or watch the video below: