Apple’s iMessage service stands out as one of the greatest things ever to come to the iPhone. Still, you need to know how to turn off iMessage and get all your messages on your new phone.
iMessage is a legitimate reason to continue buying an iPhone rather than defecting to an Android-powered smartphone or Windows Phone. iMessage on iPhone and iPad connects your phone number and Apple servers to control your messaging costs. For example, let’s say most of your friends have an iPhone with iMessage. Theoretically, you could completely abandon the unlimited messaging services you have. Apple makes the experience better by showing messages on multiple devices and even the latest Mac OS. Buy an iPhone, turn it on and you’ve done everything you need to do.
There’s a dark side to iMessage though, and the moment a user chooses to switch from an Apple iPhone, it raises their heads. iMessage works with your mobile number and service. Because it’s so tightly integrated, users can upgrade to newer iPhones every year and never lose a message or reconfigure the app. The problem is that Apple doesn’t fully disclose that there is an ongoing server and mobile carrier integration. Users leaving iPhone after iMessage was introduced find missing messages sent by other iPhone users.
Here’s how to turn off iMessage before and after switching to a new phone.
Turn Off iMessage With Your iPhone
The easiest way to turn off iMessage integration with iPhone is to deal with it from your iPhone right before or right after you get a new smartphone. You will need your SIM card and your old iPhone for this method to work. If you recently switched and still have the old device, remove the SIM card from your current smartphone and insert it back into your iPhone using a SIM card tool.
After inserting your SIM card into your iPhone, turn on your iPhone. If you haven’t already, you will need to enter your PIN.
Once inside your iPhone, go to the app. It is represented by a gray icon with a gear in the middle.
Scroll down until you see the settings. FaceTime is combined with settings from other built-in apps like Phone and Safari. Tap on it.
Now tap the switch next to iMessage. This will immediately terminate the iMessage integration with your mobile number. From this point forward, any message sent by an iPhone owner should go directly to your mobile number, rather than through Apple’s iMessage servers.
Turn off iMessage Online
Not every user will have their old iPhone in front of them, especially as more money-conscious smartphone owners trade their old iPhones for the next big Android smartphone or Windows phone. Apple thought about this too and released a website that makes iMessage integration pretty effortless.
You won’t need your iPhone to turn off iMessages online, but you will need a good internet connection and a phone that allows you to receive text messages. click here To go to Apple’s website.
Enter the phone number you are using now. To be clear, this phone number needs to be the same one you used when you had an iPhone and first set up iMessage. If you’ve changed phone numbers since then, this won’t work. Don’t forget your area code, it’s absolutely essential that you include it along with the rest of your number. tap or click
Now take your phone that has that number. In the next few minutes, you will receive a confirmation code that will allow you to leave iMessage entirely. If you did not receive the confirmation code, try sending another code. Again, it is absolutely critical that the number you submit to the deregistration tool is still your current number.
Write this code in deregistration tool and
If the code was successful, you’ll see a screen with a giant green checkmark confirming that you’ve removed your phone number from iMessage.
To be clear, if you’re upgrading to another iPhone, it’s a better idea to leave iMessage on. You can save a lot of money by having other iPhone owners send you a message that way instead of a traditional text message. It’s also a good idea to leave it on, as this is the only way to reply to text messages from your iPad or Mac. Really, this is only for people who value their privacy and don’t want their messages to appear on iMessage or are planning to migrate to a new ecosystem in the near future. Enabling iMessage is how all your text messages are also backed up, so keep that in mind.
Apple says users who still have trouble receiving text messages after turning off iMessage should contact their wireless carrier’s help and support line.
