Turning off iMessage stops your iPhone from sending messages through Apple's encrypted network

iMessage is Apple's messaging system that sends texts, photos, and videos over the internet instead of through your phone carrier's SMS network. When iMessage is on, your iPhone automatically uses it for messages to other Apple users. Turning it off makes your iPhone send regular text messages instead, which costs money if you don't have unlimited texting, but also means your messages work the same way on any phone — iPhone, Android, or older devices.

You might want to disable iMessage if you're switching to an Android phone, if you're having trouble receiving texts from Android users, or if you want to use a different messaging app. The process takes less than a minute and you can turn it back on anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Messages, and toggle off the iMessage switch to stop using Apple's messaging system.
  • When iMessage is off, your iPhone sends regular text messages that work with any phone, including Android devices.
  • If you're switching to Android, disable iMessage before you stop using your iPhone, or you may not receive texts from other iPhone users.
  • You can turn iMessage back on anytime by going to the same Settings menu and toggling it on again.

The step-by-step process to disable iMessage

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Messages. At the top of the Messages screen, you'll see the iMessage toggle switch. Tap it once to turn it off — the switch will change from green to gray.

That's the entire process. Your iPhone will now send text messages using your carrier's SMS network instead of iMessage. If you have an Apple Watch or iPad, they may still show iMessage as on — you can disable it on those devices the same way if you want to turn it off everywhere.

What happens when you turn iMessage off

When iMessage is disabled, messages you send to other iPhone users will arrive as regular text messages instead of iMessages. The person receiving your message won't see a difference in their Messages app — it will still show your name and the conversation will look the same. The main difference is that your message travels through your phone carrier instead of through Apple's servers.

If you send a message to someone with an Android phone, nothing changes — those messages were already going through your carrier as regular texts. iMessage only works between Apple devices, so disabling it doesn't affect how you message Android users.

Why you might not receive texts after switching phones

If you switch from an iPhone to an Android phone without disabling iMessage first, other iPhone users may not be able to text you. Their iPhones will try to send you iMessages, which Android phones cannot receive. The messages might arrive hours later as regular texts, or they might not arrive at all.

To prevent this, disable iMessage on your iPhone before you switch to Android. If you've already switched and aren't receiving texts, ask an iPhone user to send you a message — their phone should eventually realize you're not on iMessage anymore and switch to regular texts. You can also visit Apple's deregister page at iforgot.apple.com to remove your phone number from iMessage if you no longer have access to your iPhone.

Turning iMessage back on if you change your mind

Go back to Settings, tap Messages, and toggle the iMessage switch back on. Your iPhone will reconnect to Apple's messaging system within a few seconds. Any messages you send after that will use iMessage again when you're messaging other Apple users.

If you're turning iMessage back on after switching back to an iPhone from Android, it may take a few minutes for your contacts' phones to recognize that you're on iMessage again. During that time, some messages might still arrive as regular texts.

iMessage vs. regular text messages: the practical difference

iMessage uses your Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, so it works anywhere you have internet. Regular text messages use your carrier's SMS network and count against your texting plan if you don't have unlimited texting. iMessage messages show as blue bubbles in the Messages app, while regular texts show as green bubbles.

iMessage also lets you see when someone is typing, shows read receipts (if they have that turned on), and lets you send high-quality photos and videos. Regular text messages compress photos more and don't include typing indicators. For most people, the difference is minor — both get your message across — but some people prefer one or the other.

Disabling iMessage on other Apple devices

If you have an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, they may also have iMessage turned on. Disabling it on your iPhone doesn't automatically turn it off on those devices. On an iPad or Mac, go to Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), find Messages, and toggle iMessage off. On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Messages, and toggle it off.

You don't have to disable iMessage on all your devices — you can leave it on your iPad and Mac while turning it off on your iPhone if you want. Just keep in mind that if iMessage is on anywhere, people might still try to send you iMessages instead of regular texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know I turned off iMessage?

No. When you send a message after disabling iMessage, it will arrive as a regular text message and look the same to the person receiving it. They won't see any notification that you turned off iMessage.

Can I disable iMessage for just one contact?

No, iMessage is an all-or-nothing setting on your iPhone. You can't turn it off for one person and keep it on for everyone else. If you want to message one person without using iMessage, you would need to disable it for all messages.

What if I disabled iMessage and now I'm not receiving texts?

This usually means your phone number is still registered with iMessage on Apple's servers. Visit iforgot.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID, then remove your phone number from iMessage. It can take up to 24 hours for the change to take effect.

Does disabling iMessage affect FaceTime?

No. iMessage and FaceTime are separate services. You can turn off iMessage while keeping FaceTime on, or vice versa. FaceTime is for voice and video calls, while iMessage is for text messages.

Will my old iMessages disappear if I turn off iMessage?

No. All your past iMessages will stay in the Messages app. Turning off iMessage only affects new messages you send — they will be sent as regular texts instead.