Phone, Messages, and FaceTime
iMessage settings
Most people call this the switches that control Apple's messaging service.
iMessage settings control which addresses receive messages, which one new conversations start from, and whether the service is on at all.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 18 and later
- Settings
- Apps
- Messages
- Send & Receive
What it does
Send and Receive lists every phone number and email address linked to your Apple Account. Unticking an address stops messages arriving there. The address chosen for starting conversations decides what recipients see.
What changes
When it is on
Messages between Apple devices use iMessage.
When it is off
Everything falls back to SMS through your carrier.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Encrypted messaging between Apple devices.
- Messages sync across your devices.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Turn it off before moving to a non Apple phone.
- SMS is more reliable in poor data coverage.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Helps
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On, with your phone number and Apple Account address enabled.
Worth reading first
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 18 and later
Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive
-
iOS 13 to iOS 17
Settings > Messages > Send & Receive
Questions people actually ask
- Why do my messages arrive on my iPad too?
- That address or number is ticked under Send and Receive. Untick it on the device that should not receive them.
If it is not working
- Messages arriving on the wrong device usually means an address is ticked that should not be.
- Deregister your number with Apple if you have already switched away from iPhone.
- Text Message Forwarding controls which devices receive SMS.