While iMessage is an incredibly useful communication app, it can ruin your peace with annoying notifications. But what can you do when you want to receive alerts from other apps, just not iMessage? How do you silence iMessage notifications but continue to receive others?
Fortunately, you can silence iMessage notifications on your macOS and iOS devices by following the steps below!
How to Silence iMessage Notifications on iOS
Sure, you could flip the switch on the left side of your iPhone and silence all notifications. But sometimes, that isn’t practical. If you want to receive notifications from all your other apps but not text messages, follow these steps on your iPhone or iPad.
Step 1: Open Settings
We’ll start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone.
Helpful hint: The Settings app is on your iOS home screen. But you can search for it in the app library too.
Step 2: Tap Notifications
You won’t have to scroll very far before seeing the Notifications option in your device’s settings. Tap Notifications.
Step 3: Tap Messages
Now you’ll see a list of all your apps. Tap the Messages app.
Step 4: Toggle the Switch
Finally, toggle the switch to silence your message notifications. Now, your other notifications will still work, but iMessage won’t.
With the helpful steps and images above, you now know how to silence notifications on iMessage. However, if you would prefer to watch a step-by-step tutorial, we found this video on YouTube that can guide you through the process.
Helpful hint: Follow these steps for any app you’d like to silence. But be sure to enable the switch when you want to start receiving notifications again.
How to Silence iMessage Notifications on Mac
macOS devices like Mac and Macbook also allow us to control which apps to silence and which ones to send notifications. If you’d like to silence your text notifications on your Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click the Apple Icon
If you’re unfamiliar with the macOS layout, the Apple icon in the far top left corner is your computer’s menu. Click the Apple icon to access the notification settings and silence your iMessages.
Step 2: Click System Settings
Apple’s newest updates changed some of the options you’ll see in the apple menu. If you’re using Big Sure, click System Settings.
Those using a version of macOS before Big Sur can click System Preferences.
Step 3: Click Notifications
A new pop-up window will appear. Click Notifications in the left side menu (or Notifications & Focus for older macOS versions).
Step 4: Click Messages
Finally, scroll through the list and click Messages.
Step 5: Turn Off iMessage Notifications
Lastly, click the option to silence notifications.
How to Turn Off Message Previews
Perhaps you don’t want your iMessages displayed proudly on your screen every time you get one. Whether you want a little privacy or you don’t want any interruptions, you can follow these steps to disable message previews on your iOS device:
Step 1: Open Settings
Similar to the steps above, tap the Settings app on your iPhone.
Helpful hint: macOS users can click the Apple icon then System Settings (System Preferences).
Step 2: Tap Notifications
Tap the Notification setting to move forward.
Step 3: Tap Messages
Scroll through the list of options until you see Messages. Then, tap it.
Step 4: Click Show Previews
This new page that appears will give you a lot of options. Near the bottom of the page, you’ll see an option that says “Show Previews.” Tap that option.
Step 5: Click Never
Finally, you can choose Always, When Unlocked, or Never. Select Never to stop message previews.
Helpful hint: Mac users can turn off Show Notifications on lock screen and Show in notification center.
How to Silence One Contact on iMessage
Perhaps there’s a handful of contacts that you want to silence on iMessage. You can silence iMessage group chats or individuals. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Message App
Open the messaging app on your iOS or macOS device. Then, click or tap on the conversation.
Step 2: Tap the Contact Card
At the top of every iMessage or SMS-based message in the iMessage app, you’ll see a contact card that displays their profile picture and name. Tap the contact card at the top of the page.
Helpful hint: macOS users can click the i icon at the top right corner of the conversation.
Step 3: Tap Hide Alerts
Finally, tap or click Hide Alerts.
Now, you won’t receive any alerts from the user anymore.
Helpful hint: The user’s iMessage notifications will be silenced until you follow the steps again and unhide the alerts.
How to Silence iMessage Notifications from Unknown Senders
Have you ever received several spam messages in a short time? The constant dings and chimes of alerts from spammers and bots get irritating quickly! Fortunately, Apple’s developers gave us the option to silence iMessages from unknown senders.
Here’s what you can do:
Step 1: Open the Settings
We’ll start by enabling the filter in the Settings on your iPhone. Then, we can filter the messages in the Message app.
Open your iPhone’s Settings app.
Step 2: Tap Messages
Scroll down the Settings page and tap Messages.
Step 3: Tap the Filter Unknown Senders Toggle Switch
Work your way down the page until you see Filter Unknown Senders. Then, tap the toggle switch, so it turns green.
Step 4: Tap Filters in the Message App
After enabling the unknown senders filter, open the Message app. Then, tap Filters in the top left corner.
Step 5: Tap Known Senders
Now, you’ll see a few options. Select the Known Filters option and go back to your conversations. You’ll only see conversations from your contacts. Moreover, you’ll only receive alerts from the people you know.
Helpful hint: If you get verification codes or important texts from people who aren’t in your contacts, you’ll need to tap Filters again and tap All. Otherwise, you may miss some important texts.
Shhh – Our iMessage Notifications Are Off
Hopefully, you can now enjoy some quiet time. Simply silence all iMessage notifications on your macOS or iOS device, including a few contacts you don’t want bothering you.
Of course, don’t forget to follow the steps again to enable iMessage notifications when you’re ready. You don’t want to miss any important communications.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©oasisamuel/Shutterstock.com.
