Turn Off Deliver Quietly on iMessage: Easy Fix

Deliver Quietly is an iOS notification setting that sends iMessage alerts straight to Notification Center without banners, sounds, or lock screen pop-ups. If you turned it on for a conversation (or it got enabled by accident) and now you are missing messages, this guide shows you how to switch it back to normal alerts in a few taps.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or later (the steps are the same on recent versions)
The Messages app with the conversation you want to fix

Step-by-Step

Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
Find the conversation that is set to Deliver Quietly. You can usually spot it because the contact’s name or phone number appears in gray instead of blue or green, and there is no unread badge on the app icon for that thread.
Open that conversation by tapping on it.
Tap the contact’s name or number at the very top of the screen, right above the message bubbles. This opens the Details page.
Scroll down until you see the Hide Alerts toggle (it may also be labeled Deliver Quietly on newer iOS versions). It will be green or highlighted if it is currently on.
Tap the toggle to turn it off. When it is off, the toggle is gray and the label changes to show that alerts are on.
Tap Done in the top-right corner (or swipe down) to close the Details page.
Send a test message to yourself from another device or ask a friend to text you, to confirm you now get a banner, sound, and lock screen notification for that conversation.

Common Mistakes

Turning off the wrong toggle: In the Details page, there is also a Do Not Disturb or Focus option on some versions. Make sure you are changing Hide Alerts / Deliver Quietly, not a Focus mode.
Checking the wrong conversation: Deliver Quietly is set per conversation. If you turn it off in one thread, other threads that were muted stay muted. Check each one separately.
Confusing it with system-wide Do Not Disturb: If your entire phone is on Do Not Disturb or a Focus mode, no messages will alert. Deliver Quietly only affects one conversation, so check Control Center or Settings > Focus if all messages are silent.
Not scrolling far enough: The Hide Alerts toggle is below the photos, links, and location options. If you do not scroll down on the Details page, you might miss it.

Tips

Use the Messages list shortcut: On the main Messages list, swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell icon (or the three dots) to quickly toggle Hide Alerts on and off without opening the thread.
Check the app icon badge: If you still see a red badge count on the Messages icon, that is separate from Deliver Quietly. Badges are controlled in Settings > Notifications > Messages.
Set a custom sound: After turning off Deliver Quietly, you can go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and choose a specific sound, or set the alert style to Banners (temporary or persistent) to make sure you never miss a reply.
Use Focus modes for temporary silence: Instead of muting an individual thread, use a Focus mode (like Driving or Sleep) when you need quiet. That way you do not have to remember to unmute later.

Troubleshooting

I turned off Hide Alerts, but I still do not get notifications. First, check that the toggle is actually gray (off). If it is, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and make sure Allow Notifications is on, and that Banners and Sounds are enabled. Also check if your phone is in a Focus mode (swipe down from the top-right to see if a Focus icon is active).

The toggle is already off, but the contact name still looks gray. That gray color might just be the theme or a low-contrast display setting. Send a test message to confirm. If you still get no alert, try restarting your iPhone (press and hold power + volume, then slide to power off).

I cannot find the Details page at all. Make sure you are tapping the name at the very top of the conversation, not the message text. If it still does not open, tap the info (i) icon that appears next to the name on some iOS versions.

It worked before, but now it is muted again. Check if the other person is on a Mac or iPad with the same Apple ID and you have Messages in iCloud enabled. Changing the setting on one device should sync, but if not, turn it off on each device separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does Deliver Quietly do?

It sends your iMessages to Notification Center silently. You still receive the message, but there is no banner, sound, or lock screen alert. The app icon badge may also be suppressed for that thread.

Does turning off Deliver Quietly delete any messages?

No. It only changes notification behavior. All your message history stays intact.

Can I turn off Deliver Quietly for multiple conversations at once?

No, it is a per-conversation setting. You have to open each thread and toggle it off individually, or swipe left on each in the Messages list.

Will the other person know I muted them or unmuted them?

No. Deliver Quietly is completely private. The other person has no way to see your notification settings.

What is the difference between Deliver Quietly and Do Not Disturb?

Deliver Quietly only affects one specific conversation in Messages. Do Not Disturb (or a Focus mode) silences all notifications on your device for a set period or until you turn it off.

Why did Deliver Quietly turn on by itself?

It can be enabled accidentally by swiping left on a conversation and tapping the bell icon, or by toggling it in Details. Some iOS versions also suggest it when you have a busy group chat. It does not turn on automatically without some interaction.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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