Turn Off iMessage for One Person: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to stop sending and receiving iMessages with a single contact while keeping the service active for everyone else. You’ll need an iPhone or iPad with iOS 13 or later and the contact’s phone number or Apple ID saved in your Contacts app.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad with iMessage enabled
• The contact’s phone number or Apple ID in your Contacts
• Access to the Messages app and Settings

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Start a new message by tapping the compose button (square with a pencil) in the top-right corner.
3. Type the contact’s name in the “To:” field. Make sure you select the correct person from the autofill suggestions.
4. Tap the contact’s name at the top of the screen, where it appears in the “To:” field. This opens their contact details.
5. Tap “Info” (the blue circle with an “i”) next to their name.
6. Scroll down and tap “Send as SMS” (or “Send as Text Message” on some versions).
7. Toggle the switch to turn it on. When it’s green, iMessage is disabled for this contact only.
8. Exit the screen by tapping “Done” or swiping down. Your changes save automatically.

After this, any message you send to that person will go as a regular SMS/MMS (green bubble) instead of an iMessage (blue bubble). Their replies will also come through as SMS, so you’ll see green bubbles on both sides.

Common Mistakes

• Toggling the wrong contact: Make sure you’re in the contact’s info screen, not the general Settings > Messages. The “Send as SMS” option is per-contact, not global.
• Forgetting to select the contact from suggestions: If you type the number manually, the contact may not be linked. Always pick the name from the autofill list so the setting applies to the right person.
• Turning off iMessage globally: Some users go to Settings > Messages and toggle off iMessage entirely. That disables it for everyone, which is not what you want.
• Expecting the change to affect existing conversations: The setting applies to new messages. Old conversations may still show blue bubbles until you send a new message.

Tips

• Use this for troubleshooting: If you suspect iMessage is causing delivery failures with one person, turning it off for them can help you determine if the issue is iMessage-specific.
• Check your carrier plan: SMS/MMS messages may use your text message allowance. If you have a limited plan, be aware that messages to this contact will now count against it.
• Re-enable anytime: You can turn iMessage back on for the same contact by following the same steps and toggling the switch off.
• Use for international contacts: If you’re traveling or messaging someone abroad, disabling iMessage can sometimes help with delivery if their iMessage is unreliable.

Troubleshooting

If the setting doesn’t seem to work, try these steps:

• Force quit Messages: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click the Home button on older models) to see app switcher, then swipe Messages away. Reopen it and try again.
• Restart your iPhone: A quick restart can refresh the messaging system.
• Check that the contact has a phone number: If the contact only has an Apple ID (email) and no phone number, the “Send as SMS” option may not appear. In that case, you may need to add their phone number to their contact card.
• Update iOS: Make sure your device is running the latest iOS version. Older versions may have bugs with per-contact settings.
• Reset network settings: If messages still go blue, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This won’t erase your data but will clear Wi-Fi and cellular settings. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.
• Contact your carrier: In rare cases, SMS delivery issues are carrier-related. If the problem persists, reach out to your mobile provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the other person know I turned off iMessage for them?

No, they won’t get a notification. They’ll just see that your messages arrive as green bubbles instead of blue, which might indicate you’re using SMS, but there’s no explicit alert.

Can I turn off iMessage for someone without starting a new message?

Yes, you can also go to your Contacts app, find the person, tap “Edit,” and scroll to the “Send as SMS” toggle. However, the Messages app method is faster and more direct.

What if the contact has multiple phone numbers?

You need to set the “Send as SMS” option for each number separately. The setting applies per phone number, not per contact.

Does this affect group chats?

No, the “Send as SMS” setting only applies to one-on-one conversations with that specific contact. Group chats will continue to use iMessage if all participants have it enabled.

Will I still be able to send photos and videos?

Yes, but they’ll be sent as MMS messages, which may have file size limits set by your carrier. Large files might be compressed or fail to send.

Can I turn off iMessage for someone temporarily?

Absolutely. Just toggle the switch on and off whenever you need. There’s no penalty for switching frequently.

Related

• How to Set a Windows Service to Start Manually
• Fix Missing Wi-Fi Icon on HP Laptop (Windows 10/11)
• How to Tell if a Linux Computer Was Accessed Remotely