Where to find message settings on your iPhone

Message settings on iPhone live in the Settings app, not in Messages itself. Open Settings, scroll down to find Messages, and tap it. From there you can change how texts arrive, how they look, and what happens when you send them.

The Messages app does have its own quick toggles — you can mute a conversation, turn off notifications for a specific person, or mark messages as read without opening them. But the main controls that affect all your messages at once are in Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Message settings are in Settings > Messages, not in the Messages app itself.
  • You can turn iMessage on or off, choose whether to send as SMS if iMessage fails, and set a default SMS service.
  • Notification settings let you control sounds, badges, and previews for all messages or for individual conversations.
  • Read receipts, typing indicators, and message expiration are all toggles you control in Settings > Messages.
  • To mute or silence a single conversation, swipe left on it in Messages and tap the bell icon.

Turning iMessage on or off

iMessage is Apple's encrypted messaging service that works over Wi-Fi or data. If you turn it on, your iPhone sends messages to other Apple devices using iMessage instead of SMS text messages. Go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage on or off at the top.

When iMessage is on, messages to other iPhone users appear in blue. Messages to Android users or non-Apple devices still send as green SMS texts. If you turn iMessage off entirely, all your messages send as SMS, which may use your text message plan.

If you are switching from iPhone to Android, turn iMessage off before you do. If you leave it on, messages from iPhone users will still try to reach your old Apple account and you will not receive them on your new phone.

Setting up SMS fallback and default service

Below the iMessage toggle in Settings > Messages, you will see "Send as SMS." Turn this on if you want your iPhone to automatically send a text message when iMessage fails to deliver. This is useful if you lose data or Wi-Fi but still have cell service.

You can also set a default SMS service. Tap "SMS Service" and choose your carrier from the list. Most of the time your carrier is already set correctly, but if you have multiple SIM cards or use an eSIM, you can pick which one to use for text messages.

Controlling notifications and read receipts

In Settings > Messages, scroll down to find Notifications. Tap it to control how message alerts work. You can turn on or off the sound that plays when a message arrives, choose whether a badge number appears on the Messages app icon, and decide whether message previews show on your lock screen.

Read receipts let the other person see when you have read their message. In Settings > Messages, toggle "Send Read Receipts" on or off. When it is on, people know you have seen their message. When it is off, they see only that the message was delivered, not that you read it.

Typing indicators show the other person that you are typing a reply. This toggle is also in Settings > Messages. Turn it off if you do not want people to see the three dots that appear while you are composing a message.

Muting conversations and controlling individual message alerts

To silence notifications from one person without turning off Messages entirely, open the Messages app and swipe left on their conversation. Tap the bell icon with a slash through it. That conversation will no longer send you alerts, but you will still see the messages when you open the app.

You can also tap "Info" at the top right of an open conversation to see more options for that thread. From there you can hide alerts, pin the conversation to the top, or block the contact entirely.

Setting message expiration and other privacy options

In Settings > Messages, you can set messages to disappear after a certain time. Tap "Expire" and choose Never, 30 Days, or 1 Year. This applies to new messages you receive going forward, not to old ones already in your inbox.

You can also toggle "Filter Unknown Senders" on to move messages from people not in your contacts into a separate tab. This reduces clutter and helps protect against spam. Messages from your contacts still arrive in your main inbox.

If you use iMessage, you can turn on "Message Filtering" to automatically sort messages by type. This separates transactional messages like receipts and confirmations from regular conversations.

Changing text size and message bubbles

To change how messages look on screen, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Tap "Larger Accessibility Sizes" or "Larger Text" to make message text bigger. This affects Messages and most other apps.

You cannot change the color of message bubbles — blue for iMessage and green for SMS are fixed. However, you can change the overall appearance of your iPhone by using Dark Mode or Light Mode in Settings > Display & Brightness, which affects how the Messages app looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my messages green instead of blue?

Green messages are SMS texts sent over your cell network. Blue messages are iMessage sent over Wi-Fi or data. If you are texting an Android user or someone without iMessage turned on, your message will be green. Check that iMessage is on in Settings > Messages and that the other person has an Apple device with iMessage enabled.

How do I stop getting notifications from one person?

Open Messages, swipe left on their conversation, and tap the bell icon. The conversation will be muted and you will not get alerts, but you can still read messages when you open the app. To unmute it, swipe left again and tap the bell icon a second time.

Can I delete messages automatically?

Yes. In Settings > Messages, tap "Expire" and choose 30 Days or 1 Year. Messages older than your chosen time will be deleted automatically. This does not affect messages already in your phone — only new ones going forward.

What does "Send as SMS" do?

If iMessage fails to send — because you have no Wi-Fi or data — your iPhone will automatically send the message as a regular text instead. This uses your text message plan but ensures the message gets through. You can turn this on or off in Settings > Messages.

How do I block someone from texting me?

Open the conversation with that person, tap "Info" at the top right, scroll down, and tap "Block this Caller." They will not be able to text, call, or FaceTime you. You can unblock them the same way if you change your mind.