One of the longstanding complaints about iMessage is how it can stay active even when you switch to an Android phone. The result is that texts often get sucked into some sort of purgatory where they never actually reach your contacts.
Today Apple released a new web tool that permanently deregisters phone numbers from iMessage. Anyone can enter their phone number and cut all ties with Apple’s messaging platform for good.
The tool is intended to be used if you are “using a non-Apple phone and can’t get SMS or text messages,” according to Apple’s website. A class action lawsuit was filed against Apple earlier this year over iMessage interfering with incoming and outgoing SMS messages on other phone platforms. The issue is that sometimes iMessage still thinks a number is registered even when the SIM has been put in a non-Apple phone.
Head on over to Apple’s new webpage to learn more.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
9 responses to “Apple’s new tool will nuke your phone number from iMessage forever”
So, I wonder if there’s any issue in coming back? This summer, I switched from an iPhone 5 to a Windows Phone. I had to call Apple to get them to remove my number from iMessage, but even then, some of my friends who had iPhones had trouble connecting with me. After the iPhone 6 Plus was released I switched back.
The phrase “nuke your phone number from iMessage forever” seems a bit too permanent.
I was just going to ask that – What if a momentary lapse I decide Android is for me but that I get hit in the head and realize the insanity of my delusion? Am I now banned from the Apple Family forever?
Of course now that this has been announced, Samsung has already dispatched secret couriers to switch from the iPhone to Galaxy and back again. Tuesday or so we will see the #imessagegate rear its ugly head.
Then again, that would be admitting that someone wanted to go back after trying a Galaxy. This could be a tricky one for Samsung.
Nobody goes back man. The Android OS is far superior. Speaking of back, it sure is nice to have a back button. Thank you Samsung :)
You have fun with that.
Real life statistics show you are lying :)
Shouldn’t be so.
FYI – This still doesn’t solve the problem.
While removing your number from the imessage servers solves the problem for anyone NEW who tries to send you a message, the bigger problem is that your existing friends who have iphones all have your number cached as an imessage number and continue to try to send to you as imessage. And when they do, the imessage server sends no notification back to the sender that the message failed.
Of course Apple’s answer is to “simply” have every contact who has ever texted you just delete you as a contact and add you back – which is a complete joke.
The root of this problem is within ios and the way it flags numbers as imessage numbers. But telling apple there is a problem with ios is like trying to explain capitalism to a communist. They simply shut down and stop listening.
It’s really too bad. I was forced to switch because of a broken iphone and have become so enraged by this issue that it has turned me from one of the biggest apple fan boys into someone who may not go back when I buy a new phone in 6 months.
You up voted yourself? This sounds confusing. What do you mean?
Outside USA not even in all big european countries this tool is active.
Sorry Apple, This doesn’t work