iPhone: How to Exit a Group Text & Disable Group Messaging

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Turn off group texts and leave or mute an annoying thread
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The iPhone Messages app's group messaging feature allows you to chat with more than one person in a single conversation. If you'd rather send a text message to multiple people without starting a group conversation, you can disable group messaging. This wikiHow teaches you how to turn off the group messaging feature on your iPhone.

Turning Off Group Messages on iPhone

Open your iPhone settings and tap Messages . If you're on iOS 16 or earlier, you can toggle off Group Messaging . If you're on iOS 17 or later, toggle off MMS Messaging and RCS Messaging . You can leave or mute a group text by opening it and tapping on the icons at the top of the screen to open the thread settings.

Section 1 of 5:

iOS 17 and Later

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  1. The icon looks like a set of grey gears and is located on the home screen. If you don't see it there, it'll be in a folder called "Utilities" in your App Library.
  2. If you haven't updated to iOS 18, you can skip this step.
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  3. The apps are sorted alphabetically, so you may have to scroll a bit to find the Messages app. Alternatively, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for "Messages."
  4. You'll find this option under the "Text Messaging" header. This setting will disable a number of advanced text features, such as sending group messages and photos. [1]
    • You may also need to go to RCS Messaging and toggle off the "RCS Messaging" option to disable group texts on your iPhone.
    • To enable MMS/RCS messaging again, return to this menu and toggle the options on.
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Section 2 of 5:

iOS 16 and Earlier

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  1. The icon looks like a set of grey gears and is located on the home screen. If you don't see it there, it'll be in a folder called "Utilities" in your App Library.
  2. It is in the fifth group of options of the menu.
  3. You'll find this switch in the "SMS/MMS" section. When you turn this feature off, you will no longer be able to participate in group texting conversations.
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Section 3 of 5:

Leaving a Group Text Message

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  1. You can only leave group texts if all participants are using Apple devices. If you don't see the option to leave the group text, one person might be on a non-Apple device.
  2. If you've given the group chat a name, the name will appear under the icons. If not, it will list the names or numbers of the other users in the group.
  3. If you're on iOS 14 or earlier, first tap the i button, then tap Leave this Conversation . [2]
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Section 4 of 5:

Muting a Group Text Message

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  1. If you don't want to leave a group text or you can't because the group text includes non-Apple users, you can mute the conversation instead.
  2. If you've given the group chat a name, the name will appear under the icons. If not, it will list the names or numbers of the other users in the group.
  3. You will no longer get notifications for this text conversation. [3] You can still view it by opening it in your Messages app, however.
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Section 5 of 5:

FAQ

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  1. 1
    Why did Apple remove the ability to disable group messaging? Apple has not disclosed why they removed the ability to disable group messages in iOS 17 and later. If you'd like to give Apple some feedback about this decision, go to Apple's feedback site and follow the on-screen instructions to submit your feedback.
  2. 2
    What does MMS mean? MMS means "Multimedia Messaging Service" and it allows you to send a number of different media over text, including images, videos, audio clips, documents, and more. [4] MMS also allows you to send group texts, so disabling MMS messaging will make it so you can't send group texts on your iPhone.
  3. 3
    What does RCS mean? RCS means "Rich Communication Services," and it's kind of like a newer version of MMS. If you have RCS messaging enabled, you can send media, join group texts, and get/receive read receipts on your messages. [5]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What happens if I turn off group messaging on my iPhone?
    Gonzalo Martinez
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
    Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store.
    Gonzalo Martinez
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You won't be able to send or receive group messages at all if you disable the feature.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/16maocn/no_way_to_turn_off_group_message_on_ios_17/
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102448
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102448
      4. ↑ https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/what-is-an-sms
      5. ↑ https://www.android.com/articles/what-is-rcs-messaging/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings .
      2. Tap Messages .
      3. Toggle off "Group Messaging."

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