How to Delete, Disable, or Mute iMessage on Your Mac Computer

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8 ways to remove iMessage from your Mac
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If you have multiple Apple devices, getting iMessage notifications on your Mac might be convenient—but it can also be distracting or even an annoyance if you're trying to work or concentrate on something else. While it is possible to completely remove the Messages app from your Mac, it isn't recommended. Thankfully you can disable Messages without uninstalling the app, and you can also mute notifications if they're getting in the way. Keep reading this article to learn how you can remove, disable, or mute iMessage on your Mac.

Quick Steps to Turn Off iCloud Messages

  1. Open iMessage, which is pinned to your dock by default.
  2. Click Messages in the menu bar, then Settings .
  3. Click the iMessage tab.
  4. Uncheck Enable Messages in iCloud to disable iMessages on your Mac.
Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Disable iCloud Messages

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  1. It is pinned to your dock by default and the icon has a white speech bubble on a green background.
  2. This will open up your iMessage settings.
    • If you're on macOS 12 or earlier, you'll want to select Preferences instead of Settings .
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  3. It's the middle tab and has an "@" symbol on it.
  4. It's underneath your Apple ID. This will disable your messages syncing to your Mac via iCloud. [1]
    • You must enable or disable messages in iCloud individually for each device, so turning it off on your Mac won't turn it off on your iPhone or iPad.
    • Note that if your phone number is still linked to your MacBook, turning off iMessages will not stop them from coming to your computer.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Turn Off iMessage Notifications

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  1. It's the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. It's the second option on the list. Clicking this will open the settings menu for your computer.
  3. Upon clicking this menu item, you'll see a menu list of all of your apps and programs that are installed on your Mac.
  4. The list is organized alphabetically, so you may have to scroll to find it.
  5. This won't remove iMessage from your computer completely, but it will turn off any notifications so you won't be distracted by them. An off toggle is gray, and and on toggle is blue.
    • When you're ready to turn notifications back on, simply follow the steps in this section again, clicking the toggle to turn it back on.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Mute Specific iMessage Conversations

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  1. If you want to mute one specific conversation you can do so in the iMessage app. This is great if you're waiting to get an important text but you don't want to be distracted by a group chat that your friends or family are sending messages in all day long.
  2. This button looks like an "i" with a circle around it.
  3. This will mute a particular conversation until you uncheck the box. To unmute, simply follow the steps in this section and uncheck the box.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Customize iMessage Notifications

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  1. It is pinned to your dock by default and the icon has a white speech bubble on a green background.
  2. This will open up your iMessage settings.
    • If you're on macOS 12 or earlier, you'll want to select Preferences instead of Settings .
  3. It's the first tab, and it has an icon of a cog wheel.
  4. There are a few options you can customize if you want to adjust what message notifications you actually get:
    • Notify me about messages from unknown contacts: Uncheck this if you don't want to be notified if someone you don't already have in your address book messages you
    • Notify me when my name is mentioned: Uncheck this if you don't want notifications if your name is mentioned in a message
    • Play sound effects: If you don't want to get rid of visual notifications but want to remove notification sounds, uncheck this box
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Turn on Do Not Disturb

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  1. It looks like two toggle switches, and it's near the upper-right hand corner of the screen.
  2. This will allow you to set up your Focus (or do not disturb) settings. [2]
  3. This will mute all of your notifications, so you won't be inundated with iMessage pings while trying to work or study.
    • You can also turn on Do Not Disturb by holding ⌥ Option and clicking the date and time in the menu bar. You can also turn it on by pressing a key on your keyboard with a moon icon, if it's available.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Log Out of Messages

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  1. It is pinned to your dock by default and the icon has a white speech bubble on a green background.
  2. This will open up your iMessage settings.
    • If you're on macOS 12 or earlier, you'll want to select Preferences instead of Settings .
  3. It's the middle tab and has an "@" symbol on it.
  4. This will sign you out of your Apple ID on your Mac, which means you won't get messages that are sent to your Apple ID on your Mac. Note that this may make other Apple apps that require your Apple ID to not work properly.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Disable Phone Number

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  1. It is pinned to your dock by default and the icon has a white speech bubble on a green background.
  2. This will open up your iMessage settings.
    • If you're on macOS 12 or earlier, you'll want to select Preferences instead of Settings .
  3. It's the middle tab and has an "@" symbol on it.
  4. It's underneath your Apple ID. This will unlink your phone number and your Mac so you don't get iMessages sent automatically to your computer. [3]
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Delete iMessage (Not Recommended)

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  1. This will delete the app like any other app, but deleting Messages is not recommended for a few reasons:
    • If you decide you want the app in the future, you will have to reinstall your OS to get it back [4]
    • The app can be disabled and doesn't take up much space
    • Any future OS updates that include updates to the deleted app will still put the files on your computer
    • If you're on macOS X or later, iMessage is part of System Integrity Protection (SIP) that helps keep your Mac safe from malicious software [5]

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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/set-up-messages-mm0de0d4528d/icloud
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/turn-a-focus-on-or-off-mchl999b7c1a/mac
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201349
      4. ↑ https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/25494/can-i-uninstall-stock-apple-applications-e-g-stickies/25499#25499
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102149

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