Cbatx1
Level 1 (4 points)
Applications

Q: How to manage / delete groups in iMessages

Hello,

 

I have create many groups in iMessages. Some are the same contacts but with different emails or cell numbers. I want to delete some of this groups and keep only the ones with emails, as they are the ones lasting the more. I have tried but I am unable to find the way. I use MBP mid-12 with El Capitan, iPhone 5s, iPad 2.

 

Thanks for your feedback! I am sure the answer is somewhere out there...

 

Kind regards.

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.3

Posted on Jul 27, 2016 1:45 AM

by Ralph Johns (UK),Apple recommended
Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK)
Level 9 (72,947 points)
Applications
A:

Hi,

 

So a bit like Mail where it keeps a list of Previous Recipients which you can then edit

Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 22.02.25.png

 

Messages does not have this feature but does keep Previous Recipients somewhere as shown by the fact the "Madrid" items show up.

 

I can see I could changes the Name of some of those "Madrid"s to something.

I am not sure where they are held to be able to delete them.

 

3Sigcopy2.png

10:11 pm      Wednesday; July 27, 2016

 

​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

Posted on Jul 27, 2016 2:13 PM

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Cbatx1

Q: How to manage / delete groups in iMessages

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Jul 27, 2016 1:52 AM in response to Cbatx1
    Level 7 (33,031 points)
    Jul 27, 2016 1:52 AM in response to Cbatx1

    Swipe right to left on the group list and a red delete button will appear.

  • by Cbatx1,

    Cbatx1 Cbatx1 Jul 27, 2016 2:06 AM in response to ckuan
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 2:06 AM in response to ckuan

    Thank you. However, that just delete the conversation.

     

    I want to delete or edit the group info, with the emails/cell numbers. When you write a new iMessage, they propose you groups. When I put "home", I get five different groups. That's what I want to delete.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Jul 27, 2016 2:17 AM in response to Cbatx1
    Level 7 (33,031 points)
    Jul 27, 2016 2:17 AM in response to Cbatx1

    If you trying to edit a group:

    While viewing the conversation, tap Details, then swipe right to left to delete a person in the group.

  • by Cbatx1,

    Cbatx1 Cbatx1 Jul 27, 2016 5:22 AM in response to ckuan
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 5:22 AM in response to ckuan

    thanks again! I do appreciate it. however, in mac OS X, this is not the case. I would like to have all the groups (as in contacts app) and edit, delete, manage them.

     

    Where could I find that?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Cbatx1
    Level 9 (72,947 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 1:05 PM in response to Cbatx1

    Hi,

     

    I am not sure that the words you are using are a full indication of what you want to do.

     

    I Created a Group in Messages for my iMessages Account by adding two names to the "To" spot.

    The Details item on the right shows this.

    Details_Group_Chat.png

     

    I have Named then edited the Name to show this:-

    Group_name.png

    I have included the bit of the Chat window that tells you you have changed the name.

     

    Whilst the app implies that you can start a "New Message" and then use the blue circled + on the right to access the Contacts App I can find no way to Add a Group from the Contacts App via this route.

     

    The above Group in the Pictures is not in the Contacts App either.

     

    Messages does not have a Favourites option like FaceTime does.

     

    In the Pictures you can also Right Click a contacts and see which ID is in use.

    There does not appear to be a way of editing this info.

     

    It appears if you Un-name the Group then the Original Names appear in the "To" Spot.

    From there you may be able to Add a "new" person by choosing their Apple ID in the Details pane and then "Deleting" the iPhone Number ones.

     

    Adding_and_delting_to_Edit.png

     

     

    I only have 2 others in this Chat  and if you had more this could be time consuming.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:05 pm      Wednesday; July 27, 2016

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)

  • by Cbatx1,

    Cbatx1 Cbatx1 Jul 27, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 1:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi Ralph, yep, it might be I am not very specific... apologies for that.

     

    This is the situation I have when starting a new message (this is in my MBP):

    Screenshot 2016-07-27 22.32.37.png

    As you see, I have 4 different groups named "Madrid". I want to be able to delete the three that are not the right ones ad this makes me having about four different conversations, different threads.

     

    Can't I fins someplace where those 4 "Madrid" are and just delete some, or edit them? In that way, I could have only one conversation and not 4.

     

    I hope it is clearer now.   

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Apple recommended

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Cbatx1
    Level 9 (72,947 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Cbatx1

    Hi,

     

    So a bit like Mail where it keeps a list of Previous Recipients which you can then edit

    Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 22.02.25.png

     

    Messages does not have this feature but does keep Previous Recipients somewhere as shown by the fact the "Madrid" items show up.

     

    I can see I could changes the Name of some of those "Madrid"s to something.

    I am not sure where they are held to be able to delete them.

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:11 pm      Wednesday; July 27, 2016

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Helpful

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 28, 2016 1:25 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (72,947 points)
    Applications
    Jul 28, 2016 1:25 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi,

     

     

    4thanx.gif for the 1helpful.png  Points

     

    The com.apple.ichat.plist does hold the Recent Chats (Although this is no longer displayed in the File Menu list)

    It has a separate entry for "RecentChatrooms: Aim" and another for Jabber.

     

    It does not list anything that appears to the same for iMessages group chats.

     

    The actual choices in the "To" spot seem to be a combined list of:

    iMessages Contacts (from Contact App)

    Buddies (From both External Servers/Buddy Lists and the Contacts App)

    Recent Chats

    And those "found in Mail" which seems to be both Previous Recipients  and current email contacts.

     

    I have yet to look further afield.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:17 pm      Thursday; July 28, 2016

     

    ​  iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)