Why Can't I Leave a Group Conversation in Messages??

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Level 2

192 points

Why Can't I Leave a Group Conversation in Messages??

Someone added me to a 4-person group Messages chat. All 4 people (including me) are using iPhones and iCloud and iMessage. But when I call up the info for that group conversation, the option to leave the conversation is grayed out.

I'm in another group chat with 2 other people, both also using iPhones and iMessage and iCloud. Same problem with that one, I can't leave the conversation.

So how in the world do I leave these conversations if I want to? Turning off notifications isn't good enough, I still see activity going on if I look at my text messages. I don't want to see any of it. If I delete the conversation, it comes right back as soon as someone else in that group chat responds again.

Surely there must be a way to stop these group conversations, I can't believe Apple wouldn't provide a way to do this especially when you can so easily be added to a group conversation without your permission.

iPhone 8

Posted on May 1, 2020 4:11 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KMB_12

Community Specialist

May 4, 2020 5:02 AM in response to Tom H.

Hello Tom H.,

Let's try to isolate this issue a little further. Is your Mom or Sister able to leave the conversation? Are they seeing the same thing you are? If you start a new thread with them, is the issue the same? You mentioned that you have another group text that you're able to leave. If you start a new group text with contacts other than your Mom and Sister, are you able to leave the new conversation?

Note: As mentioned in this article, you need to be in a group with three or more additional people (so 4+ total) in order to leave. When testing, make sure that the groups are at least that large or larger.

Leave a group text on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

We look forward to hearing back from you.

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Answer 2

May 2, 2020 3:37 PM in response to Tom H.

Hello Tom H.,

I see that you're unable to leave a group text. I can understand your concern with this, and I'd be happy to look into this with you.

I was able to test this on my iPhone, and if all the people in the group are using iMessage then you should be able to leave the conversation. However, let's try some steps to help resolve this issue. First, force close Messages, restart your device and then test to see if you can leave the conversation.

How to force an app to close on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Restart your iPhone

If after trying these steps, the issue remains, see if you can have one of the other people in the group text try to leave the conversation. Does the same thing happen to them?

Let me know how this goes.

Have a great day!

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Answer 3

Tom H. Author

Level 2

192 points

May 9, 2020 9:18 AM in response to KMB_12

kareng12 wrote:

As mentioned in this article, you need to be in a group with three or more additional people (so 4+ total) in order to leave.

I don't understand why I can't leave a conversation with 3 people total. So if two other people include me in a group chat, I have no way to leave that conversation if I don't want to be part of it? It just makes no sense at all that I'm forced to stay included in any conversation I didn't initiate, no matter how many people are involved. Apple needs to fix this ASAP.

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Answer 4

Tom H. Author

Level 2

192 points

May 2, 2020 3:46 PM in response to Matthew.S81

I force-closed the Messages app and restarted my iPhone, but it's no different.

I'm in a group chat with my sister and mom, both of which I know for sure are using iMessage (because I set it up for them), yet I can't leave that conversation either. There's another group chat with my sister, mom and another relative, but in that conversation (which is older) "Leave this Conversation" is possible. So if I can leave that conversation, why can't I leave the other conversation with just my sister and mom?

This makes no sense.

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Answer 5

Jun 17, 2020 9:45 AM in response to Tom H.

Exactly, why does it have to be more than 4 people? Can somebody explain that?

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Why Can't I Leave a Group Conversation in Messages??

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