Forcing Messages to use phone number instead of email for outgoing messages.

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Level 1

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Forcing Messages to use phone number instead of email for outgoing messages.

I have a contact that has an iPhone and an Apple account and when I send him a Message I have the option of choosing either the phone number or the email address. Everything is fine until I include him in a group message that also includes an Android user; when that person replies, it turns into an email to the first friend. I would like to make sure to use the phone instead of the email, but the email is default. Worse, I sent a message that included both of them, being sure to use the phone, but in the thread it shows that it still went to the email. Is there any way to make Messages stop using his email? This doesn't happen with other people who have both phone numbers and emails.

iOS 26.2 and MacOS Sequoia 15.7.3. This seems to be happening no matter which I use to send the message.

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Jan 27, 2026 3:44 PM

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Answer 1

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Paul Asente Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 27, 2026 10:02 PM in response to razmee209

Thank you. It turns out that my friend had his email selected on the "Start new conversations from" setting. I guess that also applies to new conversations *to* him and not just those that he starts.

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Answer 2

razmee209

Level 10

198,882 points

Jan 27, 2026 3:46 PM in response to Paul Asente

Paul Asente wrote:

I have a contact that has an iPhone and an Apple account and when I send him a Message I have the option of choosing either the phone number or the email address. Everything is fine until I include him in a group message that also includes an Android user; when that person replies, it turns into an email to the first friend. I would like to make sure to use the phone instead of the email, but the email is default. Worse, I sent a message that included both of them, being sure to use the phone, but in the thread it shows that it still went to the email. Is there any way to make Messages stop using his email? This doesn't happen with other people who have both phone numbers and emails.

iOS 26.2 and MacOS Sequoia 15.7.3. This seems to be happening no matter which I use to send the message.

Said person needs to update their message settings, since it only happen to them and nobody else.

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