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How to turn off iMessage without iOS device

Hi community,


sadly enough my iPhone got stolen, but when my friends message me their phones keep trying to send me iMessages. Obviously my friends have checked that their phones won't send normal SMS when I'm not available on iMessage, so I end up receiving nothing until they manually say "Send via SMS".


For I won't have an iPhone within the next months I want iMessage to be turned off, so I will get normal SMS from my lucky iPhone friends.


Anyone got an idea?

Is it possible to "unlink" iMessage from my phonenumber / mailadress?


Thanks for your help.


Rgds

Niko

iPhone 3GS, iOS 5.1

Posted on Jun 5, 2012 3:03 PM

Reply
29 replies

Sep 1, 2017 8:36 PM in response to nikoGG

I know that Apple has been working on the idea of bricking any stolen iPhone. I assume you have registered it and I think they are now able to "see" the phone anytime it touches the internet and lock it in such a way it can never be used again.


I have no idea how to do this, but maybe others hereefar more up to date can tell you. It is a feature which would cut down on stolen phones. Personally, I know that close to 20% of all car sales are insurance claims to replace stolen cars, which is why even though the technology exists to make cars nearly impossible to steal, they are quite simple to steal.


I do not think Apple is quite like this.

Doc

Jun 5, 2012 3:09 PM in response to nikoGG

There are only three ways I know of to stop this: 1. Put your sim card(which I know you don't have) into another iPhone & turn iMessage off; 2. If you registered this phone on Apple'a support site, under your profile, you can login & remove the phone; 3. Have your friends turn iMessage off when messaging you.

Jun 5, 2012 3:17 PM in response to nikoGG

Thanks for your quick answeres!


I guess you are right that unlinking it from my account will be the only way. I haven't done that yet cause you know it's that last "step" to really accept I won't get it back. Until now, having it registered with my Apple Account, I thought "it's still mine, whenever it turns up again I can prove that it's my phone".


Will try to unlink it after noting all the details and making screenshots 😉


Thanks again!

Niko

Jun 5, 2012 3:24 PM in response to nikoGG

You're welcome. Taking screenshots is a good idea. Your backup will also establish that you had synced this phone with your computer (if you go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices and hover your mouse over the backup it shows the IMEI number, serial number and phone number). Your IMEI number is also on the box if you still have it.

Jun 6, 2012 11:35 AM in response to nikoGG

Go to icloud.com, login and use remote wipe. That is the only way not to get imessages to that phone. Despite the fact that phone number is registered at imessage server, the real association is your apple id (email). As soon as your phone is wiped - association stops. You do not have to believe me, but I had a chance to check, removing from registration didn't work.

How to turn off iMessage without iOS device

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