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How do I change a contact from iMessage to regular text messages?

How do I change a contact from iMessage to a regular text message

iPhone

Posted on Dec 8, 2013 5:44 AM

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Posted on Mar 15, 2017 3:29 PM

https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage

27 replies

Dec 8, 2013 6:20 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg St._Clair wrote:


AppleStore2013 wrote:


You must make it so on their contact it does not say iMessage. If you do so, then you will only send texts

Whether or not you label a contact iPhone (which is what I believe you meant) has no effect on whether or not the message is sent as an iMessage.


Agreed. If the phone number in question is associated with an Apple ID, then another iPhone that has iMessage turned on will attempt to send any text message as an iMessage first, then as an SMS if that option is activated. This is why some people that switch from an iPhone to a non-iPhone sometimes have problems reeiving messages from other iPhone users, until the phone number is totally disassociated with iMessage.

Feb 3, 2014 2:03 PM in response to egruber

The phone has no way to know whether or not a number is associated with an iPhone, and therefore iMessage. That phone number was associated with an iPhone whent the iPhone was activated using a valid Apple ID. Apple does not know that that particular number is no longer associated with an iPhone unless somebody tells them. If your friend won't do it, then you will have to live with things as they are.

Feb 27, 2014 8:40 AM in response to Dsgio12

I went from an iphone to a note 3 and followed a 12 step program.


How to diassociate your phone number with imessage:


1. Move to android or other phone not associated with apple.


2. Notice people with iphones can't text you.


3. Call Apple support. Follow instructions on having people change their contacts type to something other than iphone.


4. Call Apple support again when this doesn't work. Follow instructions on having your friends delete existing conversations with you and send you a new text message.


5. Call Apple support again when this doesn't work either. Have them explain to you that you need to disable imessage on your old phone, regardless of whether you have it any longer. Hang up in frustration.


6. Call Apple support again when you've calmed down. Speak to someone else who mentions that you need to sign into your apple profile online and delete the old iphone from your list of devices registered to you.


7. Call Apple support again when you've calmed down and taken your blood pressure meds, when this doesn't work. Someone will now try and send you a text message verification to your current phone, so that they can delete your number from the i message system. Hang up and wait 30 minutes for said text.


8. Apple support actually calls you back, to see if you've gotten the text. You haven't. They'll send it again and promise to call you back. You wait all night by the phone and they don't call.


9. Call back Apple support in the morning. Still unable to receive messages from apple users. Miss important texts from the boss, your wife, your kids. Speak to someone who sends a test text. It doesn't come thru. This time you refuse to let them drop off the line. Agent claims she'll go ahead and delete you from the system, and to wait 48 hours for changes to take effect.


10. 48 hours late, issue is still not resolved. Call Apple support again. Demand to speak to a supervisor, get told no supervisors available. Agent knows exactly what the problem is! Or so they claim. Same process. Text gets sent, doesn't arrive. Claims they deleted the number from the imessage system for real this time, no joke. Apple support promises it's really really fixed. You will be asked to wait another 48 hours.


11. 48 hours comes and goes and you still cannot get text messages from iphone users. You're absolutely furious at this point. You realize you never would have bought an iphone if you knew support was going to be this horrible for it. You think about calling support, but don't want an aneurism.


12. Call Apple support. Get worked up for a long and hard battle with them over this issue. Get connected with courteous support member. Person actually knows what theyre doing, and in five minutes, following the same steps allegedly done by other support staff, actually resolves the issue. Anger evaporates, as your friends and family can now text you. Vow never to buy another iphone again so long as you live.

How do I change a contact from iMessage to regular text messages?

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