In Messages 7.0.1 on my Mac, in Preferences... > Accounts, under "You can be reached for messages at:", there's a big list of email addresses.
What I'd like to know is, how can I delete/remove these email addresses. I can untick them so I can't be reached via them, but I'd like to clean up this list. Anyone know how to do it?
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) 12GB RAM
I have not found a way of doing it in Messages with a Mac, but you can do it on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
To do it, open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Then, press the "i" icon next to an email address and choose the option to remove the email address
Yeah yeah, thanks. I know how to do it in iOS 7 on my iPhone, but I can't find a way to do it on my Mac.
Surely the list of addresses are stored in a .plist preferences file somewhere, that can easily be trashed?
I have been looking for the iMessage plist files and I have found them in ~/Library/Preferences, but the email addresses do not show up. Note that your iMessage email addresses are stored in the Apple servers, so unless there's a way to remove the email addresses from the Messages app, you cannot remove them from a Mac. At least, I do not know how to remove them from a Mac, because there is no option for this
OK, thanks. It's weird how you can remove them in iOS 7 (on the iPhone), but not in OS X (on the Mac). Maybe they added this feature in Mavericks? I wouldn't know because I haven't installed it, yet.
I'm running OS X Mavericks and this option is not there. You can send feedback to Apple > http://www.apple.com/feedback
The list of addresses you can be send or recieve from at is what is associated with your Apple ID. You can manage them at:
https://appleid.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MyAppleId.woa/wa/directToSignIn?loc alang=en_US
You can also get to the apple ID site by System Preferences/iCloud/Account Details/Manage Apple ID.
You can uncheck the ones you don't wish to use in the preferences of Messages, but to remove them from, you need to log into the Manage Apple ID website and remove those addresses there. That is where the email addresses used in Facetime, Messages, or anything Apple are stored. It doesn't delete the addresses, but just removes the ones you don't want associated with those apps.
You can also change or remove any non Apple (iCloud) email address associated with your Apple ID at this website.
A second way to remove addresses from Facetime & iMessage is within Facetime preferences. In the Facetime list, click on the circled > to the right of the address and you have an option to remove it there. It will also remove it from iMessages. I don't know why Apple has left this option of removing addresses out of iMessage. It does allow you to add an address though.
You can also go to iCloud.com to manage which Apple email addresses you want to send mail from, but it won't prevent you from recieving mail from all iCloud addresses you have.
For more detailed info on Apple ID and uses:
Hi,
This info used to be in com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist
However it seems in Mavericks it now uses the Madrid item. (see file name in title bar of pic)
7:58 pm Saturday; December 28, 2013
iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
Mac OS X (10.6.8),
Couple of iPhones and an iPad
Hi Glenn,
So I'm on the My Apple ID website. At the bottom of the page, under "Alternate Apple ID" I can see 4 email addresses, 2 of which I'd like to remove from my account (for now).
If I click on delete it says:
"Delete email address?
This email address will be permanently deleted from your account. Are you sure you want to proceed?"
Are you 100% sure that this won't delete the alias? I still want to use these email addresses (in Mail) just not with Messages.
Also, if I delete them, can I add them back under "Alternate Apple ID" in the future?
When you delete them from the website, it will not delete the alias email address. Just don't remove your main and Alternate Apple ID addresses. Just the Alternate email addresses. Test one and try it out. You can go to iCloud.com to verify the email address is there. I have removed some from mine Apple ID and they are still usuable for mail.
And yes, you can add them back into your Apple ID.
HI,
Messages on the Mac does not offer a simple way to delete the Alternative emails and iPhone numbers that may get added.
Deactivate any you don't want to use.
To remove from the list you have to Delete or Edit com.apple.imservice.imessages.plist in Mountain Lion
If you delete the whole .plist you will have to reset the Apple ID used in the iMessages account and then accept the pop ups for the iPhone number.
Xcode will open and allow you to edit it if you double click the file after installing Xcode.
The file is in ~/Library/Preferences
In the Finder > Go Menu hold down the ALT Key and then select the Library item that appears in the list
The post I made on the 28th Dec 2013 shows the Mavericks file involved (opened in Xcode).
9:01 pm Monday; December 30, 2013
iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
Mac OS X (10.6.8),
Couple of iPhones and an iPad
Thanks Glenn. I tried that, and it worked. The email address is no longer listed under "You can be reached for messages at" in Messages on my Mac, yet I can still receive email sent to that adress.
I tried clicking on the "I" next to the email address and it asked me if I would like to delete and when i confirm, it then says "this email cannot be removed" why is this. I just added the email address today on accident. how do I delete it along with my phone number on my Ipad?
You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.
Hi,
If the email IS the Apple ID you have to remove the Apple ID from the Apple ID spot (top of the Settings for Messages on the iPhone) rather than trying to remove it via Send and Receive.
(took me a while to remember what this thread was about - a new thread would be better.)
8:15 pm Wednesday; May 14, 2014
Remove Email addresses from "You can be reached for messages at:"
