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Remove devices in Text Message Forwarding settings pane?

When in the Text Message Forwarding area of the system settings in iOS 8.1, I have 3 "devices" in the list that shouldn't be there... a couple of those are actually the same device, but at some point was given a different machine network name, etc. I've looked everywhere, but can't find a place to remove any of those devices... I've looked all throughout the Apple ID web site, etc.

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 3:00 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 3, 2015 12:11 PM

See this answer from http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/210491/how-to-remove-duplicate-devices- in-text-message-forwarding-on-my-imesssage-set


  1. Go to the iCloud website. - https://www.icloud.com/
  2. Log in and click on Settings.
  3. Scroll down to My Devices


I did't really trust icloud.com; I'm surprised they didn't make an alias on an apple.com domain. Here's an Apple KB article that links over to it - iCloud: Use iCloud.com

30 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 3, 2015 12:11 PM in response to trackfive

See this answer from http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/210491/how-to-remove-duplicate-devices- in-text-message-forwarding-on-my-imesssage-set


  1. Go to the iCloud website. - https://www.icloud.com/
  2. Log in and click on Settings.
  3. Scroll down to My Devices


I did't really trust icloud.com; I'm surprised they didn't make an alias on an apple.com domain. Here's an Apple KB article that links over to it - iCloud: Use iCloud.com

Oct 20, 2014 3:53 PM in response to trackfive

I have exactly the same issue. I believe it is related to the fact that I wiped my MacBook Pro and installed a clean version of OS X Yosemite before disabling iMessages. The phone has therefore detected iMessages on the pre-wiped OS X...


I am also looking for a way to clean that list of devices that I no longer 'own'.

Oct 23, 2014 7:28 AM in response to trackfive

Ah... How some people can just be satisfied with turning the button off!! I wish I was like that but us Apple users are the OCD type - neat, orderly and we don't like errors. I must say this though about Apple as of late. Some of the things they are doing DO NOT make things as simple as they could or should be. A little confusing for non tech people. I myself am heavily into tech and have what I call "Settings Syndrome" in that I go crazy with modern devices and their settings! LOL!


But yes, changing the Apple ID password worked and I even convinced myself that it was a good idea to change things up! :-)


A nice swipe and delete to the left would have been much more "Apple......"

Jan 1, 2016 1:42 PM in response to §cott

The problem is worst when there are multiple computers (different serial numbers) with the same system name. As when one computer breaks or is upgraded. This results in multiple entries in the list and when you want to turn on SMS sharing you don't know which one to activate. This is exacerbated by the fact that the "type in the code that appears on your device" process is so darn "clunky" (to be kind) and slow that you you try the wrong one... you can never tell if it is the wrong one. Changing the system name helps to identify which is the right one but changing the system name can have other unwanted side effects and problems. The darn list should stay in sync (as the devices list does in icloud elsewhere. Where you can delete the devices as wish (for instance icloud settings on the phone, icloud settings on the mac, and icloud settings on the icloud web site all allow you to maintain a proper device list). Messages preferences on the iphone just ignores it.


Password change didn't fix it for me.

May 12, 2016 1:22 PM in response to trackfive

I just wanted to add that I had this problem on an iPhone 6, changed the password, and it did not work - the message forwarding still had the list of the old devices. In addition, even though all those devices had message forwarding turned OFF, one of those devices was still receiving forwarded messages.


The reason it didn't work for me is because I was not aware of ALL the things that must be turned off to disassociate one device from the rest of your devices. To disassociate a device, you must change all of the following IDs (at minimum, no idea whether there are more):


(1) AppleID in Settings -> iTunes & App Store

(2) AppleID in Settings -> iCloud

(3) AppleID in Settings -> Messages -> Send & Receive

(4) AppleID in Settings -> FaceTime


I did not realize the ID must also be manually changed in Messages and FaceTime, I thought the iTunes and iCloud would be enough.


I also note that the Forwarding function is clearly BROKEN, because even though forwarding was turned off on my iPhone another device was still receiving the forwards.

Remove devices in Text Message Forwarding settings pane?

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