How do I ensure that I messages doesn't send SMS texts when travelling abroad

Question

Level 2

193 points

How do I ensure that I messages doesn't send SMS texts when travelling abroad

Going abroad soon and am trying to figure out how to be able to receive texts with both the phone and messages and be able to reply to the ones that use messages services, but not risk it using SMS text services.

i.e. I don't want to get billed for texts by accident.

Surprised how hard it's been to find info about this. Could just be that it's hard to google…

Thanks!

iPod Mini-OTHER, Famous "steampunked" 1 (google it!)

Posted on Mar 31, 2015 12:36 PM

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Answer 1

matt1g

Level 1

55 points

Mar 31, 2015 12:42 PM in response to Neal Bridgens

Go to settings > Messages > And toggle off "send as sms"

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Answer 2

Neal Bridgens Author

Level 2

193 points

Mar 31, 2015 2:18 PM in response to matt1g

That is already off. And yet my phone bill shows 5-800 texts a month.

I just want both the computer and the phone to use wi-fi versions (without blocking incoming text, they're free, so airplane mode is not what I want).

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Answer 3

Neal Bridgens Author

Level 2

193 points

Mar 31, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Neal Bridgens

On reading more and looking deeper. If I turn off SMS and MMS I should be fine.

Big thing to notice is I can text with the blue text friends but not with the green text friends. 🙂

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Answer 4

matt1g

Level 1

55 points

Mar 31, 2015 2:36 PM in response to Neal Bridgens

Okay, I see what you're saying. All the people who don't use iMessage you can still send sms to even when you disable "send as sms". That *****. I'll try and find a solution but since I think I know the settings inside out, I'm not sure there is one 😟

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Answer 5

matt1g

Level 1

55 points

Mar 31, 2015 2:50 PM in response to Neal Bridgens

Yeah, exactly. Just remember to remember, and you should be fine 😁

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Answer 6

Apr 2, 2015 2:38 PM in response to matt1g

Hi,

On your iPhone when you enable the Messages app it can do two things from the Start.

Send iMessages (Blue) to Apple and iOS able Contacts and SMS (Green) to others.

Of course now you can link your Mac an iPhone to see those SMS texts on your Mac as well.

You could turn SMS/MMS off on the iPhone for periods until you at your Mac and then Accept them on both.

After that you have the dilemma about which you can reply to as some will only be SMS. (you will need to turn SMS Off again to force the Mac to try iMessages).

Apart from looking at other SMS services I am not sure there is anything other that this hopping in an out method.

9:19 pm Wednesday; April 1, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 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

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Answer 7

matt1g

Level 1

55 points

Apr 1, 2015 2:54 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I see. Thanks. Would be nice of Apple to implement the iMessage only setting "properly" and prevent all outgoing sms's. Thought that there might be some work-around using restrictions or something. But added with the complications with syncing messages between iPhone and Mac and resyncing them after you have changed the settings back to normal, the whole process seems a bit convoluted.

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Answer 8

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Apr 2, 2015 10:36 AM in response to matt1g

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

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Answer 9

Apr 3, 2015 12:06 PM in response to Neal Bridgens

for the Points

8:06 pm Friday; April 3, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 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

Reply