Syncing confusion iMessage + iPhone/Macbook

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Syncing confusion iMessage + iPhone/Macbook

Most of the similar problems I've read on the forum are about people NOT wanting to receive iMessages on their Mac or WANTING to get all messages on their iPhone. I have a different problem (not sure if it's exactly "opposite") in that I'd like to get iMessages ONLY on my MacBook and use my iPhone for SMS texting.

The problem begins with the way I've used iMessage for the past few years: through wifi only on my iPod touch and MacBook. So any iMessage user could send a message to me via my Apple ID.

The heart of the problem is my crazy, talkative 80 year old father. He LOVES to use iMessage on his iPad to keep a constant conversation going...but all the many,many, many messages he sends to me now come to my iPhone and take up my texting plan. I've explained to him that sending that volume of messages is costing me money and told him he needs to drastically reduce the number of texts he sends. Basically he isn't going to stop.. and besides that it's his favorite way to feel connected-- typing into the ether whether he gets a response or not. I don't really want to take that away from him.. He doesn't even know what he's doing... he calls it "bubble talk" and refers to the iMessage app as "my site."

All my friends have been texting me directly through my number instead of my AppleID, which amounts to a pretty normal amount of messages.

Any suggestions about what to do? Would unsyncing iMessage on iPhone and MacBook create some drawbacks I'm not aware of? If not-- how do I do it? When I go to settings > messages, my appleID isn't connected and my phone number is greyed out. I simply turned iMessage "off" on my iPhone but I'm not sure if it's as simple as that!

Thanks for any help!

iPhone, iPhone OS 3.1.2

Posted on Jan 4, 2016 7:00 PM

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Answer 1

braden85

Community Specialist

Jan 6, 2016 7:09 AM in response to kellygreen80

Hey kellygreen80,

I understand that you would like a specific circumstance regarding your usage and reception of iMessages, and I think I can help you get the settings you want out of iMessage. First, I just want to add some information about something you mentioned: that it seems like your father’s iMessages to your Apple ID would be costing you money. Messages sent through iMessage are not SMS/MMS messages, so they should not be tolled against your texting plan for your iPhone:

About iMessage and SMS/MMS

You can use iMessage or SMS/MMS on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

iMessages are texts, photos, or videos that you send to iOS devices and Macs over Wi-Fi or cellular-data networks. These messages appear in blue text bubbles. To turn iMessage on or off, go to Settings > Messages.

If you aren’t using iMessage, you can use SMS. SMS/MMS messages are texts and photos that you send to other cell phones or iOS devices. These messages appear in green text bubbles on your device.

To use SMS/MMS, you need a text-messaging plan. Contact your carrier for more information.

If Wi-Fi is unavailable, iMessages will be sent over cellular data. Carrier cellular data fees might apply.

Use Messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201287

If you’d still like to only receive these iMessages on your computer, it sounds like you should simply opt to not receive messages to your Apple ID email address on your iPhone, since it sounds like your father is the only one who sends messages to you at the email address of your Apple ID. This can be done through your Messages settings:

Messages settings

Go to Settings > Messages, where you can:

Turn iMessage on or off

Notify others when you’ve read their messages

Specify phone numbers, Apple IDs, and email addresses to use with Messages

Set SMS and MMS options

Show the Subject field

Block unwanted messages

Set how long to keep messages

Filter unknown senders

Manage the expiration of audio messages and video messages created within Messages (audio or video attachments created outside of Messages are kept until you delete them manually)

Manage notifications for messages. See Do Not Disturb.

Set the alert sound for incoming text messages. See Sounds and silence.

Messages settings - iPhone

http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iphf2d853e3

Hope this helps resolve your situation. Thanks for being a part of the Apple Support Communities!

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