User profile for user: James B. Moore
James B. Moore Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Turn off iMessage app (Mac) when I type iMessages on iPhone (El Capitan - Notifications solve does not work)

I think this issue is a little different than others posted. I'm not connected to iMessage on my phone. I believe my MacBook has my Apple ID associated, but I have not logged into the App, and I've already disabled all banners/badges/alerts and unchecked all boxes in the System Preferences>Notifications menu.


However, the issue which I find annoying, is every time I go to iMessage on my iPhone the app pops up at the bottom of the screen on my Mac, even though I'm not logged in. Exit the iMessage app on my iPhone and it disappears on my Mac. There's nothing shared with my Mac, but its annoying every time I'm messaging on my iPhone the app pops up on my MacBook and I look up at my Mac to see whats moving on the screen but its just letting me know that I have the iMessage app open on my iPhone. Does anyone know how to disable this feature?


I just want it to be completely gone and not track when I have the iMessage app open on my iPhone. Does anyone know how to do this?


Thanks!

MacBook Air

Posted on Feb 26, 2016 9:03 PM

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3 replies
User profile for user: judysings
judysings
User level: Community Specialist

Feb 28, 2016 10:18 AM in response to James B. Moore

Hi James B. Moore,

If I understand your question, whenever you use the Messages app on your iPhone, you are seeing it appear on your Mac and you don't want the app on your computer, is that right?

It sounds like you have the Continuity features enabled on your Mac. The resource below will explain how to turn off features like Handoff to keep your Mac and iPhone activities separate.


Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac


Handoff

With Handoff, you can start a document, email, or message on one device and pick up where you left off from another device. Handoff works with Apple apps like Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Some third-party apps are also compatible.

Turn off Handoff

If you want to turn off Handoff on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > General > Handoff & Suggested Apps. Then turn off Handoff.

On your Mac, go to System Preferences > General. Then uncheck the Allow Handoff setting.


With Continuity, all the SMS and MMS text messages that you send and receive on your iPhone can also appear on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch. You can also reply to your contacts from whichever device is closest to you, including your iPad or Mac.

You can start a conversation in the Messages app or click a phone number in Safari, Contacts, or Calendar.

Set up SMS and MMS with Continuity

  1. You need iOS 8 or later on your iOS devices and OS X Yosemite or later on your Mac.
  2. Sign in to iMessage with the same Apple ID on your iPhone, your other iOS devices, and your Mac.
  3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Add a check to both your phone number and email address. Then go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding and enable the device or devices that you want to forward messages to. (Turn this feature off if you don't want messages to appear on your Mac.)
  4. Look for a code on the Mac, iPad, or iPod touch that you enabled. Then enter this verification code on your iPhone.


Take care,

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Turn off iMessage app (Mac) when I type iMessages on iPhone (El Capitan - Notifications solve does not work)

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