Why is iMessage combining two contacts into one thread. I can only text back the last one that messaged me. This started with iOS 12

Seems like it has been fixed.

Resolves an issue that caused messages to be merged into one thread when two users were signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones

So much for that not supporting multiple users thing.

Boy that could not be any clearer! Thanks to all who have been so constructive and helpful and kept letting Apple know that we had a real problem that needed to be addressed. Shows why these forums are so useful even when some choose not to be helpful. Thanks again!!

Vandy5111 wrote:

Boy that could not be any clearer! Thanks to all who have been so constructive and helpful and kept letting Apple know that we had a real problem that needed to be addressed. Shows why these forums are so useful even when some choose not to be helpful. Thanks again!!

[Edited by Host]

In all likelihood, it wasn't the forum postings that did much as Apple isn't reading here for suggestions. What probably made a difference was the people who submitted feedback or contacted Apple.

Yeah, well maybe. My guess is that many here like me did also go back to Apple directly and voice our frustration. What I know however is that Apple did recognize it as an "ISSUE". Thanks again to everyone who stayed positive and knew they were not crazy.

"Resolves an issue that caused messages to be merged into one thread when two users were signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones". Apple still gets it! Thanks Apple!
[Edited by Host]

I had given up on this thread. Even after all of the "fixes" with creating new Apple ID's (which initially worked) at about the two week mark, the threads merged again.

After this update I deleted my threads and initiated new ones. A strange thing happened - my old messages (separate threads) came back onto my phone.

[Edited by Host]

I never shared an Apple ID, but I communicate with people who do. Their phones were not effected but mine was. It was merging their messages on MY phone. And it's something that I had absolutely no control over.
[Edited by Host]

I must not have known what you meant either but Apple said in their latest update that they fixed the "ISSUE", so apparently there was an issue that has now been fixed by APPLE not me getting all new ID's that didn't work or doing what philly said and wiping my phone clean and spending hours getting all my apps back and reconfiguring it all, what a mess of advice. Sorry but not very good guidance on this one but sure you meant well as I am sure you really are a good person and do good things mostly.

I have used community forums on many occasions and unfortunately, Vandy, the advice given here was not only unhelpful (which is forgivable) but also routinely antagonistic (which is not forgivable). I encourage everyone unhappy with the responses received herein to email: **** - send them screen shots if you can. Hosts are incentivized and thus should be reasonably diligent about maintaining the proper decorum and not protecting select respondents in spite of their high ratings. I have sent this specific response to **** - let's see if my non-personal and information-focused advice gets blocked on this thread...

For those of us who called Apple and logged the actual issue, it would seem somewhere someone listened. I echo some of the other feedback today — as one of the people who was told by a senior tech that Apple was aware of the issue and was working on it, and it would likely to be resolved in future updates, my faith in Apple’s ability to resolve known issues is somewhat restoed... When I posted that info here however, the responses were that I was misinformed, talking to someone who didn’t know what they were talking about, etc. - and thus my faith that there will always be those who for some reason want to engage contentiously online for reasons I don’t really understand - well sadly that’s just further driven home as part of our culture these days... And despite personal attacks on my parenting (which were deleted) I also appreciate those who stayed constructive. Hopefully some people were helped along the way...they can now make informed choices of how to set up their devices.

I have no idea what email address you posted, but the forum edits out all email addresses, as Apple does not use email for support or forum management. The hosts are fully aware of everything in this thread; some of us have even discussed it with the hosts in a private forum. Which you presumably know, because you addressed a post to the hosts who removed the email address.

That is incorrect. I refer you to the current Apple Support Community Use Agreement which spells out the terms of use in the link at the bottom of this very page. In section 1, item 13, you will see the email which I just referred to. It's not helpful to give advice on topics with which you are unfamiliar. Response to that email address have been, in fact, very helpful.

Lawrence,

You just proved JM10's point. People with higher ratings are given preferential treatment - your post containing the email was not edited while his was. He even accounted for it being auto-blocked.

He was advising people to contact apple support if they feel certain people are being given preferential treatment based upon their high ratings.

I would doubt Apple would advise moderators to remove Apple's own support email, so it gives the appearance that moderators don't want you "telling" on them by not allowing it to be visible.

darrinofmaplewood wrote:

Lawrence,

You just proved JM10's point. People with higher ratings are given preferential treatment - your post containing the email was not edited while his was. He even accounted for it being auto-blocked.

The email address in JM's post was not auto-blocked -- I saw it plain as day for a period of time. The Hosts went in later and edited it out because the email address which JM listed is not intended to report the behavior of others in the community. That I'm sure is reason for it being edited.

The reason that Lawrence's post did not have the email edited out is likely because Lawrence correctly stated what the email address is intended for. The Hosts would not edit it out for it being correct, unlike JM's post.

The email address is to ask questions or report problems for your Apple Support Communities account. If someone feels like there is unfair treatment in a forum, which email do you suggest they use?

Interesting. I had an entire response removed and I didn't even get an email saying I violated anything. It's just gone.

I was saying that I do not have the option to "report" under the drop down.