Mobile number doesn't appear as an option when sending a text

When I enter a name for sending a text to their mobile phone, the phone number will pop up as a selection item. But for some names to whom I have previously sent texts and whose mobile number is in my Contacts, the mobile number does not show up as a selection option. Therefore, if I want to send to their mobile number and not their email, I have to go to my Contacts list and select their mobile number there. How can I correct this?

iPhone 6 Plus

Posted on Oct 31, 2018 7:38 PM

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Posted on Oct 31, 2018 7:51 PM

gtingley51 wrote:


if I want to send to their mobile number and not their email

If the contact person's email address shows up as an option to receive the text, that means that the person is using an Apple device and the message would be sent as an iMessage. In that case, the email address is actually the person's Apple ID, and indeed the message will go to the person's iPhone (perhaps among other Apple devices that person owns).

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Oct 31, 2018 7:51 PM in response to gtingley51

gtingley51 wrote:


if I want to send to their mobile number and not their email

If the contact person's email address shows up as an option to receive the text, that means that the person is using an Apple device and the message would be sent as an iMessage. In that case, the email address is actually the person's Apple ID, and indeed the message will go to the person's iPhone (perhaps among other Apple devices that person owns).

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Nov 1, 2018 6:43 PM in response to gtingley51

gtingley51 wrote:


Person is using an Android phone

It sounds like (s)he had an iPhone at one time and needs to de-register iMessage.

Deregister iMessage on your iPhone or online - Apple Support


If that's not it, if there's an "i" that appears in a circle to the right of the person's name when sending a message, tap the "i" and delete this entry.

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Mobile number doesn't appear as an option when sending a text

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