Where are imessage/ messages settings in ios18? Unsure of the correct name for this app.

Once again, Apple have decided to make changes to the location of settings and using there vast resources, have done precious little to help users figure out where these settings are.


I am trying to change settings in imessage. I go to settings, scroll down and see that the number of settings has decreased drastically. imessage settings aren't there anymore.


So, lets go to the search function in the settings menu. No results for 'messages', 'imessage', 'message' or even 'phone' or 'facetime'. [edit This might actually be a bug because 'messenger' does return a result, as does 'facebook'.]


What now? Where do I even begin to look? A google search returns an apple article about messaging safety that says that settings are in "On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Messages, then turn iMessage on or off."


Further down in the results, the correct help article is displayed (link). But why force me to search for something that worked previously, that was changed without telling me about it and no effort was put into helping me find that new location from within my phone itself?


[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 12 Pro

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 05:47 PM

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Posted on Jan 1, 2025 10:40 PM

It's unfortunate that I feel this way about being forced to accept changes to my phone OS that aren't implemented properly? That's an odd thing to say.


Yes, the new layout reduces the number of menu options and is overall easier to use. But I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about how the option menu had changed, how apple didn't help users deal with the change in layout and how the search function didn't find the options I was looking for.



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Jan 1, 2025 10:40 PM in response to DVPKAirlines

It's unfortunate that I feel this way about being forced to accept changes to my phone OS that aren't implemented properly? That's an odd thing to say.


Yes, the new layout reduces the number of menu options and is overall easier to use. But I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about how the option menu had changed, how apple didn't help users deal with the change in layout and how the search function didn't find the options I was looking for.



Dec 22, 2024 10:08 PM in response to Martin DM

Martin DM Said:

"Where are imessage/ messages settings in ios18? Unsure of the correct name for this app.: [...]What now? Where do I even begin to look? A google search returns an apple article about messaging safety that says that settings are in "On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Messages, then turn iMessage on or off.'[...]"

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Getting to Message Settings:

Tapping the word "mess" in the search bar of the Settings app, here's what pops up for me...

Jan 1, 2025 10:36 PM in response to TheLittles

While I agree that is how it was supposed to work, it didn't work that way initially. As I stated in my post, I tried searching but got zero results for 'messages', 'imessage', 'message' or even 'phone' or 'facetime'.


Your screenshot will be helpful for other users though who come across this issue.


Apple could, and should, put more effort into helping users familiarise themselves with changes (changes that are forced onto users) instead of relying on unpaid volunteers who often don't have anymore in-depth knowledge about the IOS than a google search will provide. If you can't call apple for help about changes that they force upon you, they should do more to make those changes easier to learn.

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Where are imessage/ messages settings in ios18? Unsure of the correct name for this app.

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