deactivating iMessage (iPhone)

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

Hey everyone.. Anyone had any luck with this issue? Switched to Android last week, but this has me ready to switch back to iPhone (unfortunately). I can't text any of my friends (well, I guess I can - but they have to go through a hassle every time they message me back, annoying). Traded in my 4S for the LG G2 + $55.

I've unregistered my apple device from their site, I've changed my Apple ID password (twice), I've contacted Apple who stated my device was unregistered. I don't have any other Apple products.

When my friends iPhone send messages, they're still coming up as iMessage. So annoying for them and for me that I almost want to switch back to iPhone because of how pathetic Apple is.

Any help to keep me away from Apple would be greatly appreciated...

iowabowtech · Mar 9, 2014

natey2k4 said:
So annoying for them and for me that I almost want to switch back to iPhone because of how pathetic Apple is.

That appears to be the idea because there are a whole host of threads like this on these and other forums:

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3/778738-anyone-solve-sms-iphone-problem.html

Unfortunately, the only fix for SOME people seems to be having them check the box to use sms when imessage fails. Sad but true. It's odd the some people have luck disabling their setting/account while others continue to fall into this mess. Sorry that you're one of the latter. :eek:

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

iowabowtech said:
That appears to be the idea because there are a whole host of threads like this on these and other forums:

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3/778738-anyone-solve-sms-iphone-problem.html

Unfortunately, the only fix for SOME people seems to be having them check the box to use sms when imessage fails. Sad but true. It's odd the some people have luck disabling their setting/account while others continue to fall into this mess. Sorry that you're one of the latter.

I'm sitting beside someone with an iPhone and got them to check that. The problem is, the iMessage IS NOT failing. It's literally sending as an iMessage, even though i've deactivated my phone from apple by their site and through their phone support. It can't send as an SMS when it fails because it's not failing.

The only other way is for people to turn off iMessage, but that's not fair to them.

Yeah, I thought I was having success, except the person finally told me they have to re-trick their phone every morning (if they send 3 messages in a row, and click send as SMS to each and every message, it'll trick their phone), but my friends aren't going to want to do that daily (and I wouldn't either) except for her.

Very frustrating issue and I really don't want to go back to Apple for many reasons.

iowabowtech · Mar 9, 2014

natey2k4 said:
Yeah, I thought I was having success, except the person finally told me they have to re-trick their phone every morning (if they send 3 messages in a row, and click send as SMS to each and every message, it'll trick their phone), but my friends aren't going to want to do that daily (and I wouldn't either) except for her.

Very frustrating issue and I really don't want to go back to Apple for many reasons.

Yeah there's no way anybody could keep that up to keep sending messages. Man, I just don't know what else to suggest. Seems like your deactivating the account AND calling Apple is about as far as one could go realistically. There's just so many people that experience this issue, you'd think they could find a way to stop this problem. And you'd think account removal would do that, but it just doesn't seem to cut if for everyone. :thinking:

Idk man, I'm hoping somebody else stumbles on this who'd found the elusive fix if there is one.

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

iowabowtech said:
Yeah there's no way anybody could keep that up to keep sending messages. Man, I just don't know what else to suggest. Seems like your deactivating the account AND calling Apple is about as far as one could go realistically. There's just so many people that experience this issue, you'd think they could find a way to stop this problem. And you'd think account removal would do that, but it just doesn't seem to cut if for everyone.

Idk man, I'm hoping somebody else stumbles on this who'd found the elusive fix if there is one.

I'm not married to my phone number, so I'm going to see if I can change it and maybe that will work.

Xyro · Mar 9, 2014

From what I know of this problem you wouldn't expect it to fail when your friend sends an iMessage. At the moment your number is still flagged as an active iMessage account, so your friends messages are probably piling up on a server somewhere waiting for the next time you turn your (non-existent) iDevice on.

Apple's website recommends calling them, so that's not entirely useful if they've not been helpful already. I can only suggest hassling them some more.

The support article I linked to does say that you can turn it off yourself, but you need temporary access to an apple device. The instructions from this thread might be helpful, particularly the instructions posted by JazzyTech757. It sounds like you can just sign into iMessage on a friend's phone, deactivate iMessage for your account, and then sign them back in without having to factory reset the phone. I don't have any experience with apple phones, but it sounds like it won't cause any permanent disruption to the device. Maybe you could even ask one of their genius guys to borrow one of the demo devices in an apple store to do it?

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

Xyro said:
From what I know of this problem you wouldn't expect it to fail when your friend sends an iMessage. At the moment your number is still flagged as an active iMessage account, so your friends messages are probably piling up on a server somewhere waiting for the next time you turn your (non-existent) iDevice on.

Apple's website recommends calling them, so that's not entirely useful if they've not been helpful already. I can only suggest hassling them some more.

The support article I linked to does say that you can turn it off yourself, but you need temporary access to an apple device. The instructions from this thread might be helpful, particularly the instructions posted by JazzyTech757. It sounds like you can just sign into iMessage on a friend's phone, deactivate iMessage for your account, and then sign them back in without having to factory reset the phone. I don't have any experience with apple phones, but it sounds like it won't cause any permanent disruption to the device. Maybe you could even ask one of their genius guys to borrow one of the demo devices in an apple store to do it?

Thanks.

I'm going to try that step tonight. I'm also going to try taking my SIM out, putting it in a friends phone, and doing it that way. Worth the shot, even if Apple says my number is erased from their servers.

If not, I'll call my company back and inquire about changing my number. The last rep I talked too said it wouldn't work, but I'm 99% sure she has to be wrong.

Xyro · Mar 9, 2014

natey2k4 said:
If not, I'll call my company back and inquire about changing my number. The last rep I talked too said it wouldn't work, but I'm 99% sure she has to be wrong.

You could test that. Ask someone with an iPhone to edit the mobile number they have saved for you to another number that has never been registered to iMessage. If they send a message to you and their phone still tries to send an iMessage, then changing your number for real won't help.

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

Xyro said:
You could test that. Ask someone with an iPhone to edit the mobile number they have saved for you to another number that has never been registered to iMessage. If they send a message to you and their phone still tries to send an iMessage, then changing your number for real won't help.

That must be way over my head.. If she changed the number.. wouldn't it just send the text to whoever had that number, lol?

Xyro · Mar 9, 2014

natey2k4 said:
That must be way over my head.. If she changed the number.. wouldn't it just send the text to whoever had that number, lol?

Yeah, the point is that you need a number that isn't and has never been registered to apple to test out the theory. So, say for example your dad's phone number matches that criteria, you could use his.

Your friend edits your contact information and replaces your number with your dad's. They try and send you a message, without specifically specifying to send it as an SMS. The two possible outcomes are:

A: Your dad gets the text. So you know now that changing your number would fix the problem.

B: Your dad doesn't get the message, because it's still being sent as an iMessage. In that case, changing your number won't fix the problem, as the customer support rep told you.

It's a bit of a hassle, but so would be changing your number to no effect.

natey2k4 · Mar 9, 2014

Tried signing in and deactivating. No go. Tried switching SIMs and doing the same, no go.

Going to call tomorrow and get my number changed. Sucks, but its worth the shot, I guess.

natey2k4 · Mar 10, 2014

Changed my number. Obviously working now. Thanks everyone.

Xyro · Mar 10, 2014

Glad you got it sorted

potsey2007 · Mar 10, 2014

I went through the same process last week. Had to change my number as well but at least I got my old number ported to Google Voice in case anyone doesn't get my new number.

iovercharge · Mar 11, 2014

I wish I would've caught this earlier but all you have to use is hangouts. That's how I fixed all of my problems after the switch.

brianrudy · Mar 12, 2014

Make sure your old iPhone is not still connected to WiFi, if so it may still be intercepting your messages.

deactivating iMessage (iPhone)

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