Do you remember text messages? Well, it’s not like they ever went out of fashion, especially for Apple which has made them far easier and fun to use with apps such as iMessage. But sometimes, you might want to know how to do without that app, especially on a device you’re not using for messaging. How to remove iMessage from iPad then?
While it is definitely convenient to be able to receive and reply to messages directly from your tablet and it might be something you want to keep, today many tablets are mainly used to watch videos or play games. Hence we might not need the additional distraction.
Or perhaps you’re just thinking of selling an old Apple device and you want to remove iMessage from iPad. Let’s look at the simple steps to do it.
Is it possible to remove iMessage from the iPad?
Now, after all that trying to disable the app, you might be rightfully wondering if it’s possible to just uninstall the app from the tablet. So there might be no more problem with messages coming through different devices.
Unfortunately, it is not possible uninstall it as it is one of the tablet’s built-in apps. But, since it is not a typical feature of a tablet - that of receiving messages - you might be wondering why Apple did not make the app removable. We cannot help with that question, but we have several suggestions on how you can circumvent the problem and stop receiving messages on your tablet.
How to dectivate iMessage on iPad
If you’re looking for a simple way to deactivate iMessage on the iPad, then that would be just about going turning iMessage off. That would be about:
- Launch Settings.
- Tap Messages.
- Tap the toggle next to iMessage to turn it off.
But that doesn’t really solve your problem, as the app can be quickly reactivated and all the data is still there in the app. Not a good solution if you’re looking to get some space back.
The method we’re recommending is different. Here’s what you do:
- On your iPad sign out of your Apple ID;
- Proceed deleting all of the useless messages in iMessage;
- In order to do so quickly, you can check your Storage;
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages;
- If you find a list of files, then tap edit and delete what you don’t need.
This way not only iMessage can be activated but no messages will be received, but the storage is free and the device might also be ready to be sold or given to someone else. Perhaps you’ve just switched to Android too, so that is a quick way to ensure you are just getting messages on the devices you are using.
How to deactivate iMessage without an iPhone
Perhaps you’ve already switched over to Android or your iPhone is just not turning on anymore so you need to deactivate the app without access to a smartphone. No problem, Apple still has you covered! Indeed, the company has a complete and thorough online process that can be used to deactivate your phone number from the iMessage servers.
This is what you have to do:
- Click on the link to open Apple's iMessage deregistration page (opens in new tab) from any web browser.
- Scroll down to the No longer have your iPhone window and type in the cellular number assigned to your iPad.
- Apple will send you a code
- Wait for a text message and enter the confirmation code into the deactivation page.
The same service can be used also if you’ve lost your iPad - but still have an iPhone - so you can deactivate iMessage on there and stop receiving messages for good.
If all these fails and you do not have access to any of your old Apple devices, still not all hope is lost. It is possible to call 1-800-MY-APPLE to de-register your phone from Apple's servers. Keep in mind that they will ask for your Apple ID, so be ready to have it ready and also tell the technical support that you are migrating over to a new phone and cannot receive messages at the moment. They should be able to help you.
How to Disable iPhone from Forwarding Messages to Your iPad
But let’s say that your problem is quite easier than all the other scenarios we have looked at. You simply don’t want to receive messages on your iPad but still want to keep the app active on that device. Well, no problem, you can still do it!
This is because the app works by being associated with the same Apple ID that you are currently using (or have been using) on your other Apple devices. All you have to do is tick off the text message forwarding option, but you have to do it on your iPhone. Otherwise, as mentioned, just disabling the app on the tablet might not be enough. Follow these steps below.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Tap Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
- Uncheck your iPad from the list.
You should not receive any more messages on your tablet.
How to remove the iMessage app from the home screen
Finally, let’s get to one icon you might not want to see anymore on your tablet’s home screen: that of iMessage. As we have already noted before, uninstalling the app is not possible, but if you just want to remove the icon, it might be easier to not think about it anymore. At least, this way, you don’t have to see it every time you open up your device.
Clearly this is quite different from the other methods we have seen before: removing the icon simply just makes it a bit more cumbersome to access it. But the messaging application is still very much there so, if you want to use it, you can always search for it in App Library. Hopefully, this guide answers all your questions about iMessage and how it can be basically rendered useless on your iPad device.