4 Easy Ways to Stop Sending and Receiving Messages on Mac

Download Article
A step-by-step guide to disabling iMessage on macOS
Download Article

Do you want to disable the Messages app on your Mac computer? If you want to keep your text messages on your iPhone or iPad only, you can turn off Messages on your Mac. This will prevent you from sending or receiving messages on your computer. You can also temporarily or permanently disable notifications. This How.com.vn will show you how to disable and customize notifications settings for Messages using your Mac desktop computer or MacBook.

Things You Should Know

  • In Messages, then click "Messages" → "Preferences" → "Messages" → "Sign Out".
  • To disable notifications, click the Apple menu. Click "System Preferences" → "Notifications" → "Messages" → toggle off "Allow Notifications".
  • Click the Notification Center and toggle on "Do Not Disturb" to temporarily mute Messages notifications.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Signing out of Messages

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Open the Messages icon app on your Mac computer.
    You can find this on your dock or in the Applications folder in the Finder.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Click Messages.
    This will be in the top toolbar, next to the Apple logo.
    Advertisement
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Click Preferences.
    A new window will open.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Click Messages.
    This is the tab located between General and Shared with You.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Click Sign Out.
    This will be to the right of your Apple ID.
    • Make sure the Apple ID matches the one associated with your Messages app.
    • You will be signed out of Messages. You'll no longer receive or send messages on your Mac.
    • To use Messages again, you'll need to sign into your Apple ID.
  6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Turning off Notifications

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Open the Apple icon menu.
    This is located in the top-left corner of your screen.
    • A drop-down menu will open.[1]
    • Use this method if you still want to use the app, but control the notifications.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Click System Preferences.
    This will be underneath About This Mac.
    • A new window will open.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Click Notifications.
    This will be below a bell icon.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Click Messages.
    You can find this in the left side panel, within the list of apps. As this list is in alphabetical order, you may need to scroll down to find it.
  5. Step 5 Toggle off icon "Allow Notifications from Messages".
    This will be in the main panel, above Messages alert style.
    • Your notifications will be disabled. You'll still be able to send and receive messages on your Mac.
  6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Customizing Messages Notifications

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Open the Messages icon app on your Mac computer.
    You can find this on your dock or in the Applications folder in the Finder.[2]
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Click Messages.
    This will be in the top toolbar, next to the Apple logo.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Click Preferences.
    A new window will open.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Click General.
    You may already have this tab open by default.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Uncheck the boxes as desired.
    Click the boxes underneath Application to customize your Messages notifications.
    • You can turn off notifications from unknown contacts and when your name is mentioned. You can also disable auto-play for message effects and disable sound effects.
  6. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Temporarily Disabling Notifications

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Click the Notification Center icon.
    This will look like three bullet points and three lines in the top-right corner.
    • To temporarily disable notifications on your Mac, you can use Do Not Disturb.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Scroll up on the Notification Center.
    This will reveal Night Shift and Do Not Disturb.
    • On older versions of macOS, scroll down.
  3. Step 3 Toggle on icon "Do Not Disturb".
    This will activate Do Not Disturb.
    • All notifications will be silenced as long as this mode is active.
    • To turn off Do Not Disturb, toggle the switch off.
  4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Rain Kengly
      Written by:
      How.com.vn Technology Writer
      This article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a How.com.vn Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 7,992 times.
      How helpful is this?
      Co-authors: 3
      Updated: December 7, 2022
      Views: 7,992
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,992 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      ⚠️ Disclaimer:

      Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
      Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.

      Notices:
      • - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
      • - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
      • - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
      • - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.

      Advertisement