You probably have that one person who keeps your phone buzzing all day.
Maybe it’s a friend who sends meme after meme. Maybe it’s a coworker who doesn’t stop messaging after hours. Or maybe it’s a family member who shares every single detail of their day.
Sometimes you just want a little peace without blocking them completely. And that’s where knowing how to turn off iMessage for one person comes in handy.
It’s not about being rude. It’s about creating a bit of space so you can focus, relax, or just breathe without constant pings.
What iMessage actually is
Before you change anything, it’s good to understand what iMessage really is.
It’s Apple’s built-in messaging service that works on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Instead of using your carrier’s SMS service, iMessage sends messages over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
That’s why messages between Apple devices show up in blue bubbles instead of green.
You can send text, photos, videos, voice notes, and even share your location. And everything is end-to-end encrypted, which means only you and the person you’re messaging can see what’s sent.
Turning off iMessage for one person changes how you communicate with them. But it doesn’t mean they can’t reach you.
Why you might want to turn it off for one person
You might want to do this for a lot of reasons.
Maybe you need to focus on work or study without distractions. Maybe you want to avoid late-night messages from friends in other time zones. Or maybe you’re just feeling overwhelmed and need some space.
It’s basically like putting up a digital “Do Not Disturb” sign for one specific person. You can still talk to them if needed, but you get to control when and how.
How to turn off iMessage for one person
If you’ve decided you want to do it, here’s how you can make it happen.
- Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
- Find the conversation with the person.
- Tap their name at the top.
- Scroll and choose Info.
- Now tap on Block Caller.
Now, whenever you send them a message, it’ll go as a regular text instead of an iMessage.
And if you want to stop iMessages from them entirely, you can also turn off your internet temporarily before replying. that forces it to send green SMS instead of blue iMessages.
This way, you’re not blocking them, but you’re changing how the conversation works.
What changes when you turn it off
Once you’ve turned off iMessage for them, their messages will show up as green bubbles.
That means no iMessage features. no sending high-quality videos, no read receipts, no typing indicators, no iMessage stickers or reactions. It’s back to basic texting.
They can still send you SMS if they have your number, but they won’t be able to use iMessage’s richer features with you.
It’s a more minimal way of staying in touch, which can be exactly what you need if you want fewer distractions.
Alternatives if you don’t want to fully turn it off
If you’re not ready to change how iMessage works with them completely, you can still control how much they interrupt you.
You can Hide Alerts for that chat. Just open the conversation, tap their name, and switch on Hide Alerts. You’ll still get their messages, but your phone won’t buzz or light up every time they text.
You can also use Do Not Disturb for specific contacts. That mutes notifications while keeping messages available if you choose to check later.
And if it’s really too much, you can block the contact entirely. That stops calls, messages, and FaceTime from them. But that’s a bigger step, so think before you use it.
Why this isn’t rude
Some people feel guilty about muting or limiting messages from someone. But setting boundaries isn’t mean. It’s healthy.
When you control when and how people can reach you, you protect your time and mental energy. You’re not ignoring them forever. You’re just making sure your phone fits your life, instead of the other way around.
And when you’re ready, you can turn iMessage back on for them anytime.
How to turn it back on
If you decide you want iMessage back for that person, just go back to Messages, open the conversation, tap their name, go into Info, and make sure Caller is Unblocked.
Once that’s done, your messages will go back to blue, and you both will have all the iMessage features again.
The takeaway
You don’t have to put up with constant messages if you don’t want to.
Knowing how to turn iMessage off for one person. or even just hide their alerts. gives you control. You decide when to engage and when to be quiet.
This isn’t about cutting someone off. It’s about managing your space so you can focus, relax, or just have a little breathing room.
And the best part? You can change it back anytime you want.
Your phone should work for you. not the other way around.
