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Apple iPhone - Turn SMS On / Off

2026-10-22 16:06:42.54

Apple iPhone - Turn SMS On / Off

If you've turned iMessage off on your iPhone, here's how to enable SMS to send and receive messages.
  • If iMessage®, an Apple messaging service that allows unlimited text messages between iOS devices, is turned off your phone is capable of sending messages via SMS.
  • Refer to Use Messages support page for more info.
  • If you switched to a non-Apple phone and aren't getting SMS / MMS messages, refer to Apple's Deregister iMessage FAQs.
  • Advanced troubleshooting and configuration should be handled by Apple.
  1. From a Home screen on your Apple® iPhone®, navigate:
    Settings Settings icon
    Messages Messages icon
    .
    If an app isn't available on your Home screen, swipe left to access the App Library.
  2. Tap the
    Send as SMS switch
     to turn on Switch On or off Switch Off.
    When enabled and iMessage is unavailable, messages are sent as SMS.