SellUsediPhoneFast · Safe · Simple
Deregister iMessage before selling an iPhone by turning off iMessage and FaceTime in Settings while the SIM or eSIM is still active, or by using Apple's online Deregister iMessage page when the iPhone is no longer available. Deregistration matters most when the next phone is not an iPhone, because Apple's servers otherwise keep routing messages from iPhone users to iMessage, where an Android phone cannot receive them. The step takes about 2 minutes and is part of preparing the phone for Sell iPhone for Cash.
- On the iPhone: Settings > Apps > Messages > iMessage off, then FaceTime off.
- Without the iPhone: Apple's Deregister iMessage web page with a text confirmation code.
- Who needs it most: anyone moving the number to an Android or other non-Apple phone.
- Time required: about 2 minutes on the phone; online deregistration can take a few hours to apply.
Why do messages stop after switching phones?
Messages stop after switching phones because Apple's servers still list the phone number as an iMessage address. When another iPhone user sends a text, their iPhone checks Apple's servers, finds the number registered and sends the message as an iMessage, shown in a blue bubble. An Android phone cannot receive iMessages, so the message never arrives, and the sender may see "Delivered" without any error.
| Sender's phone | Number still registered | Number deregistered |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Sent as iMessage; not received on Android | Sent as RCS or SMS; received |
| Android | Sent as RCS or SMS; received | Sent as RCS or SMS; received |
The problem affects only messages from iPhone users. Messages from Android users arrive normally.
How do I turn off iMessage and FaceTime?
Turn off iMessage and FaceTime on the iPhone in 4 steps, while the phone still has the SIM or eSIM for the number:
- Open Settings > Apps > Messages and turn off iMessage.
- Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.
- Wait about 1 minute for the change to reach Apple's servers.
- Move the number to the new phone, then sign out of the Apple Account and erase the iPhone.
On iOS versions before iOS 18, the Messages and FaceTime settings appear directly in the main Settings list instead of under Apps. How to Prepare Your iPhone to Sell: 9-Step Checklist shows where this step fits.
How do I deregister without the iPhone?
Deregister without the iPhone by using Apple's Deregister iMessage web page, which removes the phone number from iMessage through a text confirmation. The process takes 4 steps:
- Visit Apple's Deregister iMessage page at selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage.
- Choose the United States country code and enter the phone number.
- Receive a 6-digit confirmation code by text on the new phone.
- Enter the code and submit.
The number must already be active on the new phone to receive the code. Online deregistration can take a few hours to apply. Use this method when the old iPhone is lost, broken, already sold or already erased.
Do I need to deregister iMessage if my next phone is an iPhone?
Deregistering iMessage is not necessary when the next phone is an iPhone signed in to the same Apple Account, because iMessage moves with the account and the number. The new iPhone activates iMessage for the number automatically. Turning off iMessage on the old phone before erasing it is still a clean step, because it removes the old device from the account's messaging list.
Does erasing the iPhone deregister iMessage?
Erasing the iPhone signs the device out of iMessage, but it does not always remove the phone number from Apple's iMessage servers when the number moves to a non-Apple phone. Turning off iMessage before erasing, or using the online deregistration page, removes the number directly. Do the step before or instead of relying on the erase.
How do I check that deregistration worked?
Check that deregistration worked by asking an iPhone user to send a text to the number. The test has 3 possible results:
| Result on the sender's iPhone | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green bubble, or labeled as a text or RCS message | Deregistration worked |
| Blue bubble that is not received on the new phone | The number is still registered |
| Blue bubble that switches to green after a delay | Deregistration is still processing |
The sender may need to delete the old conversation and start a new one, because the sender's iPhone can remember the earlier iMessage status for that thread.
What about my email addresses in iMessage?
Email addresses linked to iMessage stay with the Apple Account, and they work on any Apple device signed in to that account, such as a Mac or an iPad. They do not affect texts sent to the phone number. When no Apple device will use iMessage after the switch, sign out of iMessage on every device to stop messages to those addresses.
How does RCS change texting between iPhone and Android?
RCS changes texting between iPhone and Android by adding typing indicators, read receipts and high-quality photos and videos, which SMS and MMS do not support. Apple added RCS in iOS 18, and the major U.S. carriers support it. After iMessage is deregistered, messages from iPhone users arrive on the Android phone over RCS when both sides support it, and over SMS when they do not.
What happens to group chats after deregistering?
Group chats that included the number as an iMessage address stop delivering to it after deregistration. Ask a member of each group to start a new group conversation that includes the number, which creates an RCS or MMS group. Older iMessage group threads cannot convert themselves.
Should I turn off FaceTime too?
Turn off FaceTime too, because FaceTime also registers the phone number with Apple. When FaceTime stays registered, iPhone users can see the number as FaceTime-reachable, and their calls fail when the next phone is not an Apple device. Turning off FaceTime takes the same 30 seconds as iMessage, in Settings > Apps > FaceTime.
What else should I turn off before selling?
Turn off 4 more items before selling, after iMessage and FaceTime:
- Find My: removes Activation Lock; it turns off when the Apple Account signs out.
- Apple Pay: remove cards in Wallet, or remotely through the Apple Account.
- Apple Watch pairing: unpair the watch so its Activation Lock is removed.
- Apple Account: sign out in Settings, then erase all content and settings.
How to Remove Apple Pay Cards Before Selling an iPhone and How to Turn Off Find My iPhone Before Selling cover these steps.
What if I already sold the iPhone without deregistering?
An iPhone sold without deregistering iMessage does not give the buyer access to messages, because erasing the phone and signing out of the Apple Account remove the account. The only effect is on the seller's own texts from iPhone users, which may not reach a non-Apple phone. Use Apple's online deregistration page with the number active on the new phone to fix it.
Does deregistering iMessage delete my messages?
Deregistering iMessage does not delete message history. Messages stay on the iPhone until it is erased, in any iCloud or computer backup, and in iCloud when Messages in iCloud is on. To keep history on an Android phone, transfer it during Android setup or with Samsung Smart Switch, where supported. How to Back Up Your iPhone Before You Sell It explains backups.
How does deregistration fit into an Android switch?
Deregistration fits into an Android switch after the data transfer and the number move, and before the iPhone is erased. The full order is: back up, transfer data to Android, activate the number on Android, turn off iMessage and FaceTime, unpair the Apple Watch, sign out and erase. Selling an iPhone When You Move to Android covers every step.
Is my number still linked to my Apple Account after deregistering?
A phone number can remain listed as a trusted number for two-factor authentication in the Apple Account after iMessage is deregistered. That listing is separate from iMessage and does not route messages. Keep the number as a trusted number when it still belongs to you, and update it in the Apple Account settings when the number changes.
When in the selling process should I deregister iMessage?
Deregister iMessage after the phone number is active on the new phone and before the old iPhone is erased. The table shows where it falls.
| Order | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 | Request a quote and back up the iPhone |
| 2 | Transfer data to the new phone |
| 3 | Activate the number on the new phone |
| 4 | Turn off iMessage and FaceTime on the old iPhone |
| 5 | Unpair the Apple Watch and remove Apple Pay cards |
| 6 | Sign out of the Apple Account and erase |
| 7 | Ship with the prepaid label within 14 days |
Does a carrier change affect iMessage?
A carrier change affects iMessage only through the phone number. When the number is ported to a new carrier and stays on an iPhone, iMessage continues after the new SIM or eSIM activates. When the number moves to a non-Apple phone on any carrier, deregistration is needed. A new number on a new carrier needs no deregistration for the old number, but the old number stays registered until it is turned off or released by the carrier.
What if iMessage still shows as registered after a day?
When iMessage still shows as registered after a day, repeat the online deregistration with the number active on the new phone, and ask senders to delete old threads. Check every other Apple device signed in to the account, such as an iPad or a Mac, because the number can stay linked through those devices when they use the same Apple Account with the phone number enabled in Messages settings. Turn off the number on each device. Apple Support can remove the number when these steps do not work.
Does deregistration affect the buyer of my iPhone?
Deregistration does not affect the buyer, because the buyer signs in with a different Apple Account and a different number. Erasing the phone removes all of the seller's accounts. The buyer's iMessage activates for the buyer's own number after setup.
Can a buyback deregister iMessage for me?
A buyback cannot deregister iMessage for the seller, because deregistration requires the seller's phone number and a code sent to it. The buyback erases and tests the phone after arrival, which does not change the number's registration.
Frequently asked questions about deregistering iMessage
How do I deregister iMessage before selling my iPhone?
Open Settings > Apps > Messages and turn off iMessage, then open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime, while the SIM or eSIM is still active. Wait about 1 minute, then move the number to the new phone, sign out of the Apple Account and erase the iPhone before shipping it.
Can I deregister iMessage without my old iPhone?
iMessage can be deregistered without the old iPhone on Apple's Deregister iMessage page. Enter the phone number, receive a 6-digit code by text on the new phone and enter it. The number must be active on the new phone to receive the code, and the change can take a few hours to apply.
Why am I not getting texts from iPhones after switching to Android?
Texts from iPhone users stop arriving when the number is still registered with iMessage, because their iPhones send iMessages that an Android phone cannot receive. Turn off iMessage on the old iPhone, or use Apple's online deregistration page. Ask senders to start a new conversation if older threads still send as iMessage.
Do I need to deregister iMessage if I am getting a new iPhone?
Deregistration is not necessary when the next phone is an iPhone signed in to the same Apple Account, because iMessage moves with the account and the number. Turning off iMessage on the old phone before erasing it still removes the old device cleanly from the account's messaging service. A free quote with these details shows the exact offer, which stays valid for 14 days.
Does deregistering iMessage delete my messages?
Deregistering iMessage does not delete messages. History stays on the iPhone until it is erased, in iCloud or computer backups and in iCloud when Messages in iCloud is turned on. Transfer messages to an Android phone during setup where the tool supports it, before erasing the iPhone and shipping it for sale.
Sources and references
- Apple: Deregister iMessage.
- Apple Support: if you switched from iPhone to a non-Apple phone and cannot receive texts.
- Apple Support: what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone.