One of the many reasons we love iMessage is because it works seamlessly allowing us to send or receive text messages across all our iOS devices and Mac. It is also capable of automatically converting a SMS into iMessage whenever it detects both phone numbers are on an iPhone. While this is super useful, it has also brought trouble for many users who complained about disappearing messages and that they were not able to receive text messages on their phone number. This happened after they switched to a non-iOS smartphone such as Android or Windows Phone.
To solve this problem Apple has launched a dedicated new web tool that allows users who have switched from an iPhone to any other device to easily deregister their number from iMessage. After deregistering the number these users will only receive text messages as SMS and not as iMessage.
To deregister your number from iMessage simply open Apple’s Deregister iMessage tool and enter your number. Apple will send you a 6-digit confirmation code on your phone that you have to enter, after which you are done.
If you are in possession of your iPhone then this process is even easier. Simply head to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.
This is not the first time Apple has released an online tool to solve a problem faced by its users. Previously the company has released the SOI Removal tool to delete U2’s Songs of Innocence from iTunes accounts.
[Source via TheVerge]
