The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
iMessage deactivation tool lets users switch from iOS to Android with ease
The one-click tool deals with a long-standing problem
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Smartphone users switching from iOS to Android have long known that iMessage – Apple’s messaging service that sends texts using data rather than cellular connection – can be a pain to get rid of.
Users that forgot to de-register their smartphone before switching devices would find that their number was still routed through iMessage – meaning any texts sent to their new device from another iPhone user simply wouldn’t be delivered.
Complaints of this nature have been circulating online for years, with users reporting that un-read texts have affected everything from relationships to jobs, with Business Insider even noting that undercover police have been adversely affected by the horribly-designed system.
Now, however, Apple has launched a simple fix: an online tool that lets iPhone users instantly de-register their number from iMesage. Anyone switching from iOS to Android simply punches in their phone number and voila, no undelivered texts.
The solution is simple and easy to use, but it still seems ridiculous that Apple took so long to address the problem. The last time they introduce a one-click-fix tool like this it got rid of U2’s latest album just days after it was released – but perhaps that was more of an emergency?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments