Apple has consistently enhanced the pre-installed Messages application through its iOS updates. Serving as the default SMS inbox and a secure, encrypted messaging platform for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, the Messages app has become increasingly robust.
If you find yourself frequently receiving unwanted or unusual messages from particular contacts or marketers, you have the option to hide alerts from them.
Disabling notifications for the Messages app may not be the most sensible approach as it could result in missing out on important alerts from your banks, important contacts, and promotional offers.
Instead, a more practical solution would be to selectively turn off alerts for specific marketers and contacts while still receiving notifications for other important messages.
In this article, you’ll learn all about the “Hide Alert” feature. You will also learn how to use it to enhance your texting experiences.
What Is The “Hide Alert” Feature In Messages?
The ‘Hide Alerts’ feature in Messages is a useful tool for silencing bothersome chat threads. By activating this feature, alerts for selected contacts are turned off, allowing you to receive notifications from other conversations. It provides the best of both worlds by granting you control over which conversations trigger alerts.
While blocking annoying contacts is an option in messages, it prevents you from receiving their messages and calls entirely.
Instead of resorting to such a drastic measure, enabling the ‘Hide Alerts’ option allows you to avoid notifications from specific contacts. This way, their messages won’t disrupt your workflow during working hours.
To view their messages, simply access the Messages app and quickly review any unread texts.
How To Enable The “Hide Alert” Feature
To enable the Hide Alerts feature in Messages on your iPhone or iPad instead of using Do Not Disturb, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Step 2: Choose a chat thread and tap on the contact name located at the top.
- Step 3: Turn on the Hide Alerts toggle switch. Tap the Done button located in the top right corner.
If you prefer to hide alerts without accessing a conversation, you can utilize the swipe gesture.
- Step 1: Open the Messages app and swipe left on the chat thread you wish to silence.
- Step 2: Select the Bell icon.
Alternatively, you can perform a long tap on a conversation and choose ‘Hide Alerts’ from the context menu.
You will see a bell icon with a slash, indicating that the ‘Hide Alerts’ toggle is active for the conversation. While you will still receive messages, the app won’t send you notifications.
If you receive an alert from the Messages app when someone mentions you in a conversation and wants to disable this behavior, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Step 2: Scroll down and select Messages. Disable the Notify Me toggle.
Enable Hide Alerts in Messages on Mac
Interestingly, Apple does not synchronize hidden alerts across your devices. If you have activated the “Hide Alerts” option for specific contacts on your iPhone or iPad, it won’t automatically apply to your Mac. Fortunately, you can also use the “Hide Alerts” feature in Messages on your Mac. Here’s how to do it:
- Step 1: Launch the Messages app on your Mac.
- Step 2: Select a conversation and click on the information NB button located in the top right corner.
- Step 3: Check the “Hide Alerts” checkbox.
Alternatively, you can right-click on a conversation and choose the “Hide Alerts” option. Once this option is activated, you will see a bell icon with a slash through it, indicating that notifications from that person are muted in messages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the “Hide Alerts” feature in Messages provides a convenient way to silence annoying chat threads and avoid unnecessary notifications.
Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can easily enable this feature to selectively hide alerts from specific contacts. By following the provided steps, you can enjoy a more focused and uninterrupted messaging experience.
