16 Apple Messages settings I change on every iPhone – and why

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Settings can make Messages cleaner, more secure, and easier to use.
• RCS, filters, mentions, and backgrounds help to modernize Messages.
• On every new iPhone, I check these settings and features first.

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There are a few Apple apps I constantly use, and Messages is one of them. It’s great from the moment I open it on my iPhone and start firing off the first texts. It works across my Apple devices, has a clean interface, and includes plenty of fun features to try.

Also: Use Google Messages? I change these 9 settings on every new Android phone – here’s why

Still, I’ve found ways to make Messages better than the default experience. On any new iPhone, these are the settings I change first.

1. Save messages to iCloud

Let’s make sure chats are backed up to the cloud. This is a useful feature because it keeps my conversations synced across Apple devices and helps make switching to a new iPhone super easy. Open Settings > Name > iCloud > See All > Messages in iCloud, then turn on Use on this iPhone. From the same screen, there are options to manage storage, start a sync, and adjust retention limits.

Also: How to free up your iPhone storage almost immediately – 8 easy ways

2. Change message history

I hate opening Apple Messages and seeing hundreds of old chats, so I like to manually delete most once I’m done with them.

But I still want to keep some conversations, like my 10-plus-year thread with my husband that basically contains a full chronology of our relationship, photos included. For anyone who does not want to keep every conversation forever, Messages can automatically clear out older chats. Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Keep Messages, then choose 30 Days, 1 Year, or Forever.

I keep mine set to Forever, then swipe to delete old threads I no longer want.

3. Protect backups

Apple has a security feature called Advanced Data Protection that can end-to-end encrypt different categories of my iCloud data, such as my Messages backups. That means saved copies of my chats can be locked down in iCloud so that only trusted devices can access them. It adds another layer of protection in case someone ever breaks into Apple’s cloud systems.

To turn it on, open Settings > Name > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection, then switch on the feature and follow the setup steps.

Also: How to set up and use passkeys across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Apple warns it will not have the keys needed to recover my data if I lose access to my iCloud account. So, Apple can’t unlock it for me. But that’s why setup requires a recovery contact or recovery key, so there’s still a way back in later. Because Apple can’t unlock data encrypted with ADP, the company is unable to hand over your data, even if presented with a government court order.

4. Review text message forwarding

Text message forwarding is convenient when I want SMS, MMS, and RCS messages to appear on my Mac or iPad. But I always review this setting to make sure texts are only showing up on devices I still own, use, and keep locked.

For example, I have an old iPad that’s on my account and is basically the household tablet. It’s used in the kitchen for recipe lookups, and my daughter sometimes grabs it to play Apple Arcade games. I think she, or anyone who uses it, really, doesn’t need to see all of Mommy’s text messages. Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding, then turn each device on or off.

5. Set ‘Send and Receive’ to one number

I prefer to start conversations from my phone number on my iPhone, not my Apple Account email or another address. This helps avoid confusion and keeps my personal email addresses from accidentally appearing in new text threads.

Also: I never use a new iPhone until I change these settings – why they’re such a big deal

Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Send and Receive. Select the phone number for receiving iMessages and starting new conversations, then uncheck anything else that doesn’t need to be used on that device.

6. Turn off read receipts (or enable for some chats)

Read receipts are fine for a spouse or close family member. But for most people, I do not need Messages broadcasting the second I open a text, especially since I often get distracted and forget to reply. (Hey, I blame years of notification overload.)

Open Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn off Send Read Receipts.

Doing this disables read receipts for everyone, but they can still be turned on for specific people, such as a partner. Open Messages > go to that person’s chat > tap the name or icon at the top of the screen > then turn on Send Read Receipts for that conversation.

7. Screen unknown senders and spam texts

This is one of my favorite iOS 26 settings. Unknown senders, including likely spam texts, can be moved out of my main conversation list and into separate areas for me to review. Open Messages > tap Filters (top-right corner of the main list) > Manage Filtering > then turn on Screen Unknown Senders. From this same settings screen, Filter Spam can also be enabled.

Also: The iPhone’s new call screening feature makes updating to iOS 26 totally worth it for me

Once both settings are on, unknown senders and spam texts appear in separate lists under the Filters button in Messages.

8. Enable RCS messaging

RCS Messaging makes texting with Android users feel more modern, thanks to support for higher-quality media, delivery receipts, read receipts, and typing indicators. Unfortunately, no, it doesn’t get rid of the green bubbles.

Open Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging, then turn it on. Availability depends on your carrier and device.

9. Disable ‘Retry as Text Message’

SMS isn’t considered secure in 2026. Because regular text messages aren’t end-to-end encrypted, I would rather see a failed iMessage than have a private conversation quietly fall back to SMS. It’s just not where I want sensitive information going by accident.

Also: Your iPhone RCS chats with Android are encrypted in iOS 26.5: How to verify E2E is enabled

Open Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn off Retry as Text Message. It can always be turned back on later if needed.

10. Stop audio messages from expiring

Audio messages in Messages can expire automatically, which is great for privacy, but it’s terrible for sentimental voice notes.

Since it’s mostly my family sending them to me, I set mine to stay forever, then delete anything sensitive myself. Open Settings > Apps > Messages > Audio Messages > Expire, then choose Never. Or, if you prefer, select After 2 Minutes.

11. Check ‘Sensitive Content Warnings’

Apple Messages can detect nude photos and videos before I view them and will even show me a warning. This feature is not enabled by default, but I still like to know where it is and check that it’s off. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Sensitive Content Warning.

Also: This silent Android feature scans your photos for ‘sensitive content’ – how to uninstall it

The idea is to help me make a safer choice before viewing sensitive content. The image or video is blurred, with options to show it, get help or safety resources, block the sender, or report the content to Apple. I can see this being useful if a child occasionally uses my device or if someone is dealing with harassment. I am not, so it stays off for me.

Either way, Apple says it does not get access to the photos or videos when the feature is enabled.

12. Customize name and photo

I can personalize message threads by choosing whether to share my name and photo with the people I text. Open Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn on Share Name and Photo. From the customization screen, I can choose an avatar or poster design, set a photo, Memoji, or monogram, and decide who can see my name and photo, such as contacts only.

13. Disable Summarize Messages

When I turned on Apple Intelligence, AI summaries automatically started appearing under my Messages conversations. I can see how they might be useful for noisy group chats, but I still prefer to go back and read the full conversation to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

Also: Will your iPhone support Siri AI? The answer is complicated

Since I don’t use or want summaries, I disable them. Open Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn Summarize Messages off.

14. Turn on mentions

Speaking of group chats, I like being notified when my name is mentioned in a conversation, even if that thread is muted. I honestly have several muted group chats at this point, so this helps important replies break through without unmuting every group.

To set this up, open Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn on Notify Me.

15. Add conversation backgrounds

Finally, a fun feature. I like to enable backgrounds in my chats. In my conversation with my husband, for example, I have the background set to a family photo of him, my daughter, and me. To do this, open Messages > select any conversation > tap the contact or group name > tap Backgrounds > then choose a dynamic background, photo, color, or an Image Playground creation.

Also: How to download the iOS 27 developer beta (and which iPhone models support it)

16. Turn on Contact Key Verification

Last but not least… This feature isn’t necessary for everyone. But if you’re a journalist, activist, executive, or anyone worried about a targeted attack, it’s worth enabling Contact Key Verification. It helps verify that a conversation is with the intended person.

Open Settings > Name > Contact Key Verification, then turn on Verification in iMessage. Now you’re able to switch it on individually from the contact card page of anyone you wish to verify.

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