How to Disable iMessage Subject Lines on iPhone

With over 1 billion Apple devices now active worldwide, iMessage remains one of the most popular messaging apps – but occasionally it gets more complex than we want. If you don’t like the bold subject lines crowding your iPhone iMessage chats – you’ve come to the right place! With that said, let’s get right to the point. 

What Is A Subject Line?

When texting back and forth in iMessage, you’ll notice a brief subject line appearing above each message bubble. This feature adds context to conversations by prefacing texts with details on the sender’s subject. But what exactly do those subject lines mean, and why do some say “No Subject”? Let’s find out.

What Does A “Show Subject Field” Mean?

The iMessage subject line is very handy for long group chats because it’s easier to identify who said what and when. Moreover, the clear replies to each text provide more context to the conversation.

Why Does iMessage Say No Subject?

If an iMessage just shows “No Subject” that means the actual subject text has been cleared, leaving it blank. This mainly happens in group chats where Apple and non-Apple users are interacting – because Androids, by default do not have a subject line, therefore it shows up as “No Subject” to the Apple users in the group chat. Group iMessage defaults to “No Subject” until a title is added. As for regular 1-on-1 iMessages, the subject can be removed in settings. 

How To Turn Off The Subject Line In iMessage 

If you want to try out a subject-free iMessage line to see if the simplicity and focus fit your texting style – then this is how you can do it for group and individual chats – because less can indeed be more.

1. Simply open the Settings app.
2. Swipe down to display the search bar at the top of the screen.
3. Type “Messages” and scroll almost all the way down.
4. You will see “Show Subject Field” under the “SMS/MMS.” 
5. Toggle it off (Tip: it’s gray/white when turned off)
6. The subject line for all the chats will now disappear.

Toggle it back on (turns green) if you want the subject line back for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Get Rid Of The Subject Line On An Android 

If you have an Andriod, then worry not because Androids typically do not have a separate subject line for text messages. However, you can remove the text previews for some added privacy. This is how you can do it:

• Open the Messages app and tap the 3-dot menu
• Select Settings > Notifications
• Disable “Message preview”

The Drawback Of Disabling The Subject Line

While some users may find the subject line a tad bit annoying – there are a few drawbacks to not using it as well. For example, it’s harder to identify who replied to whose message in group chats. Secondly, you can’t see when a certain text was sent without scrolling up as it provides a timestamp as well.

Why You Should Turn Off The Subject Line In iMessage?

Though the subject line is intended to add context, it does just add clutter sometimes. With this feature turned off, you’d have: 

• Simplified Threads – You can just focus on message content with a much-simplified setting.
• Enhanced Privacy – Provides more privacy if you don’t want sender details displayed
• Reduced Confusion – Let’s be real, the bolded white lines divert attention from the messages themselves.