Why is there a moon next to a text message on iPhone?

If you notice a moon icon next to a contact’s name in your message list in the Messages app, it means Do Not Disturb is enabled for that conversation. So, notifications of any new messages from that contact are muted.

You can turn it on or off as you please. The feature comes in handy whenever you don’t want to be disturbed by message notifications. Especially if you’re doing something important.

However, there’s the risk of missing crucial conversations that may need immediate attention. This could end up being costly. Let’s look at how you can access the feature for different iOS versions

How to get rid of the crescent moon on iPhone

Tap on the messages app to open it
Select the conversation or message with the crescent moon symbol on its left
Tap on “i” or Details button. It’s at the top right corner of your screen
For some iPhones, you’ll have to click on the contact’s name at the top of the message to see the “i” button
Next, move the “Hide Alerts” toggle to the left to switch it off. In iOS 10 or earlier it’s labeled as Do Not Disturb
Tap on Done at the upper-right corner of the screen
This will remove the crescent moon next to a contact

Ideally, instead of opening the message, you could just swipe it left then tap on the bell icon (Hide alerts option) to either add or remove the moon symbol on text messages.

How to mute notifications from a group message in iOS

For group messages, you follow the same procedure to access the Do Not Disturb/Hide Alerts feature then toggle the button to the right to turn it on.

You will receive the messages, but not the alerts. And, the group members won’t know you’ve muted the conversation.

What’s the difference between Do Not Disturb and Hide Alerts

These two terms refer to the same thing—muting message conversations. It’s just a name change for different iOS versions.

The Do Not Disturb feature is also available in your settings app. Turning it on will silence all calls and notifications on the phone.

You’ll know your entire phone is in Do Not Disturb mode if the half-moon icon is at the top bar of the screen. You can schedule and customize it depending on your needs and preference.

Making exceptions for Do Not Disturb mode on your iPhone

Now, in situations where you don’t want to miss important calls from specific individuals while in Do Not Disturb mode, you could make exceptions by doing the following:

First, you must have iOS 12 or a later version
Go to Settings
Turn on Do Not Disturb
Scroll down to “Allow Calls From”
You’ll find options to allow calls from Everyone, No One, Favorites, and an existing contact group

In case the contact is not among your favorites or the selected contact group, you can exempt them from Do Not Disturb by:

Going to contacts
Selecting the contact you want to bypass Do Not Disturb
Tap “Edit” on the top right corner
Scroll down and select “Ringtone”
Toggle the Emergency Bypass to “On”
This will allow call notifications from that contact even when Do Not Disturb is active
For texts, go to “Text tone” and toggle on the Emergency Bypass

Conclusion

Now you know why there’s a half-moon on an iPhone text message, and how to turn it on and off. It’s a great feature that limits phone interruptions when you’re busy with other things or enjoying your personal time. Feel free to try it out.

Melvin

Melvin is a senior writer at iMentality. A DIYer at heart, Melvin loves to craft things in the tech space. He has amassed over a decade of experience in tech writing with special focus on apps and tech guides.