Why are two iPhones receiving the same text messages?

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iPhone texts

You may notice that your wife’s phone is getting your texts, or you are getting your husband’s text messages. Well, your 2 iPhones are receiving the same text messages because they share the same Apple ID. When this happens, they will receive the same notifications, such as text messages. 

It can become problematic when personal text messages are shared with another device. If you are reading this article, you want to know more about this problem and how to stop it. Here, you will learn how to stop two iPhones from receiving the same text messages.

How to stop sharing messages between Apple devices

As an iPhone user, you may have encountered a scenario where two iPhones simultaneously receive the same text message. It is because they are using the same Apple ID, and fixing it is very easy. You need to separate the Apple ID in the Messages and FaceTime apps.

An iPhone does not only use your phone number on the Message app. It also uses the Apple ID to receive messages from other iPhone users. The Apple ID can remain the same in iTunes and AppStore. You will not have to purchase the same app several times and install it on multiple devices. 

READ: Fix iMessage texts that are out of order

To unlink iPhones

  • Create a new Apple ID at the Apple ID site.
  • Tap on Settings.
  • Tap on Messages.
  • Tap on Send and Receive.
  • Tap on the actual Apple ID shared by the two devices and Sign Out.
  • Tap on Use your Apple ID for FaceTime.
  • From there, enter the new Apple ID you had created.

Prevent contacts from appearing on both devices

If you also notice that the contacts are also being added on both devices, you can solve it using the following steps:

  • Tap on Settings.
  • Tap on iCloud.
  • Scroll down the iCloud menu and tap on Sign Out.
  • Tap on Sign In and enter the new Apple ID.

Reset iMessage

Another solution for text messages on two iPhones is reset iMessage settings. It is done by removing the iCloud account and contacts that should not receive iMessage from Messages on your iPhone. 

Here is how you can set up your iMessage settings:

  • Launch the Settings app.
  • Tap on Messages.
  • Tap on Send and Receive.
  • Remove the check on your iCloud account or contact under YOU CAN BE REACHED BY IMESSAGE AT. Ensure that your phone number is the only option checked.

When you do this, the only iPhone granted permission using the checked number will receive messages, even if the two devices use the same Apple ID.

Furthermore, you can turn off iMessage on both iPhones using the following steps:

  • Go to the Settings app.
  • Scroll down the menu and tap on Messages.
  • Turn off the toggle next to iMessage. It will change from green to grey.

This is an easy solution and recommended if you continue using the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones. While it prevents two iPhones from receiving the same text messages, it is not ideal if you want to keep texts on for one device.