Change message notifications on iPad

You can change whether or not you’re notified about messages you receive in the Messages app and how they appear or sound. For example, you can turn off message notifications so you aren’t distracted by notification sounds when you’re in class or other quiet settings, or assign a special sound for certain contacts so you know when you get a message from them.

Pause all notifications

You can temporarily stop notifications for all apps by turning on Do Not Disturb (or another Focus). Your status appears in the Messages app to let people know you’re busy.

Open Control Center on your iPad.
Tap Focus, then tap Do Not Disturb.
Note: If you want to allow urgent messages to get through, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages, then turn on Time Sensitive Notifications.

Stop all notifications

You can stop getting notified about activity in the Messages app while continuing to receive messages. When you’re ready to read them, you can open Messages to see the texts you missed while notifications were off, and catch up on messages you missed.

Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages.
Turn off Allow Notifications.

When you want to get notified again, turn on Allow Notifications. If you also want to hear them, make sure the Ring/Silent switch isn’t in Silent mode and your volume is audible.

You can also stop notifications from other Apple apps and third-party apps. See Change notification settings on iPad.

Mute sounds for sent and received messages

When you send a message, a swoosh sound plays by default. When you receive a message, a tone plays. If you don’t want to hear these sounds, you can set your text tone to None.

Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages.
Tap Sounds, then tap None (below Alert Tones).

You can also put the Ring/Silent switch in Silent mode.

Note: The None and the Ring/Silent switch setting affect both incoming and outgoing sounds. (You can’t mute only one.)

Change the sound for notifications

You can choose a tone or sound for alerts and how loud it is.

Go to Settings > Sounds
Do any of the following:
- Make notifications quieter or louder: Adjust the volume with the slider.
- Choose a tone or sound: Tap Text Tone, then tap a sound below Alert Tones (or tap Tone Store to download one).
Tip: The tone you choose applies to both the Messages app and other apps that have notifications on, such as Mail, Phone, and other Apple or third-party apps. To change it just for the Messages app, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages, then tap Sounds.

You can set how many times to repeat a notification (from Never to 10 Times) in Settings > Notifications > Messages > Customize Notifications.

Change the notification sound for certain people

You can choose a specific sound to play when you get a message from one specific contact.

Open the Messages app on your iPad.
Tap a conversation, then tap the number or name of the person you’re communicating with at the top of the conversation.
Tap Info , tap Edit, then tap Text Tone.
Do any of the following:
- Specify a tone or sound: Tap a sound below Alert Tones (or tap Tone Store to download one).
- Mute the sound: Tap None below Alert Tones.

To give this contact the option to override a Focus, so any important messages can get through, turn on Emergency Bypass. You might turn it on for a family member, caretaker, or colleague, for example.

Mute one conversation

You can stop getting notifications for a conversation while you continue to receive its messages.

Open the Messages app on your iPad.
In the Messages list, do one of the following:
- Swipe left on a conversation, then tap .
- Touch and hold a conversation, then tap Hide Alerts.

To completely stop getting messages for a conversation, you can block a specific person or number or leave a group conversation.

Announce messages

Siri can announce messages on your iPad speaker or supported headphones.

To hear incoming messages on MFi hearing devices, see Announce calls and notifications for specific apps.

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iPad User Guide