To hide the number of new messages on your iPhone, open Settings > Notifications > Messages and turn off Badges. The red circle with the unread count disappears from the Messages icon on your Home Screen, while you still get your other message alerts. To stop the Lock Screen from showing a notification count, go to Settings > Notifications and change Display As from Count to Stack or List.
This guide covers every place your iPhone shows how many messages you have, including the app badge, the Lock Screen count, notification previews, and per-conversation alerts, plus how to keep your phone number private when starting new iMessage conversations. Steps are for iOS 16 and later, with notes for older versions.
Method 1: Turn off the Messages badge
- Open Settings.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll down and tap Messages.
- Turn off Badges.
The unread count still shows inside the Messages app next to the Back button and in the conversation list. Only the Home Screen badge is hidden.
Method 2: Hide the notification count on the Lock Screen
In iOS 16 and later, the Lock Screen can show new notifications as a simple count at the bottom of the screen.
- Go to Settings > Notifications.
- Under Display As, choose Stack or List instead of Count.
To keep messages off the Lock Screen entirely, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and uncheck Lock Screen under Alerts.
Method 3: Hide message previews
If you don’t mind the count but want to hide what messages say, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages > Show Previews and choose When Unlocked or Never. To change it for every app, use Settings > Notifications > Show Previews.
Method 4: Mute a specific conversation
- Open Messages.
- Swipe left on the conversation and tap the bell icon, or open the conversation, tap the name at the top, and turn on Hide Alerts.
Muted conversations don’t send alerts. Depending on your iOS version, unread messages in them may still add to the badge count.
Method 5: Filter messages from unknown senders
Go to Settings > Apps > Messages (just Settings > Messages in iOS 17 and earlier) and turn on Filter Unknown Senders or Screen Unknown Senders. Messages from people who aren’t in your contacts go to a separate list, and you won’t get notifications for them.
Method 6: Use a Focus to hide message alerts temporarily
- Open Control Center and tap Focus, or go to Settings > Focus.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb or create a custom Focus that silences Messages.
- In the Focus settings, you can also turn on Hide Notification Badges in the Home Screen options for that Focus.
Hide your phone number when starting a new message
If “hide number” means keeping your phone number private in new iMessage conversations, you can start them from your email address instead:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive.
- Under Start New Conversations From, choose your email address.
This only works for iMessage. Regular SMS and RCS text messages always come from your phone number, and your carrier doesn’t let you hide it for texts. If the other person already has your number saved, they may still see your name.
Troubleshooting
- The badge shows a number but there are no unread messages – check the Unknown Senders, Junk, or Filters lists in Messages. Restarting the iPhone can also clear a stuck badge.
- Messages isn’t listed in Notifications – restart the phone, and check that Messages isn’t restricted in Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Badges come back – a Focus mode or another device signed in to your Apple Account may be showing badges. Check each device’s settings.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off badges stop message notifications?
No. You’ll still get banners, sounds, and Lock Screen alerts unless you turn those off separately.
Can I hide badges for all apps at once?
iOS doesn’t have one switch for all apps, but a Focus with Hide Notification Badges turned on hides them while the Focus is active.
Why can people see how many messages I have on my Apple Watch?
Your watch mirrors iPhone notifications. Change them in the Watch app on your iPhone under Notifications > Messages.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.