How to hide text messages on the iPhone (turn off SMS Preview)

Posted on October 27, 2008 at 5:23 am

The Apple iPhone has one annoying feature called SMS Text Preview that shows the name of the text sender along with a preview of the text message on the main screen whenever a new text message comes in!

It’s a very convenient feature since you can quickly read incoming text messages, but it’s also a privacy concern. Personally, I tend to leave my iPhone laying around the house or in some place where someone else can come and pick it up and play around with it.

It would be very tempting for someone to read my text messages if it pops up right in their faces! If it’s a message I would want rather have remained private, it would be very embarrassing. There are two ways to disable SMS Preview.

Firstly, you can turn off SMS Text Preview on the iPhone and hide your text messages by setting a passcode lock. The only issue with this method is that it requires you to enter a passcode every time you want to use the phone. However, you can also set how long the phone has to be idle before having to type in the passcode.

So you can set it to 1 hour, for example, so that if you receive a text message within an hour of using your phone, you won’t have to put in a code. The other way is to download a third-party iPhone app that hides text messages. Read below to find out.

How to disable SMS Text Preview

Step 1: Go to Settings and then General. Tap Passcode Lock.

passcode lock

Step 2: If you have not already set a passcode on your iPhone, you’ll be asked to do so now.

set passcode iphone

Step 3: After confirming your passcode, you’ll now be able to see the options, which includes “Show SMS Preview”. Slide it to off and change the Require Passcode time to something higher.

show sms preview

The second method, which is better since it does not require you to keep having to enter a stupid passcode, is to download and install the Privacy iPhone app. It basically gives you full control over all SMS privacy settings on the iPhone.

sms privacy

You can prevent the phone from giving any kind of notification when a new SMS text message arrives, or you can have it vibrate, but not show the message, etc, etc. This is what Apple should have included by default in the iPhone, but for some reason has not!

This app is not free, but it might be worth it for those who really have to ensure privacy of their SMS text messages on the iPhone! If you’ve found some other way to turn off SMS Preview without a third-party app, post in the comments!

Also, check out my previous posts about the iPhone like how to setup Gmail and Hotmail on the iPhone and how to migrate from the iPhone to the iPhone 3G. Enjoy!

» Filed Under Computer Tips

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Comments

32 Responses to “How to hide text messages on the iPhone (turn off SMS Preview)”

  1. chris said on :

    The passcode off didn’t hide the incoming text at all. when in lock mode it would still pop up but instead of a message it would say “text.” but then when i typed in my passcode it would let me enter the phone but the text message would be the first thing exposed. If I wasn’t in lock mode and I was browsing the phone the text would interupt and pop up as if the “Show SMS Preview” was On and the text message was right there for all to see.

    In other words, creating a passcode password, turning passcode on and turning Show SMS Preview off didn’t really change a thing about how I’m receiving a text message. I double and triple checked all my settings and ran several tests. Thoughts?


  2. La'Toya said on :

    I was trying to hid the incoming messages on my phone and after I did the passcode lock and follow all of the instructions above, my messages were still exposed to everyone! I am too like Chris, I double and triple checked and the same results. Any comments? Please advise.


  3. T. said on :

    It seems like the text preview hide only applies to when the phone is locked, which is probably why the sms preview hide option is located under passcode lock. It still shows the preview when your phone is in use and not locked.

    I was wondering why sms lock option was hidden under passcode lock. That must be why.


  4. Dan said on :

    I don’t even have the option to hide SMS messaging..even after setting the passcode lock. And that privacy doesn’t exist. For such an unbelievable phone you’d think maybe someone in the design team would say,”hey..since every other model phone for the past decade has had an option to lock messages..maybe we should add that..nahhhhh…”


  5. Big John said on :

    Let me get this straight. You want to hide the SMS preview because it’s a privacy concern, but see a passcode as ‘stupid’? So instead of glancing at the phone, I can pick your phone up and just start copying down numbers and information without a password?

    Brilliant.


  6. Joe M said on :

    SMS privacy a BIG issue. what good does the iphone do if all the messages are right in front of the screen for all to see? never had this problem with a microsoft based smart phone. not pleased at all with the iphone. my old phone sms would go straight to a mailbox.


  7. henry said on :

    Since the private text messages are only a small part of all the messages you are using , treat them differently . Use the new PrivateTIP application for iphones on app store , with this application you are hiding the text message in an innocent photo from photo library , you can then store back the photo with hidden text to photo library , you can send the photo with hidden text by email to a friend . The text can be extracted only by the application which is protected by password . Read more on http://www.adj-soft.com.


  8. cleo said on :

    Hi, Does anyone know how to hide the preview lines WITHIN the SMS app? For eg: You go into ‘Messages’ and a list of names will appear that you have recived/sent SMS msgs and under their name will be the first 2 lines of your convo. How do I hide that part. So if someone opens my Message Inbox, they can’t see the couple of lines from every text, therefore can’t pry into convos that clearly they weren’t part of!

    And before you say don’t let people see you messages, I sometimes have a reason for people to read certain conversations but then they ‘Exit’ out of that convo into the main Messages screen (yes, most likely on purpose).

    Cheers


  9. Aspi said on :

    Hey Guys!I have found a way of hiding your text messages when they come in, and you wont be able to read the constants of the message. There is no need to put in a pass code for your phone. this is how you do it:-

    1) Select ‘Settings’
    2) Select ‘Messages’
    3) Switch “OFF” the option of “Show Preview”
    … and Wallha!!!

    If your phone is locked and the blank screen is showing, you will only receive the ‘Name’ of the person who has sent you the message(provided you have listed that person in your Contact list) with ‘TEXT’ written below it.
    To read the message just slide and unlock your phone, and the constants of the message will open up in the ‘In Box’ of the messages.


  10. JUPO said on :

    Thank you Aspi. The only person i can find on the whole of the internet that actually answered the question thank you x


  11. taker said on :

    et mettre un code sur les sms c possible ou pas?


  12. Aspi said on :

    Hi Jupo Reference my comment on how to hide your Text message, you are welcome…however if you don’t want any body to read your messages…its simple …. don’t let any body slide open your phone open by putting a “Pass Code” this will not let any one open the phone but you, as you alone know the pass code for your phone…so no one can read your messages at all but you.


  13. T said on :

    Whaaaa, I can’t stand it, can’t hide an incoming SMS from my wife or girlfriend, don’t want HER to know about the other woman. Please! Grow up and act like a man. Cheaters deserve to be caught.


  14. JAY CAZ said on :

    T YOU’RE A JERK! yes some of us have wives AND girlfriends so yes, text privacy is a basic requirement for any smartphone. so I don’t know why a super phone like iPhone hasn’t taken care of that. I’d love one but won’t get it until that SMS privacy issue is resolved!


  15. Troy said on :

    Here is a letter I just sent to apple regarding my SMS TEXT Pop Up Story!!!!!
    SERIOUS SECURITY ISSUE!!!!!

    Well I just spent 700.00 to apparently UPGRADE from my Blackberry Storm to the Iphone 3GS. I have a macbook pro so it just seemed to make sense.
    Anyhow I am thinking I may return the phone and hook up my Telus Blackberry again.

    The phone is great, I am very happy with all the features, apps etc etc.

    However, there is a HUGE HUGE HUGE SECURITY ISSUE with the fact with the TEXT MESSAGE POP UP.

    I am currently applying for other work and had my new IPHONE on the desk.
    Although I turned off the SMS Preview it still shows who the text is coming from and the fact you have a text.
    My boss was walking by my desk while I was not there and had my phone on the desk and the phone buzzed. He then looked down and saw it was a text message from our main competitor.

    Hence loosing my job……

    Any correspondence with our company and a competitor is grounds for dismissal seeing as the informations that we know is highly classified.

    So I would like to say a big huge THANK YOU!!!! For helping with the loss of my job.

    This is incredibly serious and will definitely have a Lawyer looking into this.

    I would highly suggest that you do something about this issue before you get some type of class action law suit on your hands.

    Again I will be returning the phone for my 700.00 back and then go back to the Blackberry that holds business information very highly highly secure for their users.

    Thank you again sincerely for the loss of my job came at such a great time with the economy being so bad and all!!!!

    Disappointed,

    Troy


  16. Peter said on :

    So is there really no app that can solve this? I looked around and read about a Iphone Privacy App but could never actually find it to download.

    Anyone have any help out there?


  17. Vero said on :

    So yes, I too need this problem fixed… I have a GF and a Wife so I don’t want ANY OF THEM finding out about the other. Thank you so much!


  18. Nomen said on :

    Here is one solution to fix this program. . I downloaded a program from aketexts.com and it hides the iPhone SMS button and replaces it with a fake one that you can edit. Basically it doesn’t show all the girls I am talking to.


  19. ACDC said on :

    Is there a way to replace text messages with fakes ones that show up on the main screen?


  20. Matt said on :

    Like Peter said, I can’t find the app. Does anybody know the exact name and/or developer name of the app?


  21. Afy said on :

    I agree Aspi, first person that actually gave a working answer. I owe u.


  22. diane said on :

    I did hide the preview message but I still get the name of who send me the message. How can I hide that?


  23. UtahRugbyGuy said on :

    There are certain people that send me pictures I’d rather no one see but everyone else is fine. I wish there was a way to just turn off photos completely for just certain individuals …So, the text part of the message could come through but the photo would not. Does anyone know if this is possible …or in the works for iPhone development?


  24. Sara said on :

    None of you deserve partners. I hope one day that the amazing iphone will let you all down like it did my ex when your tips on here helped me, hate to rub it in but what goes around comes around, he learnt this the hard way and so will you all. Troy I think your just an example of this, thats what you get for not being loyal ha!


  25. craaze said on :

    Faketext is a hot new app that allow you to hide your real text messages on your iPhone. Check it out at faketext.com. You can go there straight from your iPhone since it is a webapp and is free.


  26. Kathy said on :

    Where do you find the Privacy Iphone app you mentioned in the article? I have looked everywhere. Does it work for Iphone 4??

    It seems every time my boss walks by, one of my kids are texting and it pops right up on the screen. I turned off the preview but it still shows their name and that it is a text message…

    HELP


  27. Hoody said on :

    For the name to come up, and without stating the obvious, this person must be in your contacts list. If Troy was foolish enough to call the entry of their main competitor ‘MAIN COMPETITOR’ then I’m afraid that’s sort of asking for trouble.
    One idea is to give the contact a different name, such as VODAFONE SERVICES. Then, when the ‘message received’ pops up, it’s assumed to be a marketing SMS and can be swiftly brushed aside.


  28. Marlowe said on :

    How to hide text messages on the iPhone 4G?


  29. Ryan johnson said on :

    If you have jailbroken your phone, iblacklist in cydia does it all.

    Cheers!


  30. Balthazar said on :

    Please help me! I have exactly the opposite problem! With my iPhone 4 I don’t get the pop up sms where is written the contact and text or preview… I would like to activate that pop up thing instead of going all the time to slide to unlock then go to messages… the iPhone is jailbroken,maybe it is missing something from cydia…I don’t know! please help!


  31. Kevin said on :

    I am using a sony ericsson w995…can i get a software to hide or lock my private sms from others???


  32. Jamon said on :

    Okay I was hoping someone cld explain: I typed a txt message in my Iphone and hit send, then Immediately turn iphone off after awhile i turn the phone back on and saw “SEND SUCCESSFUL” Has anyone else experienced delayed sent messages?


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