Update: The SMS Preview privacy issue is now resolved as of the iPhone 3.0 software update.
In my original iPhone review, I complained about having little privacy on the iPhone when receiving incoming text messages.
When you receive an SMS message on your iPhone, a preview of the message content pops up on the screen, and you can choose to either view it or ignore it. While this “SMS Preview” feature may be very convenient, it could be troublesome if a friend or family member is playing with your cool new gadget and a message you’d rather have remained private pops up on your screen — ouch!
Well today I was browsing through the iPhone Settings menu, and I came across a “Show SMS Preview†ON/OFF button. The only problem is, the option to turn off SMS Preview is available only when you set a Passcode Lock for your iPhone via Settings >> General >> Passcode Lock.
Since I’d rather not have to deal with entering a password every time I want to use my phone, I set the Require Passcode field to “After 1 hour,†so that I’ll only have to enter it at most once an hour. Really, though, I rarely go 60 minutes without using my iPhone for something, so I’m hardly ever prompted for a Passcode.
Now when I receive a text message, the iPhone displays the name of the sender and “Text Message,” rather than an excerpt of the message content.
I’m glad to have discovered this option, but I would really like to be able to turn off SMS Previews on the iPhone without having to set a Passcode Lock. What about you?
New: Has SMS Preview gotten you into trouble? Share your awkward or embarrassing stories here.
Update: A third-party app called Caterpillar solves iPhone’s SMS privacy issue. Click to read my review of the Caterpillar app’s Privacy feature.
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If you have a jail broken iphone just download IBlacklist there are setting in there to allow this…
i think u need to download a app that says ” get a life ”
I have version 3.1.2 and the above option seems to have been moved from ‘General Settings’->’Passcode Lock’, into ‘Messages’->’Show Preview’.
Also the disabling of the preview is now not limited to the lock screen, another bonus
You can stop part of your text coming up turn the preview off in the message settings you don’t need to use a passcode for that I do that but I like and prefer passcode for extra privacy
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.
There are certain people that send me pictures I’d rather no one see but everyone else who sends text messages 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? If not, it SHOULD be. It really doesn’t seem for how advanced the phone is, this would be very hard to do. Just writ a script for the phone that says “sender XYZ = block all incoming SMS photos” There, I just wrote your code for you.
Can you see the amount of texts made to a certain person from 3GS? i.e. Texts to mum = 53
texts to Dad = 103
I really think that there should be a password lock on the messages, as well as the phone. Sometimes people are going through your phone and you don’t want them to read your texts messages. There may be private contents that you don’t want people to read. If there was something like the phone lock on messages, the iPhone would be perfect!
Settings>Messages and the setting to turn off preview is there, no need to use the passcode if you dont want to deal with it
hi fellas!
i got this problem that i dunno how to solve.
D issue is my iphone 3G fw3.0 doesnt display names on my messages..
as in, messages pops up with no names rather it pops up with numbers like +76352 blah blah blah instead of the real names in my contact..pls i need help ASAP
Thanx
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 .
THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!
Apple definitely needs to solve this issue.
In the meantime, congrats for finding the solution Chris!!
No, it’s not perfect. You still get a push notification on your phone as soon as a text message appears. So if you’re showing someone photos on your phone, for example, you’ll get an alert that you have a text from so-and-so which you are given the option of either ignoring or viewing. Either way, you have been interrupted. I’m just amazed that his still hasn’t been provided as an option to turn of if you desire.
Don’t know if I’ve missed something but you can do this on the 3.0 software. It’s just they’ve moved it to under, settings>messages. Works perfect.
Has this been reversed for ver 3.1? I have just got on board with an iPhone and the option does not appear?
Just put your phone in AIRPLANE MODE when people are around. The phone can still be played with curious people and you can guarantee no naughty texts or calls will come in. Works as a temp fix at least… Just turn off airplane mode every so often to see what you missed when you are in the bathroom or something.
Thnx For da help U rox.
Damn this option isnt available in 2.0
Hey “private”! Read all the posts first before adding your comments. The subject has been discussed already and it is not only about cheating but also about professional data beeing exposed, about your boss reading your wife’s sms that’s says she wants to give you a blowjob when you come back home and other stuff like this. The reasons could be many and if the only reason for you is cheating on somebody then probably you have a big problem being honest. Consider this and stop posting duplicates.
Seriously? My iPhone isn’t the catalyst of the openess in my relationships with those in my life. However, I have conversations with people that I would prefer to keep private from time-to-time. As well, pop-up interrupts my work frequently when I’m using my iPhone to show a client a sneek-peek at my portfolio. I would much prefer not having to have people interrupting a conversation I’m having with their texts. And, what if that text is coming from a prospective client’s competition? How does that go unexplained? I wonder if I should be curious about my wife’s iPhone as well? You bring up a good point, maybe SHE has something to hide as well? Or is it only men that cheat in your world?
I have an issue with all you people that need to lock your phones and “secretly” text what did you all do before these “wonderful features” ?? …. You have trust issues and should not be with the people you are with if you need to lock your phones.
What are you hiding ?? and if you women out there have husbands/bf locking their phones … you should wonder why ????
I agree, hubby guards his cell phone with a passion. He’s receiving messages from women he shouldn’t. Papers should be arriving any day now. Bye-bye to the louse! Even though I can’t see the text messages he sure left one long paper trail.
if someone steals your phone, it is best to have it password protected. the only way the thief can use your phone, is if they have apple unlock it and that sends everything back to default; therefore, all your facebook accounts, bank accounts, emails, etc. are deleted.
diana is a loser. she doesn’t even have a boyfriend. she’s pretending, it’s all in her head. she doesn’t even have an iphone. diana is actually a man. he/she is crazy in the head.
This whole privacy thing is a major issue, Apple are clearly not listening to their customers.
They have a fantastic product but need to take a closer look at Nokia and the additional phone settings they offer.
i have d original version of the iphone and suddenly i noticed tat i can send messages and it sucessfully reaches the person i send it to but i cant recieve their reply.. i cant get their reply …plz help me out i am totally confused what do i do?
I have 3Gs. I was playing with my txts and noticed there is an “edit” button on the top. If you push edit button, you can erase some txt and leave the others, so you dont have to keep the whole conversation…
damn… today my gf spot my ex sending me an sms. now i have 2 ex.
I’ve read all these posts, and need a solution because I have a girlfriend (only 1!), and a 7 year old son who I like to let use my new iphone for the games… BUT:
My god, who’d want to be married to or dating Diane or UNKNOWN.. I mean they’d always be checking if you’re cheating! You’d never get to use your phone because they’d always be on it in your messages…
Hi. Im Renee im doing a project on iPhone’s . got any infoo for me (: