iMessage sending from email instead of phone? Here's the fix

[nerdslife_team]

Having iMessages sent from your email instead of your phone number can be a real pain, especially when you want people to see your number. This often happens if you’ve got multiple contact methods linked to your Apple ID. Let’s get this sorted!

Method 1: Adjusting Settings Directly on Your iPhone

The most straightforward way to ensure your iMessages go out using your phone number is through your iPhone settings. Here’s how:

1. First, open the Settings app on your iPhone. It’s usually on your home screen or in the app library.
   

   

2. Next, scroll down a bit and tap on Messages.
   

   

3. Then, tap on Send & Receive.
   

   

4. Under Start New Conversations From, choose your phone number. You’ll know it’s selected when you see a blue checkmark beside it. This makes your phone number the default for sending iMessages.
   

   
   
   Note: If your phone number is greyed out, you might need to sign out and back into your Apple ID. Here’s how to do that:

5. On the Send & Receive screen, tap on your Apple ID at the top.
   

   

6. In the menu that pops up, tap Sign Out to log out of iMessage.
   

   

7. Head back to the main Messages settings screen by tapping < Messages in the top left corner.
   

   

8. Toggle the iMessage switch to turn it off.
   

   

9. Wait for a few seconds and then toggle iMessage back on. This will re-activate iMessage and refresh your settings.

10. Tap on Send & Receive again.
    

    

11. Under the Start New Conversations From section, select your phone number.
    

    

12. If you’re not signed in, tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage on the Send & Receive screen.
    

    

13. In the prompt, tap Sign In to use your current Apple ID, or tap Use Other Apple ID if you’d rather use a different one.
    

    

14. After logging in, your number should be selectable under Start New Conversations From. Tap it to select it.
    

    

Now, your iMessages should be sent from your phone number, not your email.

Method 2: Adjusting Settings on Your MacBook

If you use iMessage on your MacBook, you can tweak the settings there too, to make sure your phone number is the one being used. Here’s what to do:

1. Open the Messages app on your Mac. It’s in your dock or Applications folder.
   

   

2. In the menu bar at the top, click on Messages, then select Preferences.
   

   

3. In the Preferences window, click on the iMessage tab.

4. At the bottom, find the Start new conversations from: option. Click the dropdown menu and select your phone number.
   

   
   
   Note: If your number is greyed out, sign out and back into your Apple ID:

5. In the same window, click on Sign Out next to your Apple ID.
   

   

6. Confirm by clicking Sign Out again in the prompt.
   

   

7. After signing out, sign back in by entering your Apple ID and password, then click Next.
   

   

8. Once you’re signed back in, go back to the Start new conversations from: dropdown and select your phone number.

Your MacBook iMessages should now use your phone number.

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These methods should help you ensure that your iMessages are always sent using your phone number, whether you’re on your iPhone or your MacBook.