Signing out of Messages on Mac is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps. Whether you’re switching to a different Apple ID or you simply want to log out temporarily, this tutorial will guide you through the process.
Step 1: Open Messages
To begin, locate and open the Messages app on your Mac. You can do this by either clicking on the Messages icon in your dock or by searching for it using Spotlight (press Command + Space and type “Messages”).
Step 2: Access Preferences
With the Messages app open, click on the “Messages” option from the menu bar at the top of your screen. Then, select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 3: Go to Accounts
In the Preferences window that opens, navigate to the “Accounts” tab. Here, you will see a list of all the accounts currently signed in to Messages on your Mac.
Step 4: Select Account
From the list of accounts, choose the one you wish to sign out of. Once selected, you will see various options related to that account.
Step 5: Disable Account
To sign out of the selected account, uncheck the box next to “Enable this account.” This will disable the account and log you out of Messages. You can repeat this step for each account you want to sign out of.
Additional Tips:
- Multiple Accounts: If you have multiple accounts signed in and want to sign out of all of them at once, simply uncheck all corresponding boxes in the Accounts tab.
- Re-login: To sign back into an account after signing out, follow the same steps and recheck the box next to “Enable this account. “
- Automatic Sign-in: By default, Messages will automatically sign you back in to any accounts that were previously enabled.
To disable this feature, go to Preferences > General and uncheck the box next to “Automatically sign in. “
That’s it! You have successfully signed out of Messages on your Mac. Whether you’re switching accounts or taking a break from messaging, following these steps will ensure your privacy and control over your messaging accounts.
Remember, signing out of Messages does not deactivate or delete your account. It simply prevents incoming messages from being received on your Mac until you sign back in.
Note: If you’re using iMessage on other devices such as an iPhone or iPad, signing out of Messages on your Mac will not affect those devices. To sign out of iMessage completely, you will need to follow the specific instructions for each device.