How to Mute Individual Texts in iOS 8

Do you have so many people texting you that it’s become a problem? Do you find yourself continually wishing you were just a little less awesome, so that everyone would stop trying to be your friend? Or do you at least wish you could mute notifications from certain texts, because you just can’t keep up with the constant stream of praise and attention you receive from people on a daily basis?

Yeah, me neither. But even so, we all occasionally encounter a text thread we wish we could mute. Well, now with iOS 8, you can temporarily disable notifications from any text, individual or group. Whether it’s personal texts during work hours, or your boss messaging you on a Saturday, or your mom testing out her newly discovered emoji keyboard, you can be free from the constant buzzing, chirping, and chiming that accompanies new text messages.

1. Open the Messages app.

2. Tap on the thread you wish to mute.

3. Tap “Details” in the upper right corner.

4. Switch the “Do Not Disturb” button to the green “on” position.

5. You will now see a small half-moon icon next to the muted thread.

There you go! Now you can easily mute any unwanted text messages.

(Disclaimer: iOS 8 currently has no offerings to help with any guilt that may arise from muting your mother. Even if it is 6am and she just sent you four pink hearts, the flamenco dancer, and an alien face.) How about you, fellow techies, who’s getting the digital silent treatment on your phone?

For more iOS tips and tricks head to our iOS How To’s section.