To turn name and photo sharing on or off in iPhone Messages, open Messages, tap Edit at the top of the conversation list, tap Name & Photo (or Set Up Name & Photo), and turn Name and Photo Sharing on or off. This controls whether other iMessage users are offered the name and picture you chose.
This guide covers the Messages steps, the matching switch in the Contacts app, what Contacts Only and Always Ask mean, how to stop the “Share your name and photo?” prompts, and what other people see. The steps follow Apple’s Set up Messages on iPhone guide and its guide to editing your contact info and photo.
How to Turn Name and Photo Sharing On or Off in Messages
- Open the Messages app.
- At the top of the conversation list, tap Edit.
- Tap Name & Photo. If you haven’t set it up yet, tap Set Up Name & Photo.
- Choose the name and picture you want to use.
- Scroll down and turn Name and Photo Sharing on or off.
Result: With sharing on, people you message can be offered your chosen name and photo. With it off, they aren’t.
Apple also describes a shortcut: scroll to the very top of the conversation list and tap Share Your Name & Photo if the banner appears.
How to Choose Who Gets Your Name and Photo
- On the same Name & Photo screen, tap Share Automatically.
- Choose Contacts Only or Always Ask.
- Tap the check mark or Done to save.
Result: Apple explains that with Contacts Only, anyone saved in your contacts is offered your name and image when you message them. With Always Ask, you decide each time you message a contact.
Turn It Off From the Contacts App
The same setting lives on your contact card, which also controls your Contact Poster for calls.
- Open the Contacts app and tap My Card at the top.
- Tap Edit, then tap your contact photo.
- Turn Name & Photo Sharing on or off. You may need to scroll down.
On iOS 17 and later this feature shares your Contact Poster when you call or message other iPhone users, and that it’s on by default.
The prompts depend on your Share Automatically choice:
- Turn sharing off to stop being asked altogether.
- Choose Contacts Only to share automatically with saved contacts. You may still be asked about people who aren’t in your contacts.
- Leave it on Always Ask if you want to decide each time, and expect a prompt for new conversations.
What Other People See
- When someone shares their name and photo with you, their picture can appear next to their conversation, and you can choose whether to update their contact card.
- Apple notes your name and photo may not appear as expected for people using non-Apple phones.
- Turning sharing off stops future offers. People who already saved your photo to their contact card may keep it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning this off hide my phone number?
No. People still see your number or email address. This setting only controls the name and photo you offer.
Can I use a different photo for Messages than my Apple Account?
Yes. When you set up Name & Photo, Apple lets you choose how you want to be represented, such as a photo or Memoji, and edit the name that people see.
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Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.