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Remove the bell icon from the Messages list
- Open the Messages app.
- In the conversation list, swipe left on the affected conversation.
- Tap the bell-shaped Hide Alerts button.
This turns alerts back on for that conversation and removes the muted-conversation indicator.
Remove it from inside the conversation
- Open the affected conversation in Messages.
- Tap the person’s image, group image, or conversation icon at the top of the screen.
- Turn Hide Alerts off.
For a group message, tap the group icons at the top, scroll down, and turn off Hide Alerts. You can also swipe left on the group thread in the conversation list and tap the Alerts button.
What the bell-with-a-line icon means
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bell with a line through it | Hide Alerts is enabled for that conversation. |
| Messages still appear in the thread | Messages are still being delivered normally. |
| Other conversations still notify you | This is not a global Messages mute. |
| No notification alert for that thread | Alerts are suppressed until Hide Alerts is turned off. |
The sender may receive a note indicating that your notifications are silenced. That does not mean the sender has been blocked.
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Do not turn off all Messages notifications
If only one conversation has the bell icon, do not use the global notification switch as the fix. The current global setting is Settings > Apps > Messages > Allow Notifications. Turning it off affects Messages notifications generally, rather than restoring alerts for just one conversation.
Use the conversation-level Hide Alerts control instead. It changes only the thread you select.
If the icon is gone but there is still no sound
Removing Hide Alerts does not guarantee an audible alert in every situation. Check these cases:
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- The iPhone is silenced: A silenced iPhone does not play notification sounds even when Messages alerts are enabled.
- Messages is open and active: When you are already viewing Messages, iPhone does not issue a separate notification for each new message.
- An Apple Watch is paired: A notification goes to either the Apple Watch or the iPhone, not both. In the iPhone’s Apple Watch app, check My Watch > Notifications. Individual apps may use Mirror my iPhone, Custom, Allow Notifications, Send to Notification Center, or Notifications Off.
Unknown senders and spam can look like a notification problem
In iOS 26, Filter Spam for Messages is on by default. When Screen Unknown Senders is also enabled, messages from unknown senders or messages classified as spam do not generate notifications. They appear in the Unknown Senders filter or Spam folder instead.
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Bell icon versus the old crescent-moon indicator
On iOS 15 and later, a muted conversation displays the bell-shaped Hide Alerts icon. On iOS 14 or earlier, the indicator was a crescent moon, so instructions telling current iPhone users to look for a moon are outdated.
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Can you leave the group instead?
If the group conversation is unwanted, you may see Leave this Conversation instead of simply muting it. Apple makes that option available only when there are at least three other people in the thread and everyone is using iMessage on an Apple device.
If Leave this Conversation is missing, you cannot use that option for the current group setup. Turn on Hide Alerts to stop notifications from that group without leaving it.
What Hide Alerts does not do
- It does not block the sender.
- It does not delete the conversation.
- It does not stop messages from being delivered.
- It does not mute other conversations.
- It does not turn off all iPhone notifications.
No command, Terminal instruction, or reset is needed. The setting is changed entirely through the Messages interface.
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FAQ
How do I get rid of the bell with a line through it on iPhone Messages?
In Messages, swipe left on the affected conversation and tap the bell-shaped Hide Alerts button. You can also open the thread, tap the person’s or group’s icon at the top, and turn off Hide Alerts.
Does the bell icon mean I blocked someone?
No. It means Hide Alerts is enabled for that conversation. Messages from the sender can still arrive normally.
Will turning off Hide Alerts unmute all Messages conversations?
No. It restores alerts only for the conversation you change. Other conversations keep their existing settings.
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Why do I still not hear a sound after removing the bell icon?
The iPhone may be silenced, Messages may already be open and active, or the notification may be going to a paired Apple Watch. Check the iPhone’s sound state and Apple Watch notification settings.
Why is there no alert for a message from an unknown number?
With Screen Unknown Senders and Filter Spam enabled, unknown or spam messages do not generate notifications and may appear in the Unknown Senders filter or Spam folder. This is separate from Hide Alerts.
Can I remove the bell icon by turning off Allow Notifications?
That is not the right fix for one conversation. Settings > Apps > Messages > Allow Notifications controls Messages notifications generally. Turn off Hide Alerts in the affected thread instead.
The Bottom Line
The bell with a line through it is the Hide Alerts indicator for one Messages conversation. Swipe left on the thread and tap the bell-shaped Hide Alerts button, or open the thread and turn Hide Alerts off from the contact or group details. Your messages will not be deleted or blocked; notifications will simply resume for that conversation.
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