How to Change Who Sees Your Messages Profile in iOS 13 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Change Who Sees Your Messages Profile in iOS 13

by

ios 7 messages iconIn iOS 13, Apple allows you to create a standardized iMessage profile that includes your name and photo – or an Animoji/Memoji – to accompany the messages you send to friends so that they know who you are.

The idea behind the new feature is that contacts in the Messages app become more easily identifiable, similar to the way WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger contacts have recognizable profile pictures.

The difference in iOS 13 is that, thanks to Apple's privacy-minded approach, you can control who sees your Messages profile. The steps below show you how.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
    messages app in iOs 13

  3. Tap Share Name and Photo.
  4. Toggle the switch next to Share Name and Photo to the green ON position if it isn't already enabled.
    messages profile options in iOS 13

  5. To automatically share your updated name and photo with people in your contacts the next time you send a message, tap Contacts Only; to be prompted before your updated name and photo are shared, tap Always Ask; or to automatically share your updated profile with everyone, select Anyone and then tap Yes to confirm.

Want to use a custom Memoji as your profile picture in Messages but don't know where to start? Click here to learn how to create your own Memoji in iOS 13.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

Why You Might Want to Wait to Buy a MacBook Pro

Friday May 1, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by
Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max models in March 2026, but depending on your needs and interests, you might want to skip this generation because there's something better in the works. The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models have faster chips, but the same design that Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and faster ...
macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

Apple to Unveil macOS 27 Next Month With These New Features

Friday May 1, 2026 1:21 pm PDT by
Apple will unveil its latest software platforms during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and one of them will be macOS 27 for the Mac. The first developer beta of macOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users in September. macOS 26 is known ...