Useful macOS defaults: Messages

Messages settings on macOS live under com.apple.MobileSMS (not com.apple.messages, despite what you might expect). The name comes from the app's iOS roots.

After changing these, quit and reopen Messages.

Turn off smart quotes

Messages replaces straight quotes with curly quotes by default. This is annoying when sharing code or terminal commands:

defaults write com.apple.messageshelper.MessageController SOInputLineSettings -dict-add "automaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled" -bool false

Turn off spell checking

defaults write com.apple.messageshelper.MessageController SOInputLineSettings -dict-add "continuousSpellCheckingEnabled" -bool false

Turn off automatic emoji substitution

Stop Messages from replacing text like :) with emoji:

defaults write com.apple.messageshelper.MessageController SOInputLineSettings -dict-add "automaticEmojiSubstitutionEnabled" -bool false

Notification sounds

Turn off the sound that plays when you receive a message:

defaults write com.apple.MobileSMS PlaySoundsKey -bool false

Read receipts

Turn on read receipts (let people see when you have read their iMessage):

defaults write com.apple.MobileSMS ReadReceiptsEnabled -bool true

Turn them off:

defaults write com.apple.MobileSMS ReadReceiptsEnabled -bool false

Keep message history

Set how long Messages keeps your conversations:

defaults write com.apple.MobileSMS KeepMessageForDays -int 365

Set to 0 or remove the key to keep messages forever:

defaults delete com.apple.MobileSMS KeepMessageForDays

Notes

Many Messages settings are tied to your iCloud account and sync across devices. Changing them with defaults write on your Mac may not override the synced setting. For some preferences, Messages, then Settings is the only reliable way.

The domain name com.apple.MobileSMS applies to macOS too, not just iOS.

defaults read com.apple.MobileSMS

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