Toggle button missing for SMS Text message forwarding on iPhone - no option to turn off

[uandme72]

iOS Settings > Messages > SMS Forwarding > macOS Device and iPadOS is listed, but there is no toggle button against the macOS device logged in to the same iMessage and iCloud account. Instead it has a message stating "These devices can automatically forward text messages when Messages in iCloud is turned on."
All devices are updated to latest iOS, macOS, iPadOS.
Anyone else?

 

[JasonHB]

Same with mine. Guess it just works now, especially with iPhone mirroring

 

[uandme72]

The toggle button appears for SMS forwarding in iPhone against any device in the following conditions:

1.) the iPhone is formatted and restored as new, after that device was logged in to iCloud with same ID. In other words, the iPhone logs in to iCloud and Messages in iCloud in the last out of all devices; or

2.) the messages in iCloud is toggled "Off" in the respective device.

While the above condition (2) is somewhat logical, the condition at (1) does not seem to have any basis.

 

[ralphthemagi]

The toggle button appears for SMS forwarding in iPhone against any device in the following conditions:

1.) the iPhone is formatted and restored as new, after that device was logged in to iCloud with same ID. In other words, the iPhone logs in to iCloud and Messages in iCloud in the last out of all devices; or

2.) the messages in iCloud is toggled "Off" in the respective device.

While the above condition (2) is somewhat logical, the condition at (1) does not seem to have any basis.

This is an odd request, but could you try expanding on this a bit more? I'm not sure I understand, and I feel like you do. I'm having this issue and I've done a fair bit of research on this, but you are the ONLY person who seems to have an understanding of what causes it, and I don't fully understand your response.

Are you saying that this issue is somehow caused by the order in which devices are added to an iCloud Account? I have two Macs, two iPhones, and two iPads, but one of the iPads is stuck 'On' with no toggle and I can not figure out why.

Thank you in advance!

 

[uandme72]

As far as I have experimented, Toggle button for SMS forwarding (iOS Settings app > Apps > Messages > SMS Forwarding) in iPhone appears if the iPhone is logged in to iCloud after the other Apple device, but the grayed out text (instead of the toggle button) appears if the Apple device is logged in after the iPhone.

So in effect, I find it is affected by the order in which devices are added to an iCloud Account.

To remove your iPad stuck "On" with no toggle showing on any iPhone (the toggle is shown only on iPhone, not on any other device), just try to Erase that iPhone (which is showing iPad stuck to On), and set the iPhone as new to the same iCloud account. You will find the stuck iPad now starts showing toggle button on that iPhone.

 

[ralphthemagi]

As far as I have experimented, Toggle button for SMS forwarding (iOS Settings app > Apps > Messages > SMS Forwarding) in iPhone appears if the iPhone is logged in to iCloud after the other Apple device, but the grayed out text (instead of the toggle button) appears if the Apple device is logged in after the iPhone.

So in effect, I find it is affected by the order in which devices are added to an iCloud Account.

To remove your iPad stuck "On" with no toggle showing on any iPhone (the toggle is shown only on iPhone, not on any other device), just try to Erase that iPhone (which is showing iPad stuck to On), and set the iPhone as new to the same iCloud account. You will find the stuck iPad now starts showing toggle button on that iPhone.

Interesting. That is a solution that is far more trouble than it's worth for me right now, but thank you for explaining this. I'm sure others will find this thread in time. If someone else is reading this with the same issue, and this solution works for you, please update!