iOS creates multiple threads for same contact

Oct 20, 2005
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My iPhone messaging app is doing something funky. I believe it started with iOS 8. What happens is that I will have a thread for message from one contact, and then that same contact will send me a message some time later and the messages app will start a new thread from that message/contact rather than put it in the already existing thread.

This has happened to two contacts so far. Anyone know why this is happening and how to fix it? It's a rare occurrence but it is annoying have your long threads being broken up.

Update 11/11/2014:

Ok, wanted to revive this thread as I'm still having this issue, though very rarely. I think I've got a better of what is going on, but don't know why my phone is doing this.

So I've got a thread with my brother in my messages. It's got lots of messages between us. However today, he sends me a message and it shows up in a new message thread. I'm thinking, great it's happening again.

Anyway, if I go into my brother's contact/details where it lists his mobile/facetime/email, there's a "message icon" next to the mobile and email.

If I click on the "message icon" for the mobile, it takes me to the main message thread between him and I.

If I click on the "message icon" for the email, it takes me to the newly created message thread.

So this tells me that my phone took my brother's imessage from today as being sent from his email contact. However, when I asked him what he is doing, he just said he's using the same main message thread between us. Once I open up the main message thread on my phone and have him message me, things appear to go back to normal and all my messages from him will stay in the main thread.

Has this happened to anyone else?
 
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TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
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Yea, it's super annoying. It's because, although they might have their AppleID connected to both their phone number and their email address, different devices can have different defaults. And, if they're sharing something, and send it to your email instead of your phone (or vice versa), then it will start a new thread (or relight an old one).
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
44
91
Yea, it's super annoying. It's because, although they might have their AppleID connected to both their phone number and their email address, different devices can have different defaults. And, if they're sharing something, and send it to your email instead of your phone (or vice versa), then it will start a new thread (or relight an old one).

That makes sense. however what's weird is that my wife is just sending me iMessages through her iphone using the same thread that she's been messaging me with, and it will randomly/infrequently appear in a new thread on my iphone.

Appreciate the response though!
 

StarTech15

Member
Oct 21, 2014
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That makes sense. however what's weird is that my wife is just sending me iMessages through her iphone using the same thread that she's been messaging me with, and it will randomly/infrequently appear in a new thread on my iphone.

Appreciate the response though!

That, my friend, sounds like a bug.