Apple introduces feature to hide muted conversations in Messages app

iOS 27.2 is set to roll out next week, and a build‑time scan of the update revealed code that would let users hide muted conversations from the red badge that appears on the Messages icon. The change would let the badge count only show unread messages that have not been silenced, a tweak many users have asked for for years.

The badge has long been a source of irritation for iPhone owners. When a thread is muted, notifications stop popping up, but the unread count still climbs, making the badge look like a reminder of messages the user deliberately chose to ignore. Apple introduced the mute function in iOS 16, but never gave a way to keep the badge clean. Critics say the mismatch fuels anxiety and forces people to keep checking the app just to clear the number.

The new code was spotted by 9to5Mac in the beta of iOS 27.2, where a hidden setting called “ExcludeMutedFromBadge” appears in the Messages preferences file. Analysts at research firm Canalys say the move signals Apple’s broader push toward notification hygiene, a trend that has driven recent UI tweaks in iOS 17 and iPadOS. Early‑access users on the developer portal have already reported that the option appears in Settings → Messages after installing the beta, though it is still disabled by default. Consumer forums are buzzing with approval, with many saying the feature will finally let the badge reflect only truly unread messages. Apple has not officially commented, but the presence of the flag suggests the company is close to shipping it.

If the flag is activated in the final release, the badge will stop counting muted chats as soon as iOS 27.2 reaches the public. Apple may later extend the same logic to other apps that use badge counts, such as Mail and Calendar. For now, users who install the beta can test the setting and provide feedback. The change could make the iPhone’s notification system feel less noisy and more under the user’s control, a small but meaningful step in Apple’s effort to balance connectivity with mental well‑being.