Why is Messages app starting a new thread?

[I Need a Drink]

Last night I received an iMessage from a friend of mine, but the Messages App started a new thread for him instead of using the one that has more than a year of texts. His number is still the same, otherwise the phone wouldn't have known to put his name at the top of the thread. I like keeping things organized and I don't like having to sort through multiple threads for the same person. Any ideas?

 

[Smileyboy]

I'm having a similar issue.. Not sure why

 

[Gav2k]

Did you check to see if it came from his number or email?

 

[Dino F]

I've had this in the past - when iMessage, just starts a completely new thread for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It normally rectifies itself but in the meantime, I would delete the new thread and hope that the next iMessage, just tags along onto the existing thread.

You can also check the following :

If you tap to go to the top of the iMessage and then tap on his name, it should take you to the Contact, in your Contacts app. Is his number, shown in blue, in both of the contacts (when you tap on his name at the top of the iMessage thread)?

Also - might be worth asking your friend if he has added a new email address to his iCloud account - maybe the new thread is from his email address on iCloud?

 

[bransoj]

Seen this before when the sender has their iMessages set to send messages from their email address all of a sudden...fixed by them amending the sending address back to the phone number on their device.

 

[sunking101]

Yeah, it will be an iMessage sent from an email address. I untick that option and only use my phone number for iMessage and Facetime.

 

[eclipse01]

it is an annoying bug that came with IOS 8

 

[Wicked1]

Last night I received an iMessage from a friend of mine, but the Messages App started a new thread for him instead of using the one that has more than a year of texts. His number is still the same, otherwise the phone wouldn't have known to put his name at the top of the thread. I like keeping things organized and I don't like having to sort through multiple threads for the same person. Any ideas?

Same issue here on my 5S but in fact my GF sends me a message, I respond, no issue, then she sent me another message and instead of using the same thread via her phone number, it starts multiple threads using her icloud account, oddest thing. We are both using iPhone 5/5S and both on ATT, all Apple tells me to to do is reset the phone and the same thing happens after a few more text threads, so annoying. I hate iOS8, root of all my issues, when I was on 7 none of the issues we are having were there and I have been a long time iPhone user.

 

[Act3]

same issues here with different message threads showing as email and phone number, and recently as of this morning messages just not showing up on one device i.e. iPad gets it but iphone doesnt see the message.

 

[I Need a Drink]

Did you check to see if it came from his number or email?

Just checked and yes it did come from his email address instead of his phone number. However, I have his email address stored in his contact, which is why it said his name in the header, so it should have merged with the normal thread. The weird thing is that on my iPhone and iPad it started a new thread, but on my iMac it was part of the normal thread. Must be and iOS 8 issue.

 

[Gav2k]

Just checked and yes it did come from his email address instead of his phone number. However, I have his email address stored in his contact, which is why it said his name in the header, so it should have merged with the normal thread. The weird thing is that on my iPhone and iPad it started a new thread, but on my iMac it was part of the normal thread. Must be and iOS 8 issue.

Unfortunately iMessage currently dosnt merge conversations.

 

[goonie4life9]

It is a bug that has been around since iOS 7 (and Apple has told me, repeatedly, it is a known bug). I have been "working" with Apple (numerous phone calls from support and long-term interaction via Bug Reporter) for over a year. I would STRONGLY suggest you file a bug report with Apple (bugreport.apple.com).

Just checked and yes it did come from his email address instead of his phone number. However, I have his email address stored in his contact, which is why it said his name in the header, so it should have merged with the normal thread. The weird thing is that on my iPhone and iPad it started a new thread, but on my iMac it was part of the normal thread. Must be and iOS 8 issue.