Apple's Messages app may stop counting muted chats in your unread badge

Apple appears to be working on a Messages setting that would stop muted conversations from counting toward the red unread number on the app icon. The clue comes from code inside iOS 27.2, which 9to5Mac says launches next week. The feature itself does not look ready for that release.

What changed

Today, muting a chat in Messages silences its alerts, but the red badge on the app icon still counts its unread messages. The code points to a new option that would leave those muted chats out of the count. Aaron Perris shared the find on X, saying the iOS 27.2 release candidate (a near-final test version) shows Apple working on the feature.

Who it affects

Anyone who mutes a busy group chat or keeps certain people on mute would notice this most. The badge could then show only the conversations that still get through to you. The writer at 9to5Mac says he mutes a couple of busy group chats and keeps badges off for most apps. That makes the Messages badge stand out, and he finds it annoying when it counts muted chats.

What is not known yet

The report is based on code, not an announcement from Apple. It says the feature does not sound like it will ship in iOS 27.2. No release date has been given. It is also unclear how the option would be named or where in Settings it would appear. Code found in an update does not always become a feature people can use.

What happens next

iOS 27.2 is due next week. Watch whether the option shows up in a later iOS 27 update. Until then, muted chats will keep adding to the red number on the Messages icon.