Apple just killed the easiest way to disable annoying iMessage effects
Apple just released iOS 10.1, and buried in its list of feature updates and bug fixes is an interesting change that might drive some people crazy.
Those screen-filling special effects in iMessage are now much harder to get rid of. Previously, you could enable "Reduce Motion" in your Settings to avoid lasers, balloons, text slamming and other wizardry enabled in iOS 10's version of the Messages app. In the release notes for Monday's iOS 10.1 update, Apple specifically states "Messages effects can play with Reduce Motion enabled," so that hack to avoid visual overload will no longer work.
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The company previously told Mashable that the "Reduce Motion" trick was actually designed on purpose, so it's unclear why things are changing now.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the change or whether there's another way to disable the effects. We updated our iPhone and found that you can disable iMessage effects separately, but turning on Reduce Motion won't do it by default.
Visit your Settings, then Accessibility, then Reduce Motion: You'll see a new option to "auto-play Message effects." Flip that off and you should be set.
UPDATE: Oct. 24, 2016, 4:18 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include information about how to disable iMessage effects.
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Damon Beres is an Executive Editor at Mashable, overseeing tech and science coverage. Previously, he was Senior Tech Editor at The Huffington Post. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Esquire.com, the New York Daily News and other fine outlets.
