Apple is testing a new feature for the Messages app in the iOS 27.2 RC candidate build. The update aims to refine how unread message badges are calculated on the home screen.
Currently, muted conversations still contribute to the unread message count displayed on the app icon. This behavior persists even when users specifically silence individual chats or group threads to reduce notifications.
The discovered code suggests that future versions of iOS will allow users to exclude muted conversations from the badge count. This change is intended to help users manage high volumes of messages more effectively.
According to the source, this functionality is unlikely to be included in the upcoming official release of iOS 27.2. It is expected to arrive in a subsequent system update instead.
