GVennarucci

Q: iMessage not showing contact names

I just recently downloaded and installed OS X Mavericks on my 2011 iMac and trying to get up and running with the new iMessage app. But there are two major bugs I can figure out how to fix if anyone can help me fix these problems or comment if your having the same issues that would be a big help.

 

1: When receiving a message from someone in my contacts list/address book, their names do not apper next to the message, but rather only their phone numbers. I have went thought the view options and selected show contacts name and also tried adding a name to the existing number with no results. Does anyone know how to fix this bug?

 

2: The lag time between SMS/iphone messages and the time it takes to show up in iMessage on my mac is rather long. There is about a 3 minute delay before the text message conversation shows up from my phone to computer. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

 

Thanks

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 5, 2013 4:25 PM

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Q: iMessage not showing contact names

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 30, 2014 11:18 AM in response to jerzyshore
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Jan 30, 2014 11:18 AM in response to jerzyshore

    Hi,

     

    So you are not seeing this ?

    Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 19.05.35.png

    I had an issue with my Address Book Contacts app where the iCloud one AND the On My Mac one seemed to be active at the same time.

    This caused all the cards to be shown twice.

     

    In System Preferences > iCloud I disabled the option to Sync the Contacts app and in the App itself I also disable the Account from being active in the check box.

     

    When I re-enabled the sync in the iCloud settings the issue seemed to be resolved and I have not had any more issues.

     

    It has taken me about 10 years to know what I do about Messages and iChat and I just don't know the Contacts App/Address Book quite so well to really say what to do next.

     

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:18 pm      Thursday; January 30, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad

  • by Biscut,

    Biscut Biscut Mar 5, 2014 2:14 AM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 2:14 AM in response to GVennarucci

    I'm having a similar problem. After a small update on Mavericks this week, some of my Messages threads lost the name and picture of the contact associated with that thread, being replaced by a phone number. Others are intact. Even one contact works fine in one thread, but just a phone number in another. I've tried all the suggestions here. Are there any other possibilities?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 5, 2014 12:07 PM in response to Biscut
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 5, 2014 12:07 PM in response to Biscut

    Hi,

     

    In Messages go to Preferences > Accounts.

    In the iMessages account go to the Details button.

    In here check the region is correct.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:07 pm      Wednesday; March 5, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Biscut,

    Biscut Biscut Mar 6, 2014 11:39 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 11:39 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    All fixed! Thank you, Ralph!

     

    The region there was indeed different than the region listed elsewhere. Changed that, then closed and reopened Messages, and all was good. Much appreciated!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 7, 2014 12:57 PM in response to Biscut
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 7, 2014 12:57 PM in response to Biscut

    No Problem.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:57 pm      Friday; March 7, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by IsaNica,

    IsaNica IsaNica Mar 7, 2014 7:16 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2014 7:16 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Ralph,

     

    Can you help me out?

     

    I have been reading through your tips but still can't figure out what I'm missing...

    Since updating to Maverick just this week, I only get phon numbers listed on my imessages app on my Macbook.

     

    I'm not SUPER saavy, but can follow instructions...

     

    Thanks!!!

    Veronica

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 8, 2014 12:03 PM in response to IsaNica
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 8, 2014 12:03 PM in response to IsaNica

    HI,

     

    In Messages > Preferences > Accounts highlight the iMessages account.

    Then use the details Button.

     

    In here is it set to the correct region ?

    Also does this region match the one in System Preferences > Language and Text ?

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:02 pm      Saturday; March 8, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by ysiewhua,

    ysiewhua ysiewhua Mar 16, 2014 9:56 AM in response to JRobinson0204
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 9:56 AM in response to JRobinson0204

    repaired permissions helped me too

  • by schongesegnet,

    schongesegnet schongesegnet Mar 18, 2014 5:35 AM in response to paul-sweden
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 5:35 AM in response to paul-sweden

    This worked for me. So simple, so smart.

    Thank you from Asia!

  • by Ms Carole B,

    Ms Carole B Ms Carole B Mar 24, 2014 5:26 AM in response to twanbiz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2014 5:26 AM in response to twanbiz

    Twanbiz Thank you for the suggestion to relink the icloud and the contacts. did  this need to be done because we just had an update cause it was working just fine before that! also does anyone know of any additional issues that came along with the latest update so i can trouble shoot before the problem arises?

    Many thanks!

  • by pyrojim,

    pyrojim pyrojim Apr 1, 2014 6:06 PM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2014 6:06 PM in response to GVennarucci

    None of these suggestions work for me. I am running the lattest mavericks on all of my machines(an 09 mbp, and a new imac).

     

    Every time i close iMesseges, the viewing options reset themselves. This is starting to get very annoying.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Apr 2, 2014 11:41 AM in response to pyrojim
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Apr 2, 2014 11:41 AM in response to pyrojim

    In Any Finder window use the View menu and enable Show Path bar.

     

    Then use the Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT key.

    Select the Library item that appears.

    Navigate to Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data/Library/Preferences

    Select any item that is not an Alias.

     

    Do a Get Info  (Highlight and use the CMD and I Keys together)

    Check you Own it and have Read and Write Permissions.

     

    Now right click the Preferences folder in the Path bar and Select the Get Info item

    Repeat the above.

     

    Repeat the above on all the folders back to the first Library. (the one to the Right of the Little House icon).

     

    Do you have Read and Write Permission through these folder to the items in the Preferences Folder ?

     

    If those check out double click the first Library.

    Navigate to Preferences then.

    In here find com.apple.ichat.plist

    Do you have Read and Write permission and Ownership of this File.

     

    Basically the first route is the route that Write to the .plists using the Aliases.

    The second (~/Library/Preferences) that I told you to look at is where most of the Preferences are kept.

    This is the long term place for these.

    The first route is used now as the App is what the  call Sandboxed.

    You need Read and Write Permissions of all the containing folders as well as the final destination .plist to be able to Store and hold on to the Setting made.

     

    Also check that the com.apple.ichat.plist Alias in the first router is actually linked to the ~/Library/Preferences folder.

    Highlight then right click and "Show Original"

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:41 pm      Wednesday; April 2, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by EQ Kimball,

    EQ Kimball EQ Kimball Oct 30, 2014 3:58 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2014 3:58 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thank you very much for your response. Option A worked for me perfectly!

     

    Cheers mate!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Oct 31, 2014 12:42 PM in response to EQ Kimball
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Oct 31, 2014 12:42 PM in response to EQ Kimball

    Hi,

     

    You're welcome.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:42 pm      Friday; October 31, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by 1st boster,

    1st boster 1st boster Nov 2, 2014 1:35 PM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2014 1:35 PM in response to GVennarucci

    I had the Names not showing only phone numbers even though they were in my contacts.

    Fixed it by doing a proper shutdown and restart of my Mac.

    My thoughts are that somethings people try require a restart and so fix the issue by accident (Maybe?)

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