DesertRatR

Q: All of a sudden Messages lost Contacts

All of a sudden Messages lost my Contacts list.  It no longer receives the same text stream going to iPhone and iPad.  What happened?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Mar 21, 2015 4:09 PM

Close

Q: All of a sudden Messages lost Contacts

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 21, 2015 4:26 PM in response to DesertRatR
    Level 8 (40,195 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 4:26 PM in response to DesertRatR

    The first place to look is Messages > Preferences > Accounts > Settings.

     

    Is your account logged in?  Are the send and receive settings correct?

  • by DesertRatR,

    DesertRatR DesertRatR Mar 21, 2015 7:40 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 21, 2015 7:40 PM in response to sberman

    Messages was working just fine, at least yesterday.  Every message I sent or received showed up on iPad and iPhone as well as Messages.  Today, only iPad and iPhone sent/received messages.   

     

    I checked Settings and discovered I was not logged in.  The PW was blank.  I entered my Apple ID PW and was instructed I had to go to Apple's website and use an Apple-provided in-app PW for Messages and Facetime.  What is that all about?  I did that and things seem to be working again.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 21, 2015 7:59 PM in response to DesertRatR
    Level 8 (40,195 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 7:59 PM in response to DesertRatR

    DesertRatR wrote:

     

    I entered my Apple ID PW and was instructed I had to go to Apple's website and use an Apple-provided in-app PW for Messages and Facetime.

    Really?  You went to an Apple-based website and received a password that you then had to plug in to Messages and FaceTime?  A password you had never seen before?  Are you sure?

  • by DesertRatR,

    DesertRatR DesertRatR Mar 21, 2015 8:08 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 21, 2015 8:08 PM in response to sberman

    Yes. Apparently it is something to do with a 2 factor identification. Afterward emails and texts showed telling

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 21, 2015 8:30 PM in response to DesertRatR
    Level 8 (40,195 points)
    Mar 21, 2015 8:30 PM in response to DesertRatR

    Excellent!  It sounds like you're in good shape then.

     

    Like you, I use 2 factor identification.  I find I get asked to confirm my identity if something unusual happens (e.g., add a new piece of Apple gear).  But I've never been supplied a password by Apple that I needed to enter elsewhere.

     

    Enjoy your Apple gear.

  • by DesertRatR,

    DesertRatR DesertRatR Mar 21, 2015 8:44 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 21, 2015 8:44 PM in response to sberman

    Just tried it again.  I logged out of Messages and Facetime.  When I went to log in again I tried my regular Apple ID PW.  A dropdown message appeared telling me I needed an App-Specific PW ("Your Apple ID is protected with two-step verification.  You must generate an app-specific password at appledid.apple.com to sign in").  When I do that (I checked URL to make sure it is Apple) the standard verification code appears on my iPad (or iPhone, which ever I select).  Once I enter that on the web page the app-specific PW pops up.  I plug that into Messages and Facetime and they both work.  And I get a popup on both iPad and iPhone telling me Apple ID and phone number now being used for iMessage on a new Mac....

     

    I have been using 2 factor identification for a while.  This is the first time I have encountered an app-specific PW.  What is puzzling is why all of a sudden Messages logged out earlier today, necessitating the need for the new PW.

  • by DesertRatR,

    DesertRatR DesertRatR Mar 21, 2015 8:52 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 21, 2015 8:52 PM in response to sberman

    Here's and link to the app-specific PW

    Using app-specific passwords - Apple Support