gstarnes
Level 1 (2 points)

Q: How set up Messages in El Capitan?

Messages is not working in El Capitan. There are no accounts, and Internet Accounts does not show Messages as an option. How do I set up on my MacBook Pro?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Mar 11, 2016 9:42 AM

by Pmintz25,Solvedanswer
Pmintz25 Pmintz25
Level 4 (1,693 points)
A:

I'm not sure what you mean by "monitor messages," but Messages on Mac and Messages on your iPhone are designed to mirror each other. On your iPhone, make sure you have iMessage enabled in Settings > Messages > iMessage.

 

Do you not see this in Messages > Preferences > Accounts?

Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 11.19.11 AM.png

Make sure both your iPhone and you Mac are using the same Apple ID. This may help:

 

Add or remove your phone number to iMessage or FaceTime on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

 

If you are using Messages without an iPhone, you can only add accounts by email.

Posted on Mar 11, 2016 11:20 AM

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gstarnes

Q: How set up Messages in El Capitan?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Mar 11, 2016 9:49 AM in response to gstarnes
    Level 4 (1,693 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 9:49 AM in response to gstarnes

    Messages can be used with multiple types of email accounts, including Yahoo and Google.

     

    Open Messages, then click Messages > Add Account

     

    If you already have an account added to the computer, there are two ways to check if it can use Messages:

     

         1.  > System Preferences > Internet Accounts > (Click on your account) > Tick the box for Messages, if your email supports Messages

         2. In Messages, click Messages > Preferences > Accounts > Click your account > Tick the box to "Enable this account"

  • by gstarnes,

    gstarnes gstarnes Mar 11, 2016 9:53 AM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 9:53 AM in response to Pmintz25

    1.  > System Preferences > Internet Accounts > (Click on your account) > Tick the box for Messages, if your email supports Messages


    There is no checkbox for Messages in any of my email accounts using Apple Mail. There used to be.


    2. In Messages, click Messages > Preferences > Accounts > Click your account > Tick the box to "Enable this account"


    There are no accounts listed in Messages, probably because none of my Apple Mail accounts offer that option.

  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Mar 11, 2016 10:08 AM in response to gstarnes
    Level 4 (1,693 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 10:08 AM in response to gstarnes

    Which email providers are you using? Have you tried adding one of your emails straight into Messages in Messages > Add Account?

     

    You could try removing the accounts and then add them again. If the option was there and is now gone, try booting into Safe Mode and see if the option reappears. If it doesn't then there could be an issue with the OS, perhaps a bad download of El Capitan.

     

    You could boot to the Recovery drive and run First Aid on your hard drive to make sure there are no errors. If you do all of this and it still does not work, then you most likely need to reinstall Messages, which means reinstalling El Capitan.

     

    Best of luck

  • by gstarnes,

    gstarnes gstarnes Mar 11, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Pmintz25

    Which email providers are you using? Have you tried adding one of your emails straight into Messages in Messages > Add Account?

    Adding Other Messages Account forces me to choose AIM or Jabber.


    I did reactivate my Google mail account and the Messages option appeared. I'm not sure how that works.  But I guess I'll see.


    Perhaps it has changed so much since I used it, that I am asking the wrong question. I used to be able to monitor messages sent to my iPhone, as well as send messages to my MacBook via mail, but now it's only email??

  • by Pmintz25,Solvedanswer

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Mar 11, 2016 11:20 AM in response to gstarnes
    Level 4 (1,693 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 11:20 AM in response to gstarnes

    I'm not sure what you mean by "monitor messages," but Messages on Mac and Messages on your iPhone are designed to mirror each other. On your iPhone, make sure you have iMessage enabled in Settings > Messages > iMessage.

     

    Do you not see this in Messages > Preferences > Accounts?

    Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 11.19.11 AM.png

    Make sure both your iPhone and you Mac are using the same Apple ID. This may help:

     

    Add or remove your phone number to iMessage or FaceTime on your Mac, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    If you are using Messages without an iPhone, you can only add accounts by email.

  • by gstarnes,

    gstarnes gstarnes Mar 11, 2016 11:32 AM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 11:32 AM in response to Pmintz25

    HAH! There it is. Got turned to inactive somehow. Thank you.

  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Mar 11, 2016 11:55 AM in response to gstarnes
    Level 4 (1,693 points)
    Mar 11, 2016 11:55 AM in response to gstarnes

    Good to know! Glad I could point you in the right direction.