Q: Imessage stopped working on macbook pro el capitan
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by Ralph Johns (UK),May 10, 2016 12:55 PM
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Ralph Johns (UK)
May 10, 2016 12:55 PM
in response to mcsnebber
Level 9
(72,957 points)
ApplicationsHi,
Process.
On the iPhone in Settings the Messages app is turned ON.
This allows it so send iMessages
If you also set the Allow SMS it does that as well and will send as SMS if the other end appears not to be registered with iMessages.
This means the iPhone is send and receiving only with the iPhone Number.
Next you would turn on the Mac version by adding An Apple ID to the iMessages account in the Messages app.
This can then Send and Receive using the Apple ID only.
Then you add the Apple ID to the iPhone.
It can then "sync" (really Display on all Devices) the iMessages sent to either the iPhone Number or the Apple ID from that point in time onwards.
A Pop up on the Mac appears telling you what the iPhone Is using and Accepting it adds the iPhone Number to the Alternatives list in iMessages account on the Mac.These iMessages are "synced" through the iMessages Server (nothing to do with iCloud)
The next step, if your iPhone and Mac can do it, is to be on the Same LAN for Text Forwarding.
The iPhone needs the WiFi to be on and to join your LAN (the Mac can be WiFi or Ethernet to the LAN)
Then you can enable Text Forwarding and the Code number should appear on the Mac that then needs adding back to the iPhone.
Resetting this bit can need several goes before the two devices forget their original "pairing".
This works over your LAN connection.
Basically the iPhone is "Sharing" it's SMS connection over the carrier service the iPhone is getting.
Things to check
In Settings > Messages on the iPhone cech the Send and Receive section.
The Number needs to be ticked (Active) and greyed out (the User cannot change this although it sometimes fails)
if it is Unticked then the Number can be de-registered from the iMessages servers.
If this is the case then turn the App Off and wait fro a few minutes before turning it back on.
Now Wait until the Number has Verified.
Once it has done that you can reset all the other settings (Apple ID, Text Forwarding)
If the Number is effectively Off on the iPhone then many aspects of Messages do not work.
8:55 pm Tuesday; May 10, 2016
iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
Mac OS X (10.6.8),
iPhone and an iPad (2) -
May 10, 2016 3:25 PMby mcsnebber,thanks Ralph but all of this did not work. I have been working on this for over 2 hours now. I have restarted, rebooted, turned all apps on and off, signed in with the same appleID on both devices, even reset factory settings and reset my WiFi. Text forwarding is not even an option unless I go in and out of the facetime app. Then text forwarding appears in the message app. and gives me the option to enable my mac. so I do. And it asks for a code. And NOTHING shows up on my mac.
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May 11, 2016 1:07 PMby Ralph Johns (UK),Hi,
This is my Messages Settings on my iPhone (three screen shots set side by side)
In the first "column" the Messages should be On and the "Send and SMS" should be On so that the carrier service is available to the App.
In Send and Receive (bottom of first column and top of third) contains the iPhone Listing and the Apple ID as the two active items (the Apple ID has a Entry point and Sign Out point at the top of this section)
The Second column should have been on the right but I did not concentrate when creating the merge. It is included fro completeness.
Send and Receive
The Number should be greyed out BUT ticked.
it can manage without the Apple ID be active but I would leave it.
If this Number is not ticked then you have to reset Messages.
Turn the App Off and wait a few minutes.
On Activating it wait until the Number says it has verified.
You will need to do this if you did a factory reset.
Test (as it can only send from the iPhone Number) to the Apple ID by manually entering the Apple ID to start the conversation.
Do test reply from the Mac as well.
Add back the Apple ID.
Accept the pop up on the Mac.
Double check the WiFi settings and confirm by looking inside that it is active.
Reset the Text Forwarding options.
If the Code Number does not appear try turning the Mac Application Off and waiting for a few minutes before restarting it to see if that "drops" the connection enough to make the Code number appear.
I have reset mine in the past and it did take several goes to get the new Code Number to appear.
I don't remember having to reset anything else on the iPhone.
However you could try tuning the Send as SMS and MMS option Off then On again.
Also check you are getting carrier service in your house.
I have areas where this drops out and SMS will not work as this point.
You seems to describe the iPhone being able to send though so it is probably not this.
9:07 pm Wednesday; May 11, 2016
iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
Mac OS X (10.6.8),
iPhone and an iPad (2)
