Ripley from OF

Q: I can no longer sync my Mac with iPhone for Messages.

I used to be able to receive my iMessages from my phone on my Mac.  I no longer have the "Text Message Forwarding" option listed on my iPhone.   When I try to sign onto Message on my Mac, I keep getting the "An error occurred during activation.  Try again".  I have updated all my devices.  In the Messages it shows my account as 'inactive."  Can anyone help?

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Jul 26, 2016 12:29 PM

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Q: I can no longer sync my Mac with iPhone for Messages.

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  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 26, 2016 6:21 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 26, 2016 6:21 PM in response to elcpu

    elcpu wrote:

     

     

    In the meantime, I am trying to summon another user who is quite knowledgeable about messaging. Hopefully she will respond.

    Sorry, I've got almost nothing. Short of doing a full re-install of El Cap, I can't think of anything useful. Restoring the iPhone component would be easy enough but I suspect that resolving the issue on the computer first would be the way to go.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jul 26, 2016 6:22 PM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 10 (95,476 points)
    iPad
    Jul 26, 2016 6:22 PM in response to Ripley from OF

    I'm sorry that I don't have anything more to offer. I will look for you post in the EC forum because now I'm anxious to see what you will find. I wish you the best of luck!

     

    BTW, I think it might be iCloud related but at this point I don't know what to think.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 26, 2016 6:25 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 6 (16,186 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 26, 2016 6:25 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Thanks for dropping in Meg. I thought of you when this seemed to be a Messages issue but now it appears far more complex and I am as baffled as I can be.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 26, 2016 6:33 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 26, 2016 6:33 PM in response to elcpu

    elcpu wrote:

     

    Thanks for dropping in Meg. I thought of you when this seemed to be a Messages issue but now it appears far more complex and I am as baffled as I can be.

    Yeah, I'm with Demo on this that it may be an iCloud issue. iCloud is not my strong suit.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Jul 26, 2016 6:35 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 6 (16,186 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 26, 2016 6:35 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Very possible. Maybe Gail can help...

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jul 26, 2016 8:49 PM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 7 (26,148 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 26, 2016 8:49 PM in response to Ripley from OF

    Hi,

     

    OK, so I need some clarification:

     

    1.     When you indicate that Messages "shows your account as "Inactive", where are you seeing this indicator

    2.     When you go to Messages>Preferences, what does it show for your Messages account ID? Is it your Apple ID?

    3.     What does it list under "You can be Reached"?

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by Ripley from OF,

    Ripley from OF Ripley from OF Jul 27, 2016 4:55 AM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 27, 2016 4:55 AM in response to gail from maine

    That is exactly the issue.  I see my account as inactive in the Messages>Preferences pane.  And yes, it is my Apple ID.Inactive.png

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jul 27, 2016 10:22 AM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 7 (26,148 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 27, 2016 10:22 AM in response to Ripley from OF

    OK, so, a few more questions:

     

    You have two Macs and iPhones that are working fine for Messages:

         -     What Apple/iCloud ID is signed into those devices for Messages?

         -     On the Mac you are having issues with Messages on, both you and your husband share the computer - do you each sign into a separate User ID when you use it, or do you just literally share the User ID that is signed into that Mac?

         -     Whose Apple/iCloud ID is signed into Messages on that Mac Settings>Messages>Send & Receive>(appleid)

         -     While we are in the Send & Receive section, let's review who all in in there:

                   mobile phone numbers listed: do you have just yours, or both yours and your husband's?

                   email addresses: do you have one or more for you, only, or one or more for both of you?

     

    Once we understand how these are set up on the Mac, we may be able to get it resolved from there based on what kind of configuration and sharing you want. There is always a possibility that we may need to take a foray into the device settings, but let's just hope this will do it

     

    P.S. Are you using either Two-Step or Two-Factor Authentication? If, so, before taking the time to answer all of those questions, see if you have the option to sign out showing to the right of that Messages sidebar. If you do, click on Sign Out and see what happens.

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by Ripley from OF,

    Ripley from OF Ripley from OF Jul 27, 2016 12:10 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 27, 2016 12:10 PM in response to gail from maine

    The other two Macs and iPhone belong to my children.  They each have their own Apple ID.  They each have an iPhone 5S as well.  My husband has a 4.

     

    My husband and I share the same computer.  There really is no need (or has not been) for us not to share.  We DO share the User ID on the Mac, it is mine. 

     

    My Apple ID is currently signed into iCloud on the Mac.  However, if I sign out of iCloud and sign him in, I am seeing the same thing for his account, with his Apple ID of course, as I see with mine.  Neither of us can activate our accounts.  Inactive.png

     

     

     

    My Apple ID was always signed into the Mac for everything, including iCloud and Messages (that is until I set up his account about a month ago while I was doing a backup).   I cannot access Messages anymore, my account shows inactive and I have no other options in that window.

     

    In iCloud, on my account, it is my email and phone.  In iCloud on his account, it is his email and phone.

     

    We both have multiple email address, but we do not share them.

     

    We are not using two step Authentication. 

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jul 27, 2016 8:08 PM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 7 (26,148 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 27, 2016 8:08 PM in response to Ripley from OF

    OK, so a couple more questions (and sorry, I was listing the path for setting up Messages options on an iOS device). So, here is what the Preferences screen should look like for Messages:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 10.44.04 PM.png

    Are you seeing your Apple ID in the places where you see mine under the Settings area? Do you see the option to Sign Out there?

     

    Or are you seeing something like this:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 10.58.33 PM.png

    Or are you seeing something else altogether? Can you take a screenshot, edit it to protect your personal info and post it here? (To take the screenshot press CTL+Opgion+4, then Shift, click to take the snap. Double-click on it in Finder to open it in Preview, then edit as needed. Then once edited, click on the little camera at the top of the post window, and clidk on the file to post it).

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by Ripley from OF,

    Ripley from OF Ripley from OF Jul 28, 2016 3:56 AM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 28, 2016 3:56 AM in response to gail from maine

    I wish I saw that first information on that first screen shot.  Unfortunately this is all I see.

     

    Inactive.png

     

    And

     

    Authentication.png

     

    This is why I think it is and iCloud error now.

  • by Ripley from OF,

    Ripley from OF Ripley from OF Sep 10, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 10, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Ripley from OF

    I wish I saw that first information on that first screen shot.  Unfortunately this is all I see.

     

    Inactive.png

     

    And

     

    Authentication.png

     

    This is why I think it is and iCloud error now.

  • by Ripley from OF,

    Ripley from OF Ripley from OF Sep 10, 2016 6:08 AM in response to Ripley from OF
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 10, 2016 6:08 AM in response to Ripley from OF

    I did have to call Apple Support and they were able to reset my iCloud information.

     

    Thank you all very much for your help.

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