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User profile for user: Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Author
User level: Level 1
15 points

Catalina Messages only sends messages via SMS, does not receive text messages

imessages in Catalina is not working properly for me. I am able to send messages to any of my contacts, but only over SMS. Curiously when I click on the create new message button my contacts are listed as imessage, but when I actually go to send my contact's name turns green, and an SMS text is sent. I am also only able to send messages from my computer. I am not receiving texts.


I have signed in and out of my imessage account in imessage. I have activated all relevant accounts. I have reset imessage, my computer, logged into and out of my icloud account, ect.


Everything looks good on my phone and I will continue to communicate via that device.


Catalina 10.15.4

mid 2015 macbook pro



MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Apr 13, 2020 10:01 AM

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User profile for user: Teddy_B
Teddy_B
User level: Community Specialist

Apr 14, 2020 6:56 AM in response to Pittsburgh

Greetings, Pittsburgh.


I see that you're having problems sending and receiving iMessages in the Messages application on your 2017 MacBook Pro on macOS Catalina. Your messages are only sending as SMS even to contacts using iMessages. You're also not receiving any messages, and I'm glad to help with this.


Change iMessage preferences in Messages on Mac -- With Messages open, select Messages > Preferences > iMessages, and make sure both your Apple ID are there, that your ID has been enabled, and that both have been checked under "You can be reached for messages at:"


How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac -- If the settings on your Mac were correct, on your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. Deselect your Mac, then see if you can send and receive iMessages.


If you can’t send or receive messages on your Mac -- If you're still unable to send or receive iMessages. Follow the steps under "Try these steps first", then scroll down to "Learn more" if the issue persists.


Take care.

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Catalina Messages only sends messages via SMS, does not receive text messages

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