Old messages app on MBP affecting iMessage notification

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Level 1

12 points

Old messages app on MBP affecting iMessage notification

Hi,

I am one of affected who experience silent messages arriving on my iPhone for the last 9 months. This is when all started when I upgraded to iPhone 12 and iOS 14 on launch.

Like others already mentioned on the internet, messages arrive without any form of notifications - screen remain blank and no sound is played. And this seemed to happen randomly - until I think I found what's the cause, at least for my case.

I find that whenever I am on my Macbook Pro doing work; be that web browsing or editing document or whatever, as long as my MBP is open and unlocked the messages on my iPhone arrives silently. Messages arrive normally with sound and on-screen notice if I have my MBP closed.

Digging into the notification setting on my MBP, which I haven't done for ages, I see two "Messages" app. One with same icon from iOS/iPadOS version = green bubble, and another in blue bubble. I think the blue version is an old Messages app?

Anyway, I checked my apps folder and this blue version is not there so I assume it's uninstalled, but notification setting is still there and it is turned on. Now I turn this off and messages on iPhone arrives normally with sound and on-screen notification while I work on my MBP.

Annoyingly I notice this setting comes back on automatically on every MacOS updates so I have to manually turn it off again.

So my question is: how do I remove this old version Messages' notification setting? (noting that app seems to be already removed at some point in the past MacOS update? I assume this was when the new green version was introduced)

Appreciate if anyone knows how.

Many thanks.

iPhone 12

Posted on Jul 28, 2021 8:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Lindsay_B.

Community Specialist

Jul 29, 2021 2:34 PM in response to son551

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities, son551,

If we understand, there is an extra Messages app in your Notifications settings in macOS. When you have these enabled, you do not get notifications on your iPhone while using your Mac and would like to know how to remove it from the Notifications options. We're happy to help!

We first suggest making sure the blue Messages app does not appear anywhere on your Mac. You can do this by using the Spotlight search for "Messages": Search with Spotlight on Mac - Apple Support. Scroll to the bottom of the list that appears, and select "Search in Finder". This will bring up all instances of Messages installed on the computer. If the blue one pops up, drag it to the Trash.

If you still can't find it, restart into safe mode and try again: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.

Don't hesitate to respond back if you still need assistance.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Lindsay_B.

Community Specialist

Aug 3, 2021 11:05 AM in response to son551

Hey there, son551,

Thanks for following up.

Based on the information you've provided, the next recommendation would be to have you speak with Apple Support directly. You can do that here: Get Support.

Have a great rest of your day.

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Answer 3

son551 Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 1, 2021 9:50 PM in response to Lindsay_B.

Hi Lindsay_B,

Many thanks for your reply.

I could not see/find the "blue" Messages app anywhere, so I did the Spotlight search as suggested and found it deep in "System > Volumes > Macintosh HD > Previous System > Applications > Messages.app", however, there is about 13 sub folders called "Previous System" (like in the attached images)

I tried to delete it by dragging it to the Bin but does nothing. Thinking this is permission issue, I did safe boot but now I cannot navigate to the folder neither from Finder or from Terminal. When in Safe mode I cannot see "Previous System" folder at all.

While I am at this, I wish to delete the whole "Previous System" folder as it is taking up space on my disk - I guess this is a new question to be asked...

Thanks.

Cheers

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Old messages app on MBP affecting iMessage notification

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