Unable to send text messages from MacBook

Olfella wrote:

This thread is about messages not working on a macbook.

Test messaging from a MacBook requires the correct settings on an iPhone. You can do all the troubleshooting you want on the Mac but if you don't have the correct setting enabled on the iPhone, the Mac will not send SMS messages.

Feel free to enjoy the last word in this discussion.

Best of luck.

in current iPhone software,

Show Contact Photos

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Text message forwarding...

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Send read receipts

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AlWier--

I think that is a good procedure for when your message system is irretrievably locked up.

Locating and tossing out preference files is a cure for when preference files are corrupted. it should not be needed under ordinary circumstances, or when things are just slow to be recognized.

For ordinary situations, the first line of defense is to get your Mac properly connected to the iCloud Message system, making sure your iCloud messaging credentials are good, possibly including Restarting your Mac, and then move on to getting your iPhone added into the loop.

[as I read it] what is being proposed is to set aside phone issues for now and focus on getting your Mac set up to request standard Apple messages through your iCloud Account on your Mac FIRST.

When that is working, you can think about forwarding through the iPhone (which could include SMS messages as well) as a flourish, after the basic functions are working.

The overall solution to the problem of a Mac and an iPhone not communicating in the required fashion to pump SMS message out through your iPhone has a VERY old fashioned solution:

Keep Fiddling with it, as your time and temperament allows. If frustrated, walk away for a while.

1) Make sure all the Mac settings are up to date, Restart the Mac and try it.

2) Make sure all the phone settings are up to date, Restart the iPhone and try it.

3) Go To step 1

...stop when it has decided to work.

Hello. Can you tell me how to resolve the issue? I have the same problem. iMessages work both ways but SMS messages can't be sent from MacBook. I can receive though. Messages are forwarding from iPhone to MacBook properly.

I'm having this same issue and was not successful following the suggested solution on this thread. I'm wondering if I didn't turn the messages off on my Macbook Pro 14" correctly, could you explain how to do that?

This disconnect from imessage and restart didn't work for me.

To reiterate, I am receiving messages sms to my mac just fine. but my sent sms messages from my iphone do not show up on my mac and I cannot send sms messages from my mac.

I am having this issue, and it's been about 3 months. It's with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a 2024 MacBook Pro. Age of device doesn't seem to impact this bug, and it doesn't seem like something Apple is interested in looking into so most people just go without.

I am having exactly this problem. Every help advice I can find says to go to Settings/Messages/Text Message Forwarding in your iPhone - however, I DO NOT HAVE THIS OPTION in my iPhone - are you sure that something didn't change with system 17.5.1. I repeat - this option DOES NOT DISPLAY on my iPhone. I see that you didn't believe the earlier customer that they do not have that option, so I am attaching three screenshots of everything under Settings/Messages. Please advise this is a huge problem for me - I can't answer SMS texts on my work laptop at all!!! Synching works with iMessage both ways and with SMS of course only one way because I can't SMS text.

Most of the responders replying here, including you look at the phone for a solution. What my reply is about the MacBook settings and as stating the issue is with the phone is misleading and as such it deflects the solution from the problem in the MacBook. So what I am saying is leave the phone settings as they are - because if your phone is sending and receiving messages it makes sense that its settings are OK. Regards

I'm glad to hear you got it working.

Yes I've turned on Text Message Forwarding. I've been receiving SMS messages to MacBook but when I try to send it always show 'Not Delivered'.