Messages showing phantom unread message count on Macbook (Messages in iCloud enabled) with no actual unread messages

Oh my gosh! This just worked for me and I had tried everything before!! Thank you!! It's been a problem for over a year now!!

Thanks. Tried everything else I could think of without success. But this worked!

I tried. But I have no permissions. I can't add my profile to Sharing and Permissions for this action. Because I have no permissions))) But it helps for few hours to remove iMessage from the bar and pin again. And then it appears again(((

Add the whole drive, all drives if more than one, I think Spotlight needs a complete rebuild.:)

I guess my computer doesn't like me and is over it all, nothing has worked:

Closed and removed from dock, added back--phantom message returns upon first message

Opened terminal, pasted the command and closed/removed from dock--phantom message returns upon first message

Siri doesn't recognize any unread messages

Thank you! This tiny, annoying issue has been solved. I appreciate your post.

Finally a smart person. Thank you George, it worked.

Thanks George, I think that worked!

Bless you. That worked great!

I swear I have been trying to solve this issue on my mac for like 2 years and I SWEAR nothing worked until I tried this. THANK YOU!!!!! The OCD in me can now rest, lol.

Just weighing in to also say "thanks George L!"

I have an unread message in my email but nothing is there and I can’t get rid of it

Make a new Smart Mailbox that only includes Unread Mails, do they show in that Smartbox?

Thank you George Litterst. That worked!! Such an easy solution.

I don’t think I am meant to be apart of this forum. I don’t understand what you are talking about please leave me out