OLD PHONE NUMBERS SHOW WHEN USING 'MESSAGES' ON MAC ONLY.

I had this exact same issue and finally figured it out. The contact you are seeing is orphaned. You must reconnect to it and then delete.

1. Open Messages and type in the old name.
2. Select the old name that shows for a new conversation.
3. Click the arrow in the "To:" box at top of window and select, "Add to contacts".
4. Delete the conversation.
5. Open your Contacts.app and search on the old name or number.
6. Delete the empty contact.

Hey again!

Thanks for the extra info.

So if you open up your Contacts app, select All Contacts and search “Nathan” for instance, do both of them show up? And if you do the same on your phone, do they also?

I may compare what accounts you have enabled on all your devices:

On Mac in Contacts you should see the different accounts enabled on the side bar, and can click on each to see how many or what contacts, same on iPhone and iPad if you open the Contacts app and click either Lists or Groups on the top left.

You can also see in System Settings > Internet Accounts, and in Settings > Contacts > Accounts.

If you check these locations on each device, is the Mac set up differently? Or does the Mac have more contacts than your other devices? (On Mac you can scroll to the bottom of contacts to see the amount of contacts, and on iPhone/iPad you can do the same, OR click on Lists or Groups and it should show the amount for each account). Thanks! Glad to help out if I can!

Also as leroydouglas had mention Mail previous recipients is another place to check for these contacts/numbers…..Siri and Search suggestions may also have to do with the hat shows up on each device, so that’s another thing to look at, but I’d first check your contacts and compare across devices.

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Hey again! Good to know!

I would probably check the Siri and Search settings, uncheck any apps that may be finding contacts info, such as Mail or Messages, then test:

How Siri Suggestions work on Mac - Apple Support

Otherwise if this info isn’t found in any apps like mail, messages, contacts, or by Siri database, the Messages database might need to be cleared, however you can fully reset the Siri database by just disabling Siri search for those apps on your Mac and enabling again. Tough to say I can think of several ways this info would appear, but hope something here helps!

Hey again no worries! Not sure what happened to my reply above but here it goes:

I would probably check the Siri and Search settings, uncheck any apps that may be finding contacts info, such as Mail or Messages, then test:

How Siri Suggestions work on Mac - Apple Support

Apple > System Settings > Siri and Spotlight > Siri Suggestions & Privacy.

Otherwise if this info isn’t found in any apps like mail, messages, contacts, or by Siri database, the Messages database might need to be cleared, however you can fully reset the Siri database by just disabling Siri search and suggestions for all those apps on your Mac and enabling again. Tough to say I can think of several ways this info would appear, but hope something here helps!

neridah.com wrote:

OLD PHONE NUMBERS SHOW WHEN USING 'MESSAGES' ON MAC ONLY. CACHE NEEDS CLEARING, BUT WHERE AND HOW?

It seems your Caps lock is stuck on... try toggling the caps lock.

Netiquette – Take Off The Caps Lock

Look in your Contacts.app for old numbers and delete them.

Contacts User Guide for Mac

neridah.com wrote:

I did Caps for easy definition of seeing my thread. My eyes are not good either. Am trying my best, as it is my first ever post.

I looked at settings within Contacts.app but I had deleted the old number ages ago. Confused as to why it would come up when starting a conversation on Messages on Mac. It certainly doesn’t do it on iPhone or iPad.

Another place to look is in Mail>Window>Show Previous Recipients. You can delete any old contact there and compare your results in Messages.... maybe a reboot is necessary(?)

in most any application for ease of reading, the keyboard short cut(s):

Command + larger

Command - smaller

Command 0 default size

To universally make the resolution larger for ease of use.

>System Settings>Display> Increase the display resolution

Try it you may like it...

and welcome to the support communities neridah.com !

if no insight or resolve —

Call Customer Support  (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line  https://getsupport.apple.com/

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support 

Hey there!

can you expand on what old numbers show up and where?

Do the old numbers show up in Messages > Settings? Or do they show up in your conversations? Thanks.

Thank you meterreader22

Your orphaned contact solution totally worked for me.