iMessage Sync Issues Post Sonoma 14.0 Update

I'm reaching out to address a technical issue I've encountered since updating to Sonoma 14.0, specifically related to iMessage functionality on the desktop.

iMessage Issue Description:

Post the Sonoma 14.0 update, I've observed a consistent problem with iMessage on my desktop. While messages are received on my iPhone or iPad, they are not syncing or appearing on my Mac. This has led to missed communications and a disjointed messaging experience.

Steps Taken:

Ensured that all devices are logged into the same Apple ID.
Checked iMessage settings on all devices to ensure they are correctly configured.
Restarted all devices multiple times.
Verified that the issue persists even when all devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Tried accessing via multiple browsers.
Cleared browser cache and tried private/incognito browsing modes.
Reset my router to ensure it wasn't a connectivity issue.
Used a VPN to see if the issue was location-specific.
Logged out and restarted iMessage, then logged back in.
Tried connecting to different Wi-Fi networks to rule out any specific network-related issues.

Engagement with Senior Advisors:

I've spent numerous hours liaising with Apple's senior advisors, hoping for a resolution. Despite the extensive troubleshooting and following all their recommended steps, the final suggestion was to run my device in safe mode and send in logs for further analysis. Regrettably, after providing the requested logs, I've yet to receive any feedback or resolution from Apple. This lack of follow-up, especially after investing so much time and effort, has been particularly disheartening.

Community Observations:

Upon researching, I've found that this isn't an isolated incident. Many users on Apple forums and community discussions have reported similar challenges with iMessage syncing post the Sonoma 14.0 update.

Beta Testers' Feedback:

What's more concerning is that some beta testers had highlighted these iMessage syncing issues during the testing phase of the Sonoma 14.0 update. This suggests a potential oversight in addressing known concerns before the public release.

I'm keen to understand if there are any known solutions or workarounds for this issue. Additionally, if there are any diagnostic steps or logs that I can provide to assist in resolving this, please let me know.

Thank you for your assistance and looking forward to a resolution.

Best regards,

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.0

Posted on Oct 5, 2023 9:20 AM

Top-ranking reply

NobbyDog

Level 1

16 points

Posted on Apr 8, 2024 7:12 AM

*A Solution At Last!*

After a few weeks of nothing changing, even with the latest update to Sonoma, I was at my wits end. Even worse was that the synching issue had now hit my iCloud Drive and I was unable to access any of my files or anything within numbers and pages. Preview wouldn't work and then one by one my other programs such as Mail started to falter too. My iMac had become unusable. So I called Apple Support and spent from Friday to Sunday trying to get a solution. I even erased my HD and re installed Sonoma and a back up from my Time Machine and this still didn't solve the problem. However..........

I was finally put through to a senior Apple advisor. We created a new User Account on the iMac and transferred over all my important files and then added my Apple ID iCloud account and everything started to reappear and work correctly. iMessages appeared in Sync with my iOS devices and I could access iCloud Drive! There appeared to have been some kind of corruption within my original user account and it was only getting worse. Creating a new user account has completely changed everything back to a new working efficient iMac, in Sync with my iPad and iPhone. Just also to confirm that all those entries that have said just open up iCloud settings and hit the sync button etc etc that didn't work or show up for me, now do so and I can hit the SYNC button and it Sync almost straight away. SO..........

I would suggest you create a new USER profile and open yourself up in that and add your Apple ID / iCloud account to it, as you would your original user profile and test it and see that everything loads up and starts synching. If it does then copy across your important files and folders in Finder from your old user profile to the new one. Once you have completed all this just check again all is working fine. I was then advised to not delete the old user profile for a couple of weeks until I was happy I had everything I needed from the old profile before deleting it and getting rid of what ever was causing the corruption. We still didn't get to the bottom of what has caused all this in the first case but I now have a working, efficient and fast iMac, back fit for purpose. I hope this helps all those who like me, were starting to doubt my own sanity! Good luck !!

(PS you can't add a new user profile account with the same name as your original one, so you have to make sure it is different even if it is one letter or number different).

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131 replies

untkay

Level 1

16 points

Oct 23, 2023 8:53 AM in response to erikbock

erikbock

did you press the 'show more apps' and/or the 'Apps syncing to iCloud Drive' buttons to expose the app buttons?

untkay

Level 1

16 points

Oct 27, 2023 7:46 PM in response to Marios K

New update today says : updates to Message syncing across devices, fingers crossed here

untkay

Level 1

16 points

Nov 15, 2023 8:39 AM in response to emgee

there is a Sync Now button though emgee

ibp726

Level 1

4 points

Dec 5, 2023 4:36 PM in response to phfeenikz

I checked, and my MacBook Air was NOT enabled. I've enabled it now and will upgrade back to Sonoma to confirm if that fixed my issue.

Oct 7, 2023 1:56 PM in response to AppleAndAdvil

Having the exact same issue. All was fine for about 24 hours, but now my MB Pro M1 16 running Sonoma 14.0 is not syncing. My iPhone 15, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch are all in sync... I've honestly had more "buggy" issues here lately with apple products, seems they might be rushing things to market.

Oct 9, 2023 4:55 PM in response to AppleAndAdvil

Happy to have found this thread. I just updated my M2 14" MacBook Pro to Sonoma and am now having this iMessage sync issue. "Syncing with iCloud" displays at the bottom of the Message window on the desktop but nothing happens. I can send and receive texts, but cannot send a photo. Hopefully, this will be fixed. iMessage has always been a train wreck from the beginning.

I'll be watching this space.

Oct 13, 2023 4:49 PM in response to AppleAndAdvil

I am having the same problem with Sonoma 14.0. My Mac Studio (M1 Ultra) and 5k 2019 iMac (also Sonoma 14.0) and syncing only sporadically with iMessage. Most messages do sync, but a bunch do NOT. Very random. Also iMessage on the mac constantly shows "syncing with iCloud" at the bottom. I've tried everything, from signing out of iCloud and restarting all devices. iPhone 14 pro max and 2020 iPad pro are syncing fine! Can we get another update. I have read about SOOOOO MANY people having this exact issue. Thank you!!!

Oct 14, 2023 3:41 PM in response to AppleAndAdvil

I'm having a slightly different yet related issue with Messages on my 2018 MacBook Pro. First, the "syncing with iCloud" message won't go away. Second, if I send an image it looks like it was sent, but the receiver never gets it. Super frustrating, but at least now I know I'm not alone.

untkay

Level 1

16 points

Oct 15, 2023 1:51 PM in response to untkay

Ok somehow after two days all my iPhone messages synced up. I cant say which process made this happen cuz I have been doing everything suggested and written. But last night I was out and my messages were only what occurred since I activated the iPhone 15. And those messages did not reflect conversations from the past, only new ones. I got home and happened to look three hours later and voila ! All my messages ,from iCloud I am guessing , were there!

I will reply if any other weird behavior occurs.

Oct 15, 2023 9:39 PM in response to AppleAndAdvil

I have the same issue with my Mac, text ok but not able to send photos consistently, sometimes yes sometimes no. sometimes i add the photo to a message from my desktop and it works. can't send photos via iMessage from photo library. ok on phone and iPad, only an issue on the desktop mac

Oct 16, 2023 9:51 AM in response to robinfromprince george

Those were the issues I was having when I updated my M2 14" MacBook Pro to Sonoma 14.0. iMessage on my iPhone 1st Gen SE iOS 15.7.9 (yes, I know, it's old!) had "syncing with iCloud" continually displayed at the bottom of the messages list window. All seems perfectly fine now. I don't know if I actually did anything to resolve it. Typical iMessage flakiness. It's always been unreliable but is fine when it works as promised.

Hopefully whatever it is will be resolved in the upcoming 14.1 release.

Michael

Oct 25, 2023 7:41 PM in response to Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones has just provided a succinct and exact description of what I had to jump through with iMessage syncing when I recently upgraded my M2 14" MacBook Pro to Sonoma. It was particularly mystifying when I got the message that I didn't have a SIM installed in my iPhone! I'm still using a First Gen SE running iOS 15.7.9 so of course I have a SIM installed. After jumping through these hoops, all seems to be more or less normal, that is, if the word normal can be used when discussing iMessage. However, now when messages arrive on my MacBook Pro, the messages remain marked as "unread" (the red badge on the dock displays the number of unread messages), even though they have indeed been read on my laptop. Only when I read them on my iPhone does the badge disappear. I have my phone number selected in "Start new conversations from" on all my devices although I don't really know what the ramifications are of this. I'm currently on a ship far from any cellular service, just the ship's WiFi network. I need to understand what switching that option from my phone number to my email address would do. Would that throw everything haywire? iMessage has always been a big black box whose operation is completely baffling.

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments,

Michael

Marios K

Level 1

17 points

Oct 27, 2023 11:21 AM in response to suzycupcake

Because mine still keeps showing "Syncing with iCloud" at the bottom of the messages box on my Mac when it's plugged in (only I think), could you please say to me how you fixed it?

macOS 14.0

iOS 17.0.3

Nov 8, 2023 11:06 AM in response to suzycupcake

susycubcake, This would not help in my case since on my MacMini I get signed out of iMessage each time I shut down. If I cannot log into iMessage successfully then I can’t see settings to "sync across iCloud”. Probably works on an iPhone or maybe an iPad. Thx, Jim

shanaber

Level 1

20 points

Nov 11, 2023 4:24 PM in response to GloucesterWitch

I have the issue of pictures sent in message from my Mac showing sent and delivered but the recipient does not receive the images. I have not found anything to correct it including most of the recommendations and things folks have tried here. I just have to remember to only send pictures from my phone which is really frustrating.

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iMessage Sync Issues Post Sonoma 14.0 Update