New iPhone with service from Verizon, now texts from my MacBook Air won't go through to Androids

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perljam Author

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New iPhone with service from Verizon, now texts from my MacBook Air won't go through to Androids

Texts directly from my actual iPhone 15 Max Pro work properly - both sending and receiving to both Apple and Android users
Texts from my properly-linked MacBook Air go through to Apple users via iMessinger, but they do NOT go through to individual Android users, or to group texts that include any Android users
That being said, I can receive texts on my MacBook Air via Messenger from both Apple and Android users - the issue is just on the send side and just to Android users
Verizon is my service provider
After much time spent with Apple tech support, we confirmed that all settings on both the iPhone and the MacBook were properly set
Confirmed that this is a Verizon issue with their phone set-up (although many Verizon tech support people are NOT aware of this) - but the fix is a Verizon thing - they need to ensure all blocks are removed from text and photo sending on the new iPhone, and then resynch/reset the phone (which just takes a couple of minutes if you get a tech support person who knows about this issue).

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Nov 7, 2023 2:00 PM

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Answer 1

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perljam Author

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Nov 7, 2023 4:25 PM in response to John Galt

My bad - I typed Messenger instead of Messages. I'm glad you were still able to understand the issue I was addressing despite inaccurate nomenclature, as the points remain the same. My concern has been resolved via an informed Verizon tech rep, but only after I went through 2 others who insisted that the issue was with Apple. I posted this because of numerous other internet posts along these lines that did not elicit a solution. To be clear, this isn't something that end users can fix on their own, or with Apple tech support. It has nothing to do with Settings on either the iPhone or the MacBook. It has to be fixed by Verizon. Nevertheless, most of the tech folks force a review of each component of Settings, decide that's all they can do, and then insist that it is the other company's issue (Apple blames Verizon correctly, but Verizon mostly blames Apple incorrectly). Given that we've now gone through this with two new iPhones, I am hopeful this will help others in similar circumstances.

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Answer 2

John Galt

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157,486 points

Nov 7, 2023 4:06 PM in response to perljam

It's not clear to me whether you resolved your concern or not, but you summarized it correctly.

Here are a few things to keep in mind. Terminology can be confusing and Apple doesn't really help.

Your Mac (and your iPhone) uses the Messages app.
The Messages app on your iPhone can send iMessages (using Apple's proprietary end-to-end encrypted iMessage service) to others also using Apple's iMessage service. iMessages are not limited to text and can include audio, video, pictures, etc. Those messages appear in blue to make it obvious.
The Messages app on your iPhone can also send text messages (SMS / MMS) to any text-message capable device, not just other iPhones. Those messages appear in green. They can also include pictures.
To send those text messages using your Mac, they have to go through your iPhone. Otherwise they are iMessages (blue) and they don't even need a phone.

Having said all that I don't know what Messenger or iMessenger is. Neither one is an Apple product.

What is the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS? explains the difference.

And yes, your cellular carrier has to support it. Getting someone to actually understand what's going on can be a challenge itself.

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New iPhone with service from Verizon, now texts from my MacBook Air won't go through to Androids

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