Issues with iMessage after latest update

MacOS Tahoe 26.5.1 does not fix the Messages glitch. According to the official Apple release notes, this specific point update is a single-issue hotfix purely dedicated to the enterprise M5 shutdown bug. It contains no general bug fixes or application patches. The glitches introduced in the broader macOS 26.5 rollout—such as the looping Apple ID logouts or the Android RCS/SMS message-sending failures—remain unaddressed in this patch.

The reason standard troubleshooting steps are failing is because this is a known, unresolved cloud-routing bug introduced by Apple in the macOS 26.5 and iOS 26.5 update cycle.

As discussed on the Reddit r/applehelp, the 26.5 update introduced end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging. This update severely broke the "Text Message Forwarding" pipeline between iPhones and peripheral Apple devices (Macs and iPads). Because the bug lives entirely in how Apple's cloud handoff handles the new encrypted RCS handshake, no amount of device resetting or file clearing will fix it on your end. Until Apple deploys a proper macOS Tahoe update to address it, you will need to rely on alternative methods.

After posting this and still being unable to send messages I read another post on here that resolved the issue. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the ones that work. I read someone else deleted the conversation with the android user they were unable to send messages back to and went one step further and went to recently deleted, found that same user and messages and trashed it. Voila! Works now on both my iPad and I watch! Give it a try…..all the time spent on the phone with Apple, my carrier and looking at some of the solutions posted here that were so technologically complicated, it came down to one very simple answer. Thx to the person who wrote that post.

I had the same issue. SMS messages would NOT forward from my Mac Mini or my MacBook Air. It would just time out after maybe a couple minutes. I spent days troubleshooting, going through various step by steps with Apple Support. They finally told me it was a bug in Tahoe and that there was nothing to be done but wait for a fix. Well, I read here in an earlier post that all you have to do is DELETE the old SMS messages. On your phone, go all the way back to the main screen in Messages app, then choose the filter icon at the top right (the three lines thing) and show “recently deleted.” I moved all of those to the trash and now both Macs forward SMS fine.

i think this issue is very much a problem, i researched this issue as it has affected me as well. iWatch 11 used to work at 26.4 , but when updated at 26.5 watch OS, has caused me to NOT be able to Text my most important android contact, but some other android contact it works.

also have spent 5-8 hours with 8 different "apple support" people and 3 high level specialist.

all nothing can fix this as the Watch OS does not send at 26.5 , so i returned the iWatch and bought another, and it worked great out of the box at 26.4. then i didn't know what the problem was with my first watch, then it updated to 26.5 and now it is not able to text my most important android user again.

i was going to return this iWatch number 2, and now reading all the problems in here with iPad, mac book pro, etc @26.5 i believe Apple has a serious issue and Screwed up with 26.5 not a good tested ROLL out.

they really need to do proper software engineering.

• create new
• test new internally accost all variations (android users)
• test new externally 100 closed population
• approved protocol confirmed and then public roll out.

i have apps on the iOS store and they make us do all of this but for them to screw up at this level is unbelieveable !

Thank you for reaching out. 😉

If you have any antivirus software installed, then remove it A.S.A.P. as they interfere with the system operations and performance.

If you don’t have anything like that installed, then try the following:

First, let’s see if this issue happens in Safe Mode:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button on your Mac. As you continue to hold the power button, your Mac turns on and loads startup options. When you see Options, release the power button.
3. Select your startup disk. It's named Macintosh HD, unless you changed its name.
4. Press and hold the Shift key, then click the “Continue in Safe Mode” button below your startup disk.
5. Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

If the strange behaviors do not occur, then it may possibly be a software issue.

If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode:

Leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally, then try to reproduce the issue.

If the issue doesn't return, it might have been resolved by the other things that safe mode did at startup, such as checking your disk and clearing caches.

If the problem persists, then let’s try this:

• Software Update.
• Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac.

Need more help?

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.
• Mac Support.
• Mac User Guide.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

Same exact issue but not on a MacBook Pro but on an IPad Air M4. Was on the phone with Apple support before finally being told there was a glitch that they were aware of and are working on with no answer to when it would be resolved. Very frustrated!

I have four devices. On my macbookpro and phone it works fine after the upgrade. On my ipad and iMac it does not. I tried EVERYTHING, including the reset from the provider. I have spent maybe ten fearful hours on this (fearful because I worry that it the fixes I may harm something else.) I repeated most protocols three times. I even tried the test account and using that to test sending text messages. To no avail.

I have resorted to iphone mirroring, but it seems like such a cop out. I hope the next upgrade fixes the issues because workarounds are lame.

I did the final try-this by reinstalling tahoe 25. It didn't work. I still could not message non iMessages users from my iMac. So after that I did the signout of Facetime and Messages on both the iMac and Phone, restart and then sign in protocols. Still doesn't work. But at least I got back my message history on the iMac. I already retried the provider handshake, didn't work. I also tried the authentication codes, didn't work. I hesitate to do any upgrades of software now because it was the last tahoe upgrade that messed it up.

I deleted the conversations. This did not fix the issue.

[Edited by Moderator]

I can confirm that I am seeing the exact same issue using Messages in Tahoe 26.5.1 on an M1 Macbook Air when attempting to forward SMS through an iPhone 12. The Macbook Air can communicate via Messages only when sending iMessages. SMS to an Android device does not work at all. Using MacOS for SMS text allows the use of a large external monitor, and thus this breaks a key functionality within MacOS that particularly impacts people who are vision impaired.

You’ll need to provide ⇢ Product Feedback.

That would be the best method to ensure that your concern is addressed in a future update.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

Still having the issue with the update of 26.5.1. I use it for business, and it's a real slow down. Very annoying.

I tried that. didn't work for my iphone 15 and my imac.

Same issue here.

Users should not have to delete threads/messages/history to fix this.