Why does my Mac chime when my wife's iPhone or iPad get a text?

Hi,

Your Mac chimes when your wife's iPhone or iPad gets a text message because all of your devices are likely logged into the same Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) for the Messages app. Apple's Continuity feature syncs text messages across any devices that share the same account.

You can easily resolve this by adjusting your settings or setting up separate accounts.

Option 1: Stop your Mac from receiving her messages

If your wife is using your Apple Account on her iPhone, she is receiving all of your synced iMessages as well. The most recommended approach is to set up a dedicated Apple Account for her:

1. Create a New Apple Account for your wife.
2. Set up Family Sharing so she doesn't lose access to any previously purchased apps, subscriptions, or iCloud storage.
3. On her iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive, sign out of your account, and sign in with her new one.

Option 2: Keep the shared account, but turn off message syncing

If you must keep the same account on all devices, you can disable the message-forwarding feature on her iPhone so that her texts do not route to your Mac:

1. On your wife's iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
2. Tap Text Message Forwarding.
3. Find your Mac in the list and toggle the switch to OFF

Review Change iMessage settings in Messages on Mac - Apple Support. For example, "You can be reached for messages at..." may include your wife's email address or phone number, which would explain the mystery.

I understand you are perplexed. Somehow, your Apple Accounts became intermingled. Otherwise anyone's Mac could chime when receiving anyone's text, and that obviously doesn't occur. If you exhaust all possible causes and can find no explanation, contact Apple because additional help may require knowing your Apple Account information — which you don't want to do on this site or any other.

Use the Support link on these pages.