How do I sync my Messages between my Mac, iPhone, and my iPad?
Basically, I cant figure out how to get them all in sync. Conversations that I have on my Mac do not show up on my iPhone and vice versa.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
The setting is here:
Question marked as
This can be a bit tricky to set up, but it is possible.
in Messages (OS X):
1. Launch Messages and open Prefs > Accounts.
2. Make sure you are logged in with the AppleID you are using all your devices.
3. Set caller ID to this email address/AppleID.
iPad:
1. Go to Settings > Messages.
2. Make sure iMessage is set to ON.
3. Tap "receive at" and make sure you are logged in with the same AppleID you are using on your Mac.
4. Tap "caller ID" and make sure that email address/AppleID is selected.
iPhone:
1. Go to Settings > Messages.
2. Make sure iMessage and Send as SMS are both set to ON.
3. Tap "recieve at" and make sure you are logged into the same AppleID as on your Mac and iPad.
4. Tap "caller ID" and make sure that email address/AppleID is selected.
Going forward, when anyone on an IOS device sends you a Message they need to send it to your AppleID/email address, NOT your phone number. In this way all messages will be in sync across all devices.
35 replies
Michael - that's very interesting, as mine is working, albeit with some minor issues, but I don't have that setting.
Are you expecting therm to be in sync going forward or are you thinking that the Mac version should show all messages that show on your iPhone?
Well, I guess both. Neither one of those are happening. My old messages on my phone are not there, and my new messages are not syncing across either platform.
Wow, I feel like an idiot. All this time, my iMessages havent been iMessages at all. I thought since they were coming in the blue bubble they were iMessages. Thank you Michael!
You're welcome.
If the messages are in blue, then yes, they are iMessages. Regular SMS messages are in green.
You've got it right. And it is kind of complicated. It took me a few weeks to actually figure out how it all worked.
Whoops. Double post.
Past message threads do not sync. Only new message threads.
You missed a spot.
Doh! so I did.
That's because you only have one email address configured. So you're good to go. I sometimes forget not everyone will have more than one configured.
Actually, I have 3 email addresses configured, but that's the only one that's imap. Perhaps that has something to do with it?
Or, maybe I need to add them manually.
Michael - thanks for confirming; that's what I thought.
How do I sync my Messages between my Mac, iPhone, and my iPad?