iMessage is Offline

Hi,

Messages is built from the iChat App.

Some of the Menu items, including the Status option, only refer to Buddy List accounts (AIM, Jabber which includes Google, Yahoo and Bonjour - all the ones in iChat before the change to Messages)

The Bonjour Account uses the Computer name (see System Preferences > Sharing) and the name in the My Card (See Contacts App > Card Menu > Show My Card) as the way of finding other Macs on your LAN that are also using iChat or Messages with the Bonjour account active - the My Card supplies the Name the other see you as in their Buddy List)

At one time Bonjour was called Rendezvous but you would have to go back 15 years to iChat version 1 for that.

Bonjour has nothing to do with iMessages and certainly not the Syncing.

iCloud also has nothing to do with iMessages. That is to say there is nothing in System Preferences > iCloud that refers to iMessages and it does not matter if the iCloud part is logged in or not.

You might use and Apple ID that is also an iCloud ID but it is the iMessages servers that check your password is the one to go with the ID.

NOTE it is best that the FaceTime App and iMessages use the same ID so that you can swap between text chatting and Video or Audio Chatting.

However the iCloud ID and iTunes and the one for Messages/FaceTime can all be different.

Check these details.

On the iPhone > Settings > Messages check the Send And Receive section.

This should list the iPhone Number as a greyed out but Ticked option (i.e you can't access it but it should be ENABLED).

In addition the Apple ID used on the Mac should be listed.

I have had the situation where the iPhone number has somehow been disabled and I have not been able to change it.

The iPhone only "sees" sync version of iMessages to the Apple ID.

If this is the case remove the Apple ID.

Set the iPhone to Airplane mode for a few minutes (to break with the servers)

Go back to the Messages settings and check the iPhone Number verifies (you might find you have to turn Messages On)

When that is done check you can send an iMessage to the Apple ID (Mac) and that a return iMessages (to the iPhone Number Only) can be sent.

When this works Add the Apple ID to the iPhone settings.

8:28 pm Monday; January 19, 2015

Thanks Ralph. This answer took care of it for me, at least part of it. I am now receiving the messages on my Mac again, but the option for changing "Status" in Messages is still greyed out and set to "Offline".

Thanks,

Don

Hi,

This Menu items changes when you have Buddy Lists

Any Buddy List gives you a similar drop down with some other options.

If the Messages > Preferences > Accounts has nothing but the iMessages and the Bonjour one the Bonjour one needs to be Active/Enabled.

I have Buddy Lists/Accounts.

Therefore the first pic has sub items connected to Status which are the same as the Buddy List Drop Down.

The iMessage account has no Status.

It is either logged in or it is not.

Sometimes you only find out you don't have a full login when it tells you every Contact you have is "Not Registered with iMessages"

Status only applies to non iMessages accounts.

All other accounts have Buddy Lists.

Only Buddy Lists accounts can have Status - to put it another way.

Sorry for the delay in answering but I have been tied up with my wife in hospital.

9:50 pm Wednesday; July 8, 2015

Not sure if you had this answered or have fixed it yet, but I had this problem and really just gave up since my messages were still coming through on my iPhone and iPad. Well I finally figured it out and to show your messages back "Online" you go to a message that is saying "offline" and click on the name to bring down a drop down box. From There I think it said activate iMessage. Then it will take you to your iMessage settings and you just enter your password again. That fixed ALL my messages right up! 🙂 I hope this helps!

Make sure your date and time settings are not in the future. Fixed mine

Perfect! Thanks!!!!!

THIS HELPED ME! Tks!

I enabled Bonjour (as you mentioned above) and now magically when right clicking my imessage logo in my dock.....it now shows "My Status" as available! I am hoping to see all my messages syncing now. They did for iphone and ipad....but did not sync to my mac. Now (hopefully) all should be well! Big thanks!

Hi,

I am not sure if you have Understood.

This is a link to my Site on iChat and a picture about the app's own Menu

http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/menus/slides/iCha t4iChatMenu.html

That Status option is there in iChat.

iChat only had Buddy Lists (no iMessages account) so you were only changing the Status fro the Logged in Accounts (that were Buddy Lists)

At Mountain Lion iMessages was forced into iChat as a new account and the name of the app changed to Messages.

Many of the menu items remain Unchanged and refer to functions that iChat had before the iMessages account was added.

Enabling a Buddy List account like Bonjour only changes your ability to set the Status for it.

By Default the Window fro Buddy Lists is not on Show (See the Window Menu)

This has nothing to do with whether the iMessages account is logged in properly or whether it will sync iMessages and SMS forwarded messages if you are doing that.

The only way to check if the iMessages account is logged in and working properly is to Open the App and start an iMessages conversation.

If the Contact turns red as you enter their Name and you get a "Not registered with iMessages" alert then you are not logged in fully.

Another issue is when every item you send returns a "Not Delivered Alert"

Both these can exist normally but if it is happening for everything your try to send or start then the iMessages account is not logged in.

If that is the case it will be best t start a different Thread for that.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

8:30 pm Monday; December 21, 2015

El Capitan 10.11.3 on a Mac Pro trashcan. My team has heavily relied on Messages in our small work group going back to iChat days. Perhaps since updating to El Cap, it has just stopped working. The settings are the same on all boxes. It doesn't display the names consistently, nor is it consistent – wait for it – sending messages. Frustrating.

Is there an alternative?

Hi,

If you have been using iChat before then you know you could use AIM Screen Names or the Bonjour Account as well as the iMessages account.

If the names are not consistent then the issue is more likely with the Contacts App or Address Book you are using.

7:46 pm Monday; March 28, 2016

for the Points

9:42 pm Friday; July 29, 2016

i also had this problem just sign out of your apple id and re sign in

yes

yes