Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How can I reset messages.app?

I'm going to be completely honest here, a while ago I spammed a friend to the point where I froze my own messages app on my mac and now when I try to re-open it the spinning colorful pinwheel just pops up and never stops. Yes I learned a lesson but I'd like to obviously use the app again so I was wondering how I can reset the app. Thanks for everyones support! 😊



User uploaded file

MacBook, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Sep 15, 2012 10:18 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 15, 2012 1:45 PM

Hi,


How many windows do you think Messages is trying to open ?


At any one time I tend to have 10 Buddy Lists, the actual Messages window, possibly the Preferences and the File Transfer window open.

In addition to that I might have an old Chat open.


On rare occasions I have also opened all the saved chats with one Buddy since 2004 (iChat 2 through the intervening iChats to Messages) and can amount to several hundred windows.


I could also do with knowing what you mean by "Spammed a Friend".


Also what happens when you press that "Don't Open button ?



User uploaded file
9:45 PM Saturday; September 15, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

14 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 15, 2012 1:45 PM in response to AdamS.96

Hi,


How many windows do you think Messages is trying to open ?


At any one time I tend to have 10 Buddy Lists, the actual Messages window, possibly the Preferences and the File Transfer window open.

In addition to that I might have an old Chat open.


On rare occasions I have also opened all the saved chats with one Buddy since 2004 (iChat 2 through the intervening iChats to Messages) and can amount to several hundred windows.


I could also do with knowing what you mean by "Spammed a Friend".


Also what happens when you press that "Don't Open button ?



User uploaded file
9:45 PM Saturday; September 15, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 16, 2012 11:38 AM in response to AdamS.96

HI,


I have never come across a situation like this.


If you try to send a Super IM over the AIM service it normally will take a few minutes (literally) to come back with a response that it has messed up


I have not tried it with a Jabber service.


There are ways of deleting one or some of the .plists involved that can cause a reset of sorts but these are normally used for other things.


I have never had a Message "Stuck" in such a way that the App Hangs so that a .plist might have details of the IM it is sending.


With Messages shut down open the Console app (In Applications/Utilities)

In the System Diagnostic Reports do you have anything for Messages

It may look like this

Date/Time: 2012-08-09 22:56:48 +0100
OS Version: 10.8 (Build 12A269)
Architecture: x86_64

Report Version: 11


Command: Messages
Path: /Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages
Version: 7.0 (3103)

Build Version: 2

Project Name: iChat

Source Version: 3158000000000000

Parent: launchd [139]


PID: 8786
Event: hang
Duration: 3.14s
Steps: 32 (100ms sampling interval)


Hardware model: iMac12,1

Active cpus: 4
Free pages: 34044 pages (-990)
Pageins: 11 pages
Pageouts: 0 pages



Process: Messages [8786]
Path: /Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages
Architecture: x86_64
Parent: launchd [139]
UID: 503
Task size: 63716 pages
CPU Time: 1.925s


This Hang was for only 3 and a bit secs (yours will probably list a longer period).


Now go to the All Messages section of Console and try starting Messages.

Do you get additional info (there may be a reveal triangle to open) ?


Things to try. (one at a time)

Use the Finder > Go Menu > Hold ALT key > Select Library method to open the Home Folder/Library (That is normally invisible)

Open Preferences.

In here find the following .plists

com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist

com.apple.ichat.Jabber.plist

com.apple.imagent.plist


If it was an AIM Message try deleting (Drag to Trash) the AIM one.

If Jabber (GoogleTalk or Facebook or other) they try the Jabber one.


After the deletion restart Messages.


If deleting the service .plist did not work try deleting com.apple.imagent.plist


If it happens to be an iMessages IM then delete both of these

com.apple.imessage.bag.plist

com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist

You will need to restart Messages again. The second of these is likely to need you to re-enter your Apple ID.


To be clear.

Qith Messages shut down then Delete one .plist (AIM or Jabber)

Restart Messages.

If it does not work shut down (force Quit) Mesages

Remove the imagent .plist

Restart Messages.


If a iMessages conversation then delete both .plists and restart Messages (you may need to re-enter your Apple ID)



User uploaded file
7:38 PM Sunday; September 16, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 16, 2012 1:00 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Alright thank you so much for your support so far, I did everything you said and it was all working fine for a second but once I signed in and then typed a message to a friend and clicked send the whole thing just froze again and I got the spinning pinwheel. I force quit and then tried what you said again and no results. 😟


What if I go to iMessage.app > Show package contents , is there anything in there to delete or something?

Sep 16, 2012 1:07 PM in response to AdamS.96

HI,


1) There is nor iMessage app !!!

The App is called Messages and iMessage is just one of it's functions.


2) Deleting anything in the app package would catastrophic. (more there where you are now)


I am still guessing whether you are sending over AIM or Jabber or it is an iMessages conversation.


By "Everything" I am not sure if you deleted all five .Plists after finding out the first did not work or if you targeted where you think the issue is.


If you did work through all five one at a time then find the com.apple.ichat.plist itself and delete that.


Did the Messages you were trying to send include Pics or Files ?



User uploaded file
9:07 PM Sunday; September 16, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 16, 2012 1:42 PM in response to AdamS.96

Hi,


The .lockfiles are "new" from Lion onwards.

In "resetting" an app they play no part.


So you did not do the com.apple.imservice.iMessages.plist AND the com.apple.imessage.bag.plist together ?


Have you tried Restarting the Computer ?

The IMAgent items always starts up when the computer does.

Deleting it's plist will require a restart of the Computer.


If you can get back to a point where Messages will start do not iMessages anyone but open the Preferences

Go to the Accounts

Select the iMessages one and then the Account Details Button

In the new pane select the Sign Out Button.


You will not be able to send iMessages at the moment.

Shut down Messages.
Turn Messages off in your iPhone and iPad or Touch if you are using them with this Apple ID


Restart Messages and in the Preferences > Accounts re-add your Apple ID.

Turn the App on in your iOS devices.
Try iMessaging your own Apple ID (i.e iphone)


The iMessages sync to the iOS devices as well as sending to the Contact.

I am hoping that we can break that cycle as well.







User uploaded file
9:42 PM Sunday; September 16, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 16, 2012 2:27 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Okay so I got everything running fine after restarting my mac, messaged myself and it went through fine. I tried messaging the contact that I tried to spam and that is when it freezes and I have to delete


com.apple.imservice.iMessages.plist AND com.apple.imessage.bag.plist

and restart my computer. So I noticed when I messaged my iPhone all my other previous messages with my iPhone were there too so I believe when I try to message my friend that I spammed, messages is trying to restore my conversation with him (which is the spammed - long message) so now is there any way I can clear all past converstations (clear my cache if that is what it is called) ?

Sep 16, 2012 2:32 PM in response to AdamS.96

Hi,


Yep.


That was what I was hoping for.


Use the Finder as the "Front" app

Open the Go Menu

Hold the ALT key down and select the Library that appears

Open Messages

Delete the chat.db item


This will lose all history of iMessages on the Mac.





User uploaded file
10:32 PM Sunday; September 16, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 17, 2012 11:39 AM in response to AdamS.96

HI,


It will take at least one cycle of shutting the app so that it creates a new chat.db file and "lets go" of the one in the Trash.


Thanks for the Points





User uploaded file
7:39 PM Monday; September 17, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

May 9, 2014 11:47 AM in response to NCcrew

Hi,


So you too have sent very large iMessages over the iMessages service and the version of Messages on the Mac is now showing you a Spinning Beach Ball ?


Were there more then one iMessage ?

Did they sync to your iPhone ?


Can you detail in a precise way what you have actually tried please ?


As this conversation is taking place in iChat can you give details on the Mac OS X version you are using and the Version of Messages ?


The Original Post was also in 2012 and may have been about Messages beta (still available at that time for Lion) but is most likely about Messages 7.



User uploaded file

7:47 pm Friday; May 9, 2014


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

How can I reset messages.app?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.