Messages opens when I receive a new iMessage/text

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Messages opens when I receive a new iMessage/text

Hi there,

I use an iMac at work and an MBA at home. I also use an iPhone and an iPad. Don't ask.

I quite like the integration of all the message across these devices. However, I keep encountering the problem that whenever I receive an iMessage or a text, the Messages app automatically opens up (not just a notification but the app starts and shows me the iMessage window with the appropriate conversation). This happens when I am using my computer or when I wake my computer (both of them) from sleep. On the iPhone and iPad, I get the messages too, but once I read them in any device, the notification (the app badge) goes away so that any messages I've received and read on Messages show up on either iPhone or iPad but not as new. At any rate, I'm looking for a solution that lets me use the Messages app to send/receive iMessages ONLY WHEN I HAVE IT OPEN, but not when it's not on. Getting diverted from using a full-screen app because someone has texted me in the middle of my work day is both annoying and breaks my concentration. Any help anyone can provide would be great.

By the way, I've played around with my Messages preferences like crazy, but nothing seems to work.

Thanks,

J

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 11, 2012 3:28 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

MaccaTron

Level 1

5 points

Oct 13, 2012 6:17 AM in response to javierjl

Hi

I am having the same problem where I am using messages on my iMac, Macbook Air and my iPhone 5 and when I wake my iMac from sleep my message app automacticly pops up on the screen showing all my new messages but this only happens on my iMac???

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2012 2:18 PM in response to javierjl

HI,

Messages > Preferences > General Section.

Untick the line about "When I Quit, set my Status to Off line"

This stops all Accounts getting Off Line IMs and starting the app up.

10:18 PM Sunday; October 14, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 3

javierjl Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2012 3:48 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks so much, Ralph! I followed your instructions, and it worked. In my case, the check boxes were actually already unticked (no check mark), so I ticked them (so that I was offline) and it works. I noticed that the messages badge icon lit up when I received an iMessage. I was about to head over to notifications so that there would be no badge, but I replied to the text with my iPhone before I did so and the badge went away. Woo-hoo! Now I can work without distractions....oh, wait. Fail.

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2012 1:54 PM in response to javierjl

For the points

Glad to have helped.

9:54 PM Tuesday; October 16, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Reply

Answer 5

Oct 23, 2012 5:27 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

hey Ralph, followed your advice but its STILL reopening on my MacBook. Driving me nuts! 😕

I'm working on my iMac and sending/receiving iChat messages ("When I Quit..." is deselected). All old messages have been removed.

but every time one arrives my MacBook ("When I Quit..." is also deselected) suddenly displays the

Notification alert bubble top right and then auto launches Messages and pops the message window ...with tons of regurgitated old messages too but thats another conversation)

any other things I can check?

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Answer 6

Oct 23, 2012 12:44 PM in response to havinabubble

HI,

By Default Messages will populate the Chat window with the most recent Chat (or chats) when a new chat or part of the conversation is started.

The iMessages ones in particular are in fact not deleted (or at least saved differently) and can appear to be more persistent than AIM or Jabber IMs

If the "When I Quit, Set the Status to Off Line" is checked/ticked then the app should not start up for Off Line IMS from AIM or Jabber nor for incoming iMessages.

You would have to check that the.plist that stores this is info is being updated.

The info is in com.apple.imagent.plist.

In the Finder use the Go Menu > Go to Folder

Paste this in to the Dialogue box ~/Library/Preferences

Now go to the View Menu > View Options and turn on the Modified column

Highlight the modified Column (in any view that shows Columns)

When you change the Setting does the com.apple.imagent come to the top ?

8:44 PM Tuesday; October 23, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Reply

Answer 7

Squeej23

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2012 6:22 AM in response to javierjl

Hi Ralph,

I had this same problem, and though your solution did not work for me, it pointed me (and it sounds like javierjl as well) in the right direction.

I actually had to CHECK the "When I Quit..." option instead of uncheck it. That did the trick for me 🙂

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Answer 8

Nov 2, 2012 8:59 AM in response to Squeej23

Hi,

Thanks for letting us know.

3:59 PM Friday; November 2, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 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
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Reply