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Messages - Facebook ID numbers instead of Names

Messages Facebook names are alternating between ID Numbers and Full Names. I think this started happening after Airport Utility Update 6.3.1

but not absolutely sure.

It will cycle several times between the correct full name and the Facebook ID number from the Facebook Email address (eg. ****@chat.facebook.com) while the contact is signed in. Once the contact signs out the greyed out name will stay as it was when the contact signed out... ie as the correct name or the number...

Also the contact's picture disappears when the number is shown and reappears when the full name appears.

Anyone else seen this problem?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 24, 2013 1:39 PM

Top-ranking reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,649 points

Posted on Jul 24, 2013 2:58 PM

Please try each of the following steps.

Step 1

From the Messages menu bar, select

View ▹ Buddy Names ▹ Show Full Names (or Show Short Names)

Step 2

From the menu bar, select

 ▹ System Preferences... ▹ Language & Text ▹ Region

From the Region menu in the preference pane, select one of the preset regions. If one is already selected, choose a different one, then change it back. Close the preference pane and test.

If you still have the problem after taking those steps, post your results.

View in context

130 replies

Sep 1, 2013 7:55 PM in response to Roy Caratozzolo

My Facebook names seem to be staying on for very long periods of time when all three areas where facebook account info is stored use the same exact user name. I noticed that I had used my email address in one, and my nickname in an other... Now with Contacts, Messages, and "Mail, Contacts, and Calendars" using my facebook NICKNAME, I seem to not get numbers. I wonder if other people were using different things in those three places or not..

Sep 3, 2013 9:26 AM in response to hauntvictim

I'm wondering the same thing. I haven't done anything to try to address this issue. But I noticed today that my Facebook friends are displaying the correct name and not the ID. Even when people log in and out which used to make it switch instantly. Seems like Facebook and/or Apple has fixed the problem.

krez56

Level 1

9 points

Sep 3, 2013 12:12 PM in response to ernie goldstein

Now that the numbers thing appears to have been fixed, I'm hoping to go back to the extra verification step when logging in with a new browser. But I'm still receiving an email every time my computer wakes from sleep, letting me know that a new browser has been used to log in with Facebook Chat. So the glitch with FB Chat, Messages, and log in security appears to be unchanged. Is anyone else able to use text message verification and Messages? Or is anyone else receiveing a warning email every time Messages comes up? If not, would you be willing to share settings so I could see what may be setting this off?

Thank you.

Sep 3, 2013 2:03 PM in response to stevefromorpington

The only way I could this to fix was to "show info" on each one while they were showing names and manually type the name and check the use this photo box on each one--it really didnt take me all that long. It looks like each time it switches names and numbers the numbers are different on each person than the previous time because I deleted some from facebook chat and they keep coming back anyway. My facebook numbers started to invade my buddy list under "buddies" when the were numbers and back under "facebook" as names, now they stay under facebook. Odd I know, but it was happening and very annoying. I think for me at least, this mess is over.

TildeBee

Level 7

31,923 points

Jul 24, 2013 6:19 PM in response to stevefromorpington

Just to clarify, are you all on Mountain Lion?

Do you have any Extensions or Plugins on your Safari?

Jul 24, 2013 6:21 PM in response to TildeBee

Mountain Lion 10.8.4

Safari has no extensions or plugins.

Safari is irrelevant. This is happening in Messages, the OS X application.

Jul 25, 2013 1:05 AM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, Tried the two steps... changed Full Names to Short Names and UK to US Region. Still got the same problem.

Jul 25, 2013 6:53 AM in response to magician13134

I agree it could still be a Facebook problem although I am using Adium on a different Facebook account and that is working fine.

I have added a link to this on the other thread...

Jul 25, 2013 2:09 PM in response to stevefromorpington

One other piece of info. I have set up Adium with the same Facebook account and the names are showing properly in Adium at the same time as the problem is occuring in Messages.

Jul 26, 2013 1:03 AM in response to sngx1275

Good point. So again the poor customer is stuck in the middle not knowing who to complain to.

Come on Apple... help us out here please!

Jul 26, 2013 1:40 PM in response to stevefromorpington

Same problem.

Changing one of the above settings (region or short name) is sometimes effective, but only temporarily.

Very frustrating.

Apple or Facebook?

Refuat

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2013 3:51 PM in response to stevefromorpington

Same Problem. Started a week or so ago.

TildeBee

Level 7

31,923 points

Jul 26, 2013 8:38 PM in response to stevefromorpington

Have any of you contacted FaceBook???

blaichch

Level 1

10 points

Jul 27, 2013 1:34 AM in response to stevefromorpington

The bug is also happening with Kopete or Pidgin on Linux. I filed a bug report on the facebook page.

Jul 27, 2013 4:05 AM in response to TildeBee

For what it's worth, my friend is a software developer at Facebook and he said that he passed this on to someone who would look at it when I told him about it.

Messages - Facebook ID numbers instead of Names