Messages App Not Showing Conversation List

This is a VERY strange problem. I'm running Mavericks, and for some reason the Messages app doesn't show any windows on startup, and can only display preferences and a single conversation. I tried creating a new user account and it worked fine with the same iCloud account for iMessages. I tried copying the com.apple.ichat.XXX.plist files from that user account back to mine but to no avail. I've also restarted several times. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The weird thing is sending messages works fine, I just can't see all of the conversations (and don't get notifications for new messages). The below screenshot is all I can the app shows (note the lack of the red close button).

Thanks!

Stuart

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 10:15 PM

33 replies

Oct 19, 2014 2:29 AM in response to stu_douglas

I would like to enter my two bit to this conversation...

I had a problem with messages where, on starting the application, displayed an empty screen with most of the menu options grayed out.

I had removed all plist files I was able to find in the preference folder, restarted the machine etc.

It was not until I used the Terminal method that messages returned to normal.

Thank you all for your work on this.

Kind regards

Hans

3dp

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2014 2:43 PM in response to stu_douglas

Hi,

Thought I would post an update. After living with the blank screen and grayed out menus in Messages for months, I have fixed my issue.

This worked for me, hopefully it will help someone else.

• Open Font Book app...

• Under the File Menu...

• Select "Restore Standard Fonts"...

• You'll get a warning that you are restoring the standard set of font and may remove non-standard fonts from the system. I braved it...

• Click Proceed...

• Quit Messages and reopen.

You may have to restart the Mac, but... there is is!

Hope it helps!

Jul 28, 2017 10:23 AM in response to billcole

Thank You. It worked well.

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Messages App Not Showing Conversation List