I just updated to mavericks from lion 10.7 which is a version that did not have imessage on the mac. With the update i now have imessage on my mac but when i went to log in it would only connect to my email and my phone number did not show up as an option. Why won't it connect to my phone number?
MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
Hi,
On the Mac in Preferences > Accounts you should have added and Apple ID and a Password for that ID (or used 2 Step Verification).
That should have logged in the Apple ID for the iMessages account and the right hand pane should have listed the Apple ID and then again in the Receive At list underneath that.
Then you would normally go to the iPhone and Enable the Messages app if it is not already.
You have to wait for the number to Verify (register).
Then you can, in the Send and Receive section, Add the Apple ID.
This does two things.
Creates a second item in the iPhone's Send and Receive list for the Apple ID and cause a Pop up on the Mac.
The Pop up says a new device is using the apple ID and when you accept it adds the iPhone Number as a active item in the Receive At list on the Mac version (which in turn shows th Start Conversations From Drop down as well)
If you decline the Pop up then the info is still added to the list but it is not ticked (it is inactive).
It sounds like you have not set up the iPhone yet with the Apple ID in Messages (It is separate for the iCloud settings in Setting even if it is the same ID - it can of course be different which is why you have to added in Messages separately).
7:58 pm Sunday; September 10, 2017
Hi,
On the Mac in Preferences > Accounts you should have added and Apple ID and a Password for that ID (or used 2 Step Verification).
That should have logged in the Apple ID for the iMessages account and the right hand pane should have listed the Apple ID and then again in the Receive At list underneath that.
Then you would normally go to the iPhone and Enable the Messages app if it is not already.
You have to wait for the number to Verify (register).
Then you can, in the Send and Receive section, Add the Apple ID.
This does two things.
Creates a second item in the iPhone's Send and Receive list for the Apple ID and cause a Pop up on the Mac.
The Pop up says a new device is using the apple ID and when you accept it adds the iPhone Number as a active item in the Receive At list on the Mac version (which in turn shows th Start Conversations From Drop down as well)
If you decline the Pop up then the info is still added to the list but it is not ticked (it is inactive).
It sounds like you have not set up the iPhone yet with the Apple ID in Messages (It is separate for the iCloud settings in Setting even if it is the same ID - it can of course be different which is why you have to added in Messages separately).
7:58 pm Sunday; September 10, 2017
On my Mac I have followed the step above, go to Messages menu (on the menu bar) > Preferences > Accounts, and your phone number should appear, so click it. But my problem is that my number does not appear in Accounts as an option. It only says something about being reached for messages at (blank) my email account. And shows my Apple ID and enable account (which I have clicked on)
Hi,
I think Gail has it but I can see one other possibility.
... so I added an account on messages ...
So, was this "Account" that was added the iMessages Account or was it AIM or Jabber/Google
By Default two "Accounts" show up in Messages without doing anything.
The one that is for iMessages that needs an Apple ID added and the Bonjour one that needs activating/Enabling to work with other Macs on the LAN.
From there you can add other accounts using the + icon under the list
First click gives you AOL and Google.
Clicking Other allows you to add AIM (can be a separate registration from AOL) and other Jabber IDs (Google run a Jabber server).
The links Eric supplied should get you to:-
Enable the iPhone Number by turning ON messages on the iPhone.
Enable the Apple ID on the Mac.
To sync between the two Add the Apple ID in Settings > Messages
This will cause a pop up on the Mac to allow the iPhone Number and the iPhone to use the Apple ID.
You can say No to this pop up but the number will still be added and but it will not be Enabled.
As Gail said And I have just reiterated the Apple ID has to be the same on both.
The Link is created at the Server end and it will send the iMessages to all registered devices.
The AOL/AIM or Jabber/Google options cannot connect to the iMessages side of things. (neither can you chat AIM to Jabber/Google or Jabber to AOL).
Bonjour is Mac to Mac on Macs that have Bonjour Active in Messages or iChat if your Mac is older.
Once you have the Apple ID and iPhone Number active in the Preferences > Accounts you can turn some options Off
With two IDs active you can select the "Start New Conversations from" (the drop down does not show if you only have one active)
You can deselect the Apple ID so only the iPhone Number is active.
As Gail Suspects and my Picture shows, you can have other Emails (bad form for them to be other Apple IDs).
Mine IS another Apple ID as I was using two iPhones with Two IDs and had a moment when I did not think something through and now I cannot unlink them. In fact changing this info later can be fraught with issues if you are not careful.
8:42 pm Sunday; July 9, 2017
This is still not working.. on mc mac... i am logged into my dad's apple ID... so i added an account on messages and did everything you said and it is still only giving option to send message with my email and not my number... HELP PLS D:
Alex.Abro wrote:
This is still not working.. on mc mac... i am logged into my dad's apple ID... so i added an account on messages and did everything you said and it is still only giving option to send message with my email and not my number... HELP PLS D:
Right - because you added an email account. If you want your Messages account on your phone to work on the Mac, you have to sign into the Messages app on the Mac with the same Apple/iCloud ID that Messages is signed into on the phone.
Cheers,
GB
Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Note that your phone number will only show up if you have got an iPhone and if you are using the same Apple ID you used to log in Messages on the iPhone. If you haven't got an iPhone, you can't use your phone number.
If you have got one, on the iPhone, open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, and make sure your phone number appears as an option. After that, open Messages on your Mac, go to Messages menu (on the menu bar) > Preferences > Accounts, and your phone number should appear, so tick it
Hi hplaw,
Turn iMessage off on your device, and then sign out of it on your Mac. Then sign back on to iMessage on your device, and try signing back on on the Mac to see if the phone number now displays. Sometimes they just need to sync up...
Cheers,
GB
i do have an iphone and i did this and my number still did not appear on my mac
If you checked you are using the same Apple ID on the iPhone and on the Mac, try doing what gail said
I did this and it worked for a second then it said an error occurred and made me log into imessage on my mac again and when i did my phone number was gone. i tried turning imessage on my phone on and off but it did not work again on my mac
yes i am using the same apple ID
Hi,
On the iPhone
Settings > Messages remove the Apple ID
Now place the iPhone in to Airplane Mode for 5 mins or so
On accessing the Messages settings again check the iPhone Number is ticked for iMessages (it will be greyed out)
If it is ticked then re-add the Apple ID
Now reboot the App on the Mac.
The app should now get a pop up or two saying the iPhone is using it's iPhone Number and the Apple ID.
Accept both pop ups
This Add the iPhone number to the Receive At list on the Mac version > Preferences > Accounts
and the Send From Drop down at the bottom on that pane.
10:38 pm Thursday; October 31, 2013
iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 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
My phone number showed up on my phone but still wont appear on the macbook
Hi,
Have you added the Apple ID to the iPhone AND Accepted the pop ups on the Mac ?
8:19 pm Sunday; January 5, 2014
iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 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
iMessage on mac won't connect with phone
