the blue

Q: Messages Not Working in Mavericks 10.9

Hi there,

 

Anyone else having this problem?   My Messages is just not working.  I am logged in.   It lets me type a message, but then it just sits there and a few minutes later I get the red circle/ "!" saying it didn't go through.  I've tried logging in and out of Messages.  Restarting the computer of course.  Nothing.  I'm stuck.  I can't find another post on this so anyone else having this issue?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 31, 2013 8:29 AM

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Q: Messages Not Working in Mavericks 10.9

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  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 29, 2014 3:33 PM in response to the blue
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2014 3:33 PM in response to the blue

    Like so many others here, I am having the same problems with iMessage. I can get as far as someone described in their video where you see the activation screen for 1 second and then it disappears. The only way I can get it to work on my iMac 13,1  running Mavericks 10.9.4 is to login as a guest. All other methods regarding NVRAM, keychain, hosts file, prefs, firewall and reinstall I have tried to no avail. It works fine on my MacBook though. Anyone have any new ideas?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 30, 2014 12:15 PM in response to geofbuck
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Jul 30, 2014 12:15 PM in response to geofbuck

    Hi,

     

    If Messages work in either the Guest Account or another Mac User Account but not in your own account the issue is with either the .plists that get stored fro Messages or the Keychain items for same.

     

    Providing the computer is set up properly (DNS Servers, Correct Date and Time in both computer and router, correct region/country in the Messages details button) then the issue Should (i Stress should) be solved by removing the .plist for iMessages (rather than all the ones for Messages as a whole).

     

    Also to be considered in Mavericks is the Read/Write path  as well as the final location of the .plists

    Because the app is Sandboxed it relies on being passed through ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ichat/Data/Library/Preferences where Aliases of the .plists point to the final destination. (~/Library/Preferences itself)

     

    This is a view of the ~/Library/Preferences folder using the Modified Column so that both the Containers folder (which is expanded) and the Preferences (highlighted) are in the same shot:-

    Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 19.42.11.png

    If you have not worked it out and did not know ~/ is short for Hard drive Name/Users/Your Account name (Little House Icon).

     

    Technically you should have Read and Write permissions on the ~/Library (Home folder /Library) and all it's containing folders.

    My Pic shows the Path Bar at the bottom of the window.

    You can turn this On in the Finder > View Menu  > Show Path Bar.

     

    Lets start with the .plists in the ~/Library/Preferences.

    In the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder enter ~/Library/Preferences in the Dialogue box to access the Preferences folder (you can Copy it from here and Paste in the dialogue box).

     

    Find com.apple.IMAgent.plist

    com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist

    and com.apple.imessges.bag.plist.


    Do a Get Info on these  (Highlight and then either CMD+ i keys together or right click and use the Contextual Menu

    Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 19.53.12.png

     

     

     

    In the Panel that opens, scroll to the bottom.

    Unlock the Padlock.

    Your name should be in the list.

    It should have Read and Write Permissions.

    Highlight the name.

    Using the little cogwheel item at the bottom reveal a Menu about changing the Owner.

    If your Name appears but is Greyed Out you already own the file.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 19.56.30.png

     

    After you have checked those three .plist click on the Preferences icon in the Path Bar and Right Click  > Get Info

    Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 19.59.49.png

    You should have Read and Write permissions and own this Folder.

     

    Repeat the above for the Library itself.

     

    Step 2.

    Now use the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder to access ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Preferences  (the upper case C in iChat is important).

     

    You will be faced with a whole bunch of Aliases.

    If you click them the Original .plists will be opened (if you have something that can open them)

    What you need to do is highlight them and then Show Original option (Right Click)

    Screen Shot 2014-07-30 at 20.06.41.png

    The window will change but as the two Preferences folder look very similar it can be difficult to check.

     

    You need to only check two in the "containers" route.

    com.apple.ichat.plist to check this is "pointing" to the original and the one highlighted in the pic com.apple.imessages.bag.plist

     

    Now you have to use the Path Bar to check all the folders that everything is contained in.

    That includes the Preferences folder you are now in, the Library that is in, the Data Folder that contains that and then the Containers folder itself (You should not have to do the Library above that as we checked it above).

     

    Step 3 will be the Keychain  but I will wait to hear on this first.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:15 pm      Wednesday; July 30, 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
  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 30, 2014 5:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2014 5:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi Ralph,

     

    Thanks for the info, I double checked the prefs for these files, most of which I had already looked at except the aliases. Still no go. As far as the keychain goes, I have tried keychain repair, deleting it for a fresh one, import one from another of my computers, messed around with importing the certificates from my working macbook. None of these options worked. Any more ideas would be appreciated!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 31, 2014 11:35 AM in response to geofbuck
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Jul 31, 2014 11:35 AM in response to geofbuck

    Humm,

     

    It does sound like you have thought of everything.

     

    I would go as far as finding the IDS: yourAppleID-Auth Token  and deleting it.

    And then restarting Messages to make it grab a new one.

     

    NOTES.

    The iMessages account will not login if the font AppleGothic.ttf is disabled or missing from Hard Drive Name/Library/Fonts.

    In most cases Fonts needed by App are actually in Hard Drive/System/Library/Fonts but this one does seem to be an exception.

    I can't imagine it would be Off in some Mac Users and On  in others.

    Having said that some people have moved it and found that is enough to make it work.  Some have duplicated it and then remove the duplication (presumably the Original was deleted but I am not sure from the info posted).

     

    It would also be possible that the DNS server might be different in one Mac User Account than another but it would be unusual.

     

    In Messages > Preferences > Accounts > iMessages account > Details Button the region/Country must match your telephone number.

     

    The Mac and router must be set to the same Time Zone and the same Date and Time.

     

    Since Mountain Lion at the 10.8.2 update the Serial Number has had to be present.

    A few people have reported the seeming in working Mountain Lion Upgraded to Mavericks the Serial number has "Disappeared".

    But there again if the app is working in Other Mac User accounts, it must be present.

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:35 pm      Thursday; July 31, 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
  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 31, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I checked that the AppleGothic.ttf was present and it is, and it opens fine. I tried deleting the IDS: yourAppleI-Auth token, as well as the public/private keys, and other iMessage items. When I restart Messages it goes to the verification window again, with all the check boxes for my numbers and such, however this time it stays here for quite some time and even lets me start to add a new number before popping up with the window saying could not activate try again. If I keep keychain open when I do this I can see it create a new IDS, a public and private key, as well as an entry called IDS_temporary:(apple ID) before failing. Any subsequent attempts just keep creating duplicate keys, etc. in my keychain. This leads me to believe the problem is somehow related to the keychain however my kung-fu is not yet strong enough to decipher the issue.....

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 31, 2014 1:08 PM in response to geofbuck
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Jul 31, 2014 1:08 PM in response to geofbuck

    Hi,

     

    In Keychain Access do you have the Login item AND a Local Items item listed (you may also have System and System Roots).

     

    Does the IDS blah blah-Auth Token appear in Both ?

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:08 pm      Thursday; July 31, 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
  • by A. Rudi,

    A. Rudi A. Rudi Jul 31, 2014 1:28 PM in response to the blue
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:28 PM in response to the blue

    I Solve the Problem so:

    1. LogOut from iCloud.

    2. Restart the Computer and then press P+R+CMD+ALT - you must to wait 3x restarts also 3x BEEP then you can release the keys.

    This reset and correct all your hardware components, and do all hardware clear.

    3. LogIn in iCloud with your Apple-ID.


    Hope it helps for all another

  • by A. Rudi,

    A. Rudi A. Rudi Jul 31, 2014 1:30 PM in response to geofbuck
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:30 PM in response to geofbuck

    I Solve the Problem so:

    1. LogOut from iCloud.

    2. Restart the Computer and then press P+R+CMD+ALT - you must to wait 3x restarts also 3x BEEP then you can release the keys.

    This reset and correct all your hardware components, and do all hardware clear.

    3. LogIn in iCloud with your Apple-ID.


    Hope it helps for all another

  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 31, 2014 1:32 PM in response to A. Rudi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:32 PM in response to A. Rudi

    I will try this but I just noticed something else. In desperation I thought of resetting my Apple ID password, so I hit the forgot password link which took me to the iforgot.apple.com page. And guess what? I can't reset my password either, it gives me a similar message:  We apologize but we are unable to verify your account information online. This must be related to my messages issue! Will try fix first then look at apple ID issue.

  • by A. Rudi,

    A. Rudi A. Rudi Jul 31, 2014 1:41 PM in response to geofbuck
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:41 PM in response to geofbuck

    no friend, resetting your apple ID don't help because the problem is only on your Computer and not at Apple or iCloud functionally.

    I had the same delay, and now all fine. I was informed what to do from an Apple Expert.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 31, 2014 1:46 PM in response to A. Rudi
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Jul 31, 2014 1:46 PM in response to A. Rudi

    Hi,

     

    That info was posted in this thread on the 13th December 2013

    Re: Messages Not Working in Mavericks 10.9

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:46 pm      Thursday; July 31, 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
  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 31, 2014 1:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    No the IDS one only appears in the Login. The only thing in Local Items is idmsa.apple.com (apple ID email)

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 31, 2014 1:52 PM in response to geofbuck
    Level 9 (73,348 points)
    Applications
    Jul 31, 2014 1:52 PM in response to geofbuck

    Hi,

     

    Since Messages 8 cam out it does seem the iMessages ID does have to be a valid iCloud ID although other than checking the password with Apple it makes no further use of that fact.

     

    If you have found other issues with your iCloud account sort those first.


    EDIT.

    Ok on the Local items info.

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:48 pm      Thursday; July 31, 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
  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 31, 2014 1:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Yeah I read that, I reset it by security question, wouldn't work by email. Still made no difference to the messages issue though. PR RAM zap didn't work either. I tried it already ages ago but tried it again to no avail.

  • by geofbuck,

    geofbuck geofbuck Jul 31, 2014 1:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2014 1:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    iCloud works fine on all devices, as does FaceTime. It is only Messages that is the problem.

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