GVennarucci

Q: iMessage not showing contact names

I just recently downloaded and installed OS X Mavericks on my 2011 iMac and trying to get up and running with the new iMessage app. But there are two major bugs I can figure out how to fix if anyone can help me fix these problems or comment if your having the same issues that would be a big help.

 

1: When receiving a message from someone in my contacts list/address book, their names do not apper next to the message, but rather only their phone numbers. I have went thought the view options and selected show contacts name and also tried adding a name to the existing number with no results. Does anyone know how to fix this bug?

 

2: The lag time between SMS/iphone messages and the time it takes to show up in iMessage on my mac is rather long. There is about a 3 minute delay before the text message conversation shows up from my phone to computer. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

 

Thanks

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 5, 2013 4:25 PM

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Q: iMessage not showing contact names

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Nov 2, 2014 2:03 PM in response to 1st boster
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    Nov 2, 2014 2:03 PM in response to 1st boster

    Hi,

     

    It can be several things.

    In some cases the Daylight Saving time change if the computer is On when it happens.

    Issues related to the Mac listed server for this and the router's if different.

     

    Both these will though or Time Stamps and then Syncing and lead to issues around Location based on that.

     

    Can be that syncing has been lost with other devices for other reasons.

    This may effect the "Accounts" in the Contacts app.

     

    I have had Macs since 1991 so I do tend to use older maintenance things as my first choice.

    Repair Permissions after OS X Update and Upgrade and other major items.

     

    PRAM/NVRAM resets now and then if things are behaving a little oddly.

     

    Checking the Activity Monitor for items that might stalled and slowing the other processes down.

     

    And as you say just a plain restart.

    However I do shut my computer down each night  (I do have a G4/1Gz Dual Processor Mirrored Door Tower that some called a (vacuum) hoover, that I still boot everyday).

    My iMac is quiet enough to run all night  and not disturb anyone.  (there is not door between my computer space and the stairs but old habits die hard)

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:03 pm      Sunday; November 2, 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 svetoslavovm,

    svetoslavovm svetoslavovm Nov 4, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thanks, synching my contacts did the trick.  I must have missed to do that while setting up Yosemite.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Nov 4, 2014 11:37 AM in response to svetoslavovm
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Nov 4, 2014 11:37 AM in response to svetoslavovm

    Hi,

     

    It can be one of those things that you don't expect to have to do as it had been set in Mavericks.

    However there are always odd things like this that require a reset somewhere along the line.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:37 pm      Tuesday; November 4, 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 DrewJoseph188,

    DrewJoseph188 DrewJoseph188 Dec 25, 2014 11:36 AM in response to svetoslavovm
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2014 11:36 AM in response to svetoslavovm

    How did you do that exactly?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 25, 2014 11:50 AM in response to DrewJoseph188
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Dec 25, 2014 11:50 AM in response to DrewJoseph188

    Hi,

     

    System Preferences > iCloud > enable the Contacts option.

    Repeat on the iPhone > Settings > iCloud.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:50 pm      Thursday; December 25, 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 Jramsey2014,

    Jramsey2014 Jramsey2014 Jan 6, 2015 4:50 PM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2015 4:50 PM in response to GVennarucci

    I had the same problem. I went into the contacts app and added the area code to that contact. You can't do it through iMessage. It might show the area code in iMessage but mine weren't there in the Contacts app. Helped me. Hope it does the same for you!

  • by sixmile,

    sixmile sixmile Jan 19, 2015 6:14 PM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2015 6:14 PM in response to GVennarucci

    What I did was add iCloud contacts to my Mac contacts.  Once I did that the names popped up in iMessage.  It helps that you have iCloud enabled on your iDevice.

  • by mason james,

    mason james mason james Jan 21, 2015 10:55 AM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2015 10:55 AM in response to GVennarucci

    FOUND ABSOLUTE SOLUTION!

     

    Go into your Address Books > iCloud > Check icon for Contacts

     

    I had this issue for a very long time and found this solution. It was really simple and worked immediately. Of course i'm sure this wouldn't work if you are not synced with contacts via iCloud. But contacts don't take up that much space, so do it!

     

    (first time every posting to a thread. Yay for community.)

  • by tree3376,

    tree3376 tree3376 Jan 27, 2015 1:04 PM in response to twanbiz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2015 1:04 PM in response to twanbiz

    This worked perfectly.

  • by zachnuggets,

    zachnuggets zachnuggets Mar 8, 2015 11:34 AM in response to twanbiz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2015 11:34 AM in response to twanbiz

    That did the trick for me. Had to reopen both programs for them to show up. Thanks!!!!

  • by arthurgal,

    arthurgal arthurgal Mar 23, 2015 8:52 PM in response to GVennarucci
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2015 8:52 PM in response to GVennarucci

    I had tried ALL OF THE ABOVE, but none worked! Thank you all for your input, glad to have narrowed it down finally.

     

    I realized that my issue was that all of my contacts were being pulled in from Google, since I had long ago switched from an Android device. I had to make sure that Messages was also syncing with Google Contacts.

     

    To do this, go to System Preferences --> Internet Accounts --> Gmail --> Make sure that "Contacts" and "Messages" are selected. I'd probably just check all of the available options here, but that's your call.

     

    This did the trick, hope it helps. Good luck!

  • by eddieo45,

    eddieo45 eddieo45 Mar 26, 2015 9:41 AM in response to arthurgal
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2015 9:41 AM in response to arthurgal

    I've got a 5S on iOS 8.1.3, no Mac, and I had a friend reply to group text from yesterday and his contact name didn't show. I went to add his number to his existing contact and it wasn't there, so I created it anew. Then, I created a new message to another contact, typing his name until I saw his number. After sending the message, it displays as his number, no name, and his contact doesn't seem to exist. I can't find "System Preferences --> Internet Accounts --> Gmail -->" or "Address Books > iCloud > Check icon for Contacts" in my Settings (or Messages) anywhere. Please advise.....

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 26, 2015 12:28 PM in response to eddieo45
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 26, 2015 12:28 PM in response to eddieo45

    Hi,

     

    I most cases people are using a Mac and an iPhone.

    They also tend to be using iCloud to sync the contacts app on both so they read the same.

     

    Often the reason a Mac using Messages and the iMessages account does not display Names properly is because the Sync between the devices is not working.

     

    On the iPhone it is Settings >Mail, Contacts and Calendars and then you add the iCloud (Apple ID) and then Enable Contacts further down.

    This is where the Contacts are technically held in the Cloud (in iCloud)  and the synced to each device that "logs" in the the Contacts option.

     

    Google and Yahoo also run Address Books that can be synced with the iPhone App called Contacts  (instead of iCloud)  but I have never set this up.

    Other options include Facebook.

     

    If the Contacts app on the iPhone is not syncing with any other device or services  then you will have to look deeper as to why it seems to have lost info.

     

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:28 pm      Thursday; March 26, 2015

     

      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 eddieo45,

    eddieo45 eddieo45 Mar 26, 2015 2:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2015 2:36 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    In my case it's just the phone, no syncing that I'm aware of.

    My Settings

     

     

    Once in Contacts, I've checked everything:

    My Contact settings

    My Contacts settings part 2

     

    (thought I could attach {IMG} links but can't)

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 26, 2015 3:07 PM in response to eddieo45
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 26, 2015 3:07 PM in response to eddieo45

    Hi,

     

    You have to use the Camera icon in the reply window and drag pictures there directly.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:07 pm      Thursday; March 26, 2015

     

      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
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