Why is iMessage not syncing across all devices?

Hey there Daniel Sonnenfeld,

It sounds like you are not getting your iMessage to get to all of your devices. I would use the troubleshooting in the following article to help resolve that, and get your messages everywhere:

iOS: Troubleshooting Messages

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755

If you aren't receiving iMessages across all iOS devices

1. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive on each iOS device and make sure that you signed in with your Apple ID. You must use the same Apple ID on each device.
2. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > You Can Be Reached By iMessage At and make sure that you selected each phone number and email address you want to use with iMessage.
3. If you linked a phone number to your Apple ID with iMessage and the phone number hasn't appeared, followthese steps.
4. Sign out of your Apple ID in Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and Settings > FaceTime on all devices.
5. If you're linking a phone number to an Apple ID, sign in to iMessage on your iPhone first. Then sign in to the rest of your device one by one with iMessage and FaceTime.

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Cheers,

Sterling

I have the same issue. Previously, no syncing problems, including proper "backsyncing" after waking. Now, messages are sometimes backsynced and sometimes not. I, too, have everything set up properly. Seems to be a problem sending and receiving. Today, a friend got 3 iMessages from me that I'd sent 24 hours earlier. Frustrating problem.

I noticed this issue as well, the above apple support solutions does not work.

Prior to that weekend all of my devices synced perfectly; then they suddenly stopped syncing properly on my Macbook Air when the Macbook was in sleep mode or turned off. Previously, iMessages sent or received on my iPhone while the Macbook was in sleep mode or off would "backsync" upon waking up or turning back on. This does not happen anymore. Occasionally, large bunches of iMessages will flow in to my Macbook iMessage app that were from several days ago.

All of my accounts are appropriately linked (which is what the above solutions suggests to ensure).

Looking for a solution if anyone has one!

The strangest thing is that it works on a test user account I made..just not on my normal user account that contains all of my user data. I've tried re-install OS X already, and clearing out the iMessage files in preferences in Library. Nothing is working, but I'm still getting a stream of iMessages from 2+ days ago flowing in every so often.

MY iPad iPhone and Mac were speaking to each other fine. Then I went away and when I came home they stopped communicating. When I got home I must have signed into a different wifi (we have several in the house for different locations). So I made sure they were all on the same wifi and now it's fine again.

I Think my problem started when I was using imessage from a cell tower that wasn't fully functional.

i I think iMessage signed me off. I think that the system doesn't like intermittent coverage.

thesheet

I'm having the exact same problem - things are syncing fine on everything but my Macbook Air.

This worked for me. All these replys that it doesnt work.. just thought Id confirm that its 100% worth a try.

this worked for me as well. even though the original post was over a year ago and several updates

I had the same problem, and #1 on the list of solutions that you recommended, worked for me. 🙂 Thank you very much! ~ Kathy