iMessage on my mac says every contact is not registered with iMessage

Hi,

This can be because your My Card in the Contacts app (or Address Book) is not showing your details.

It can also be caused by the Sync process between Mac and iOS devices for the Contacts app being messed up.

In the Contacts app go to the Preferences and check the "Accounts" options and see how you are Syncing he info.

It should be only one method (iCloud, Yahoo, Google etc.)

It can be caused by a partial Login to the iMessages server.

Try Signing Out of the app. Followed by Quitting it for a few minutes before reactivating the Apple ID

9:32 pm Friday; September 5, 2014

Hi,

Start with the Apple ID site and the Manage ID option.

Check your Apple ID is verified and also that any Alternative email including the Recovery ID is also verified.

Check in Messages > Preferences > Accounts > iMessages account that the Apple ID is actually set to be active "Receive At" option

Same for any other email you have added.

In Contacts app check the Preferences > General section is set to the same Country/Region as the computer.

In System Preferences > Date and Time make sure the Date and Time are correct including the Time Zone and Daylight Saving if it applies.

It is worthwhile setting the Automatic Time Server function.

In the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Server enter ~/Library/Preferences into the dialogue box that appears.

In the Preferences find the com.apple.imessage.bag.plist file and (With the Messages app Quit) drag it to the Trash.

This file will hold the server the iMessages account is trying to use.

(Restart the app afterwards)

8:22 pm Thursday; September 11, 2014

I have the same problem as eh0608 but what you suggested didn't seem to work. iMessage is working on my iPhone and it seems like it isn't an issue with my apple ID either. After calling Apple, they think it could be possibly because I'm on a university wifi, but I know my friends on the same network are not having the same problem.

Hi,

Try a PRAM/NVRAM reset.

Hold down the CMD+ALT+P+R keys until you hear three Start up "Bongs" at a computer restart.

10:01 pm Thursday; September 11, 2014

Hi,

Do you have any other account active in Messages on the Mac ?

It can be very difficult to ascertain if the iMessages account has logged in or not.

It has no Buddy list like the Bonjour (and other accounts).

There is nothing in the main Messages Window to say the iMessages account is On.

In the Main Messages window if you try to start an iMessages connection does it read "iMessage" in greyed out characters in the Text Field box ?

Also try deleting the com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.iMessage.plist one as well whilst the app is Quit.

When you restart the app you will need to re-enter your Apple ID and accept the pop ups about what the iPhone is using.

8:11 pm Saturday; September 13, 2014

Hi,

On re-reading I seem to have copied the wrong info across.

It should be this one:-

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

9:38 pm Saturday; September 13, 2014

Hi,

The "overnight" fix does suggest that restarting the computer may be involved as it is likely then that people turn their computer Off.

I would try a PRAM/NVRAM Reset by holing down CMD+ALT+P+R at Start up until you have heard three Start Up Bongs.

I would also consider using a Safe Boot

7:42 pm Tuesday; September 16, 2014

HI,

I don't think this is down to specific Internet connections or the like.

During Messages 7 and early Messages 8 (Mavericks) it DID used to be solved by the PRAM reset method.

I am not experiencing any issue with my Mac but then again I am not moving networks with it.

We know that since OS X 10.8.2 (the update that included Messages 7.0.1) that the iMessages account has needed the Serial Number of the Mac to be present to create the key held in the Keychain for this. (IDS: yourAppleID-Auth Token)

Find the item in the Keychain Access app and double click it - then tick the Show Password box (and confirm Allow in the dialogue box) and you will see the password is a key and not a password.

It does seem that the item is updated now and then and the latest date I show is the 9th September !!.

I would be tempted to move the item to the Desktop and then restart the Messages app to see if it is recreated with a new date and Access of course.

12:11 pm Thursday; September 18, 2014

HI,

I personally would have deleted it as well.

I take it it was recreated ? (but that the iMessages account does not change behaviour ).

At present I see little the end user can do (further to what has been tried) on this issue.

If I was experiencing this myself and had tried the above I would then delete the Apple ID from all devices.

On the Mac I would delete the com.apple.imessages.bag.plist and the com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist one (delete the server references and the ID listings.)

On the iPhone and iPad I would remove the Apple ID and the iPhone Number (where required) and then turn off the App

I would then set the iOS devices to Airplane mode to ensure disconnect from the servers.

I would Quit the App on the Mac (if not done already.)

Following a restart of the Mac I would then set up the Apple ID there.

Then on just the iPhone I would enable Messages just for the iPhone Number.

I would then send a test iMessage from the Mac (Apple ID) to the iPhone (Number) and a return one from the iPhone Number to the Apple ID.

Only if this worked would I Add the Apple ID to the iPhone to create the Sync options and set up any other iOS device.

If it did not work I would consider visiting the Apple ID page and trying to re-verify the various items.

The fact that it is only the Macs that are affected makes it look like an Account/Keychain key issue.

Some of those things may not be changeable by the end user.

8:10 pm Thursday; September 18, 2014

hi,

"Opened up my laptop" sounds like restart might have been involved.

9:24 pm Saturday; September 20, 2014

Humm,

There is something odd going on here.

Apple have this Doc FaceTime, Game Center, Messages: Troubleshooting sign in issues which suggests 4 error Messages linked to similar issues.

There is a 5th error message that actually gives you a code number and tell you to contact Apple Support (and that turns out to be something about the way your Mac version is linked to the Account and the support staff have to change something)

Now we have a "message" that indicates everyone one else has left the iMessages server - but is probably more related to your version not being fully logged in.

However all the tricks that would normally work to reset this are not working.

This makes it seem very close to the 5th error message.

As the 5th Error Messages only effects the ID with respect to iMessages it might be worth contacting Support and asking them to check if there is an issue with the Account.

10:09 pm Saturday; September 20, 2014

Hi,

I would also add that problems should be fixed before Updating/Upgrading as it is rare that doing so fixes the problem unless it is stated specifically in the blurb about the update.

7:29 pm Sunday; September 21, 2014

Hi,

Whatever the cause of this is it is not caused by using the Beta of Yosemite.

7:27 pm Monday; September 22, 2014

Hi all,

Level 6 Poster can access the Lounge area here at Apple Support Communities.

One sub-division that can be linked to a Post there is "New Notable Issues"

I have posted a link to this thread and explained that all the regular "fixes" have been tried and failed.

I also reported it to th feed back page for iChat.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

I tend to use this page as these will be the same engineers that work on Messages.

Hopefully both routes will reach the desired group of Engineers.

It is not the fasted method of raising the issue but it is the one that is most likely to produce results (even if it is not that instant)

7:43 pm Tuesday; September 23, 2014

Errr,

The "promise" will be about as fast as the next update to the OS (if there is one with Yosemite on the horizon).

Only twice during the whole history of iChat and Messages have there been Stand alone update to the app outside of OS updates.

The last one was a quick fix after OS X 10.4 came out with iChat 3

Apple changed the connection protocols and then found out that a large part of the American east's internet backbone was not set up for it.

It effects many from New Orleans to Chicago to the Atlantic seaboard.

It seems that despite releasing it to Developers, they are more interested in how the OS will work with their app rather than testing every function of every app.

8:38 pm Tuesday; September 23, 2014