Q: My Messages application on my Mac stopped working suddenly. It won't receive or let me send messages from my computer. What should ... My Messages application on my Mac stopped working suddenly. It won't receive or let me send messages from my computer. What should I do to fix this problem? more
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Helpful answers
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Nov 12, 2015 4:44 PM in response to greencm5by vinz420,Hi. I know this is an old thread but I was able to fix my problem since upgrading my OSX to the newest data and it stopped allowing me to send Text Messages on my Mac. Here's my solution to it:
1.) Open your iPhone
2. ) Go to Settings > Messages
3.) Make sure 'Text Message Forwarding' is turned ON
It seems simple but it seem to have disabled itself after the update/s.
Hope this would help someone too.
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Dec 2, 2015 12:37 PM in response to greencm5by Ralph Johns (UK),Hi,
The email Alerts from Apple tell me one of my Posts has a Helpful award attached to it.
However I can't see that is the case in the thread. (it is not the first one of these recently)
8:37 pm Wednesday; December 2, 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 -
Jan 6, 2016 9:39 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by kevinkaiser,This finally worked for me. I deleted com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist and com.apple.imagent.plist, restarted my computer, logged back in to iMessage, set My Card, restarted Messages.app and then it finally started working. Thanks!
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by Ralph Johns (UK),Jan 6, 2016 11:32 AM in response to kevinkaiser
Ralph Johns (UK)
Jan 6, 2016 11:32 AM
in response to kevinkaiser
Level 9 (72,994 points)
Applications -
Jan 26, 2016 10:05 AM in response to quickererby stilla,T H A N K Y O U! This has been inordinately frustrating, and your simple note... amazing. Thanks so much for posting!
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Feb 10, 2016 9:40 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by dnpark734,Thank You!!! I had to do everything you said to get my iMessage to work again on my iMac. Glad for gurus like you to help us!
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by Ralph Johns (UK),Feb 10, 2016 12:37 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
Ralph Johns (UK)
Feb 10, 2016 12:37 PM
in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
Level 9 (72,994 points)
Applications -
Mar 2, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by Bdgreene13,Hi Ralph,
I have a similar problem except Messages on both my computer and iPhone stopped working at the same time this morning. All of the software was updated 3 weeks ago.
Macbook Air: Messages can't send or receive anything. "Not Delivered" and red exclamation points appear whenever I hit send.
iPhone 6: I can receive texts and send as SMS. Nothing will send as an iMessage.
I've now been at the Genius Bar for 3 hours, and even the Level 2 geniuses are stumped.
Thanks,
-Bdgreene13
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by Ralph Johns (UK),Mar 3, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Bdgreene13
Ralph Johns (UK)
Mar 3, 2016 11:56 AM
in response to Bdgreene13
Level 9 (72,994 points)
ApplicationsHi,
On the iPhone in Settings Messages > Send and Receive is the iPhone Number ticked ?
This is not an item you can change but I have had it become unticked twice in the past.
IF left the iPhone gets de-registered from the iMessages server which then means the Apple ID is no linked.
On the Mac it can then depend on which ID is being used to "Start Conversations From"
If it is the iPhone Number then it will not do so as the Number is not working.
As a consequence it is probably true all your Contacts only know the iPhone Number and cannot connect to you either.
As described above SMS may still work - if the iPhone was set to do SMS and has Text Forwarding set up.
The fix is to delete (Sign Out) the Apple ID on the iPhone
Turn the App Off and wait then Turn it On again.
This should cause the Number to Verify again (wait until it has done so).
When it has done this send an iMessages to the Apple ID (At this point it should be to the Mac and possibly any other device using the Apple ID).
Respond from the Mac (Apple ID to iPhone number).
If that works Add back the Apple ID to the iPhone.
Accept the pop ups on the Mac to say what the iPhone is using.
Reset Text Forwarding if required.
This is the most likely from the info you have posted.
It is possible that the Apple ID has been blocked on both devices but is highly unusual as generally one is blocked by a security feature leaving another device alone.
It could also be that the Mac has the Apple ID blocked (A bit too common this issue) and the iPhone number has been de-registered as a separate issue and the timing happens to coincide.
Apple Support Level 2 people should be able to look at the Server and tell you if the Apple ID is blocked from one or both devices.
The Phrase I have heard about resetting this is called "White Listing" to have the Apple ID reset on the servers. It seems this now takes 24 hours.
7:56 pm Thursday; March 3, 2016
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 -
Mar 23, 2016 6:52 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by Staci77,I have this same issue that started on my Macbook Pro a week ago. My iPhone and iPad accept my Apple ID (I recently changed it) but the macbook won't.
I am not a skilled user on the Macbook Pro. When you talk about deleting com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist and com.apple.imagent.plist, WHERE do you delete it from please?
This is very frustrating as every other device accepts the new password.
Also, I did try signing out of iCloud on iPhone and signing back in. It did not help. As for the forward messages, only my iPad appears available in the setting.
thanks in advance.
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Mar 24, 2016 12:36 PM in response to Staci77by Ralph Johns (UK),Hi,
Open a Finder window.
Use the Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT key (Second one out from the Space bar either side)
This changes the menu items to also show the Library.
Navigate to the Preferences and the search that folder.
Dragging the items to the Trash and restarting Messages should be enough.
Basically you want to be in Hard Drive/Users/Your account/Library/Preferences where Your Account is the one with the Little House type icon and the Library is normally hidden.
7:36 pm Thursday; March 24, 2016
iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
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 -
Mar 27, 2016 8:14 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by Staci77,Thanks for your response. Alas, no solution yet.
I have deleted all of the .plist files that you have mentioned in this entire thread. Ironically, after every attempt at logging back in to iMessage, the same .plist files reappear. I have deleted them at least a dozen times.
Also, I did a check on My Card in the Contacts. Added any info and/or changed anything that was needed and set as My Card. This also did not help.
I'm not really sure what I am doing wrong. Followed all the instructions thus far to no avail. :-(
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Mar 28, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Staci77by Ralph Johns (UK),Hi,
At OS X 10.8.2 update Apple started to use the Serial Number of he Mac as part of the iMessages Login.
At that time we had people checking their Serial Number by looking in About this Mac from the Apple Icon Menu top left.
You will then need to click the Line that tells you the current OS twice (once to show the Build number and another to show the Serial Number) if you are using Mavericks or Earlier.
If you are using Yosemite or later then the About this Mac panel has several tabs and it is at the bottom of the Overview tab.
Is the Serial Number visible ? (I only need to know you can read it)
In System Preferences > User and Groups do you have a second Mac User Account set up ?
If so can you set up Messages in that Mac user and does the iMessages account work there ?
(you can also enable the Guest account and set up the Messages app there with your Apple ID)
Does it work in Safe Mode (login in to your normal account) ?
Does a NVRAM reset make it work ? How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
(Used to be called a PRAM reset before Macs used Intel chips).
If nothing has worked at this point you will need to contact Apple Support.
Explain you have an Apple ID issues related to your Macs use on the iMessages servers (Apple ID issues are free to fix)
The Level 1 people are somewhat Script Led and you are likely to need to speak to Level 2
A Level 2 person is still likely to want your to try these and other things which may not help.
They may even try to ask you to do a Reinstall.
Be polite and refuse and ask them to check the server and see if it is blocking your Apple ID in relation to your Mac. (Level 2s used to be able to do this but it seems the Engineers may be restricting this now).
Insist that the Apple ID is reset.
They may still insist only the Engineers can do this and it will take 24 hours.
There does not seem to be a way to speed this up.
Apple seem to be aware of the issue but also seem to be looking at what triggers the issue.
It seems it is a security feature to use the Serial Number as part of the Login to prove it is "you"
Migrating a Login Keychain can be the cause.
Outside of that it is difficult to tell what does it.
There is no reset within the app and you are at the mercy of Apple working though your case.
7:22 pm Monday; March 28, 2016
iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
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 -
Mar 28, 2016 5:15 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)by Staci77,Appreciate all of your help. Will try these additional suggestions as soon as possible and let you know.
Thanks again for your time!





