"Messages is updating..." FOREVER!

Hi,

Since this thread has been resurrected newer info is available.

In this folder ~/Library/containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages

Is the Archive Folder.

At Update/Upgrade times it appears that the Archive folder loses it's Folder "Status" and has an icon looking like a File instead.

This needs renaming and the new folder with the original name created.

The data is already gone at the icon change stage so filling the Archive from a Time Machine Backup is the only choice to get older messages and Chats from AIM and Jabber Buddies (possibly Yahoo and Bonjour as well if you used them).

7:20 pm Friday; May 12, 2017

HI,

In actual fact the GonzoWuzHere instruction does not go deep enough to prove the issue is here.

It is ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Messages and the archive folder you find at this level.

If the Folder is in fact an icon that looks like a File instead then the Updating message appears.

Renaming the Archive item to something else and then recreating the the Folder will at least get the iMessages Account past this and allow Messages to launch properly.

However if you Save Chats (this is what is in the Archive Folder) then you could use Time Machine to replace the contents before opening Messages.

If it is not this Archive folder causing the issue then come back and report.

As has been mentioned in the Thread it might be Font related.

Another cause can be if the whole of the Mac USer has been migrated from another computer.

This can cause an issue with the Keychain as the Migrated one will hold the Serial Number of the old computer whilst the login checks show up the new Computer (the Serial Number is used as a security feature to stop other people logging in as "you").

8:30 pm Wednesday; June 21, 2017

Before blowing away critical data....

Consider that there might be a folder permission problem.

I moved my home folder to another drive by drag and drop. In the new location all my files were owned by me but the "group" was 501. In the original folder the group was "staff".

I'd suggest going to your home folder and checking and fixing permissions first!

In my case I used the terminal:

Perform at your own wisdom level.

cd ~ sudo chgrp -R "staff" * sudo chgrp -R "staff" .*

My messages came back fine. Nothing lost, no accounts to sign back into.

renaming com.apple.ichat to ...ichat then rebooting did not work, I still get the same "messages updating..." message when I launch Messages. Any other suggestions?

btw... I'm running Sierra version 10.12.5 on a new refurbished MacBook pro...

Thank you for your help.

I am having the same issue. Before the update, I could send a message, but could not see what I wrote, I could get a response and then sometimes see what I previously wrote. But when I come back after closing everything is gone.

With the update now it will not even load, just says it is updating the db (I did this all night). I have even repaired permission, and have tried again. - still nothing.

This worked for me too!

hopefully waiting for an other possibility....

Having the same issue here.

I'm having the same issue. The progress bar doesn't move, it just stays there and nothing happens.

Is the solution really to re-install? That doesn't make sense...

i have re-installed it, works fine for the OS but no change for Messages - still try to update database with no end.... 😠

Hi,

I had the same issue. I noticed that some tasks have not been responding (displayed red in the activity monitor) after installing Yosemite. A reboot helped... Afterwards, messages has been able to update its database. The reboot helped me on my MBPr and mac mini. I don't know if this was just a coincidence or if this really "fixes" the problem.

Tobbe

This is the solution that worked for my other machines.

1. Quit all active Application running

2. Go to the Finder, in the Menu bar select the "Go" menu and choose the option "Go To Folder..."

3. Enter this path without the quotes "~/Library/Containers/"

4. Find a Folder called "com.apple.iChat"

5. Rename that folder to "com.apple.iChat.Archive"

6. Reboot your machine.

This should take care of it.

I can confirm. A simple reboot solved the problem on my machine.

Mine finally finished as well. I also did a few reboots and let it sit and do it's thing.