Send as SMS on Messages for OSX

Question

Scott1900D Author

Level 1

0 points

Send as SMS on Messages for OSX

Is there any way to 'Send as SMS' from messages for Mac as there is on iPhone? I have a number of contacts that messages detects as iMessage but is unable to send. A popup advises that the recipient is not set up for iMessage, but no option is given to send as an SMS, resulting is me having to do it from my phone.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 23, 2014 1:47 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Axeman1020

Level 6

15,132 points

Oct 23, 2014 1:56 PM in response to Scott1900D

You can only send SMS messages from Mac OS X if:

You have an iPhone running iOS 8.1 signed into iCloud the same Apple ID as your Mac
You have a compatible Mac with Yosemite installed:
- MacBook Air (mid-2011 and above)
- MacBook Pro (mid-2012 and above)
- Retina MacBook Pro (mid-2012 and above)
- iMac (late 2012 and above)
- Mac mini (mid-2011 and above)
- Mac Pro (2013 and above)
Handoff is enabled on both devices
- iOS - Settings > General > Handoff & Suggested Apps > turn Handoff on
- OS X Yosemite - System Preferences - General > check Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices

Reply

Answer 2

Scott1900D Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2014 1:58 PM in response to Axeman1020

I have handoff enabled. SMS works fine to all other contacts, and iMessage works to those with an iPhone. But I have contacts with an iPhone and iMessage disabled. Messages still recognises as iMessage however and doesn't give an option to revert to handoff SMS.

Reply

Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

210,937 points

Oct 23, 2014 1:59 PM in response to Scott1900D

On your iPhone under Settings turn on Send as SMS (when iMessage isn't available).

The following is from the Messages Help file:

To make and receive SMS and MMS messages on your Mac, you need an iPhone with iOS 8 that’s signed into iMessage with the same Apple ID. To send an SMS message, enter a contact or a person’s phone number, enter your text, then press Return. Your SMS and MMS messages appear on your Mac automatically.

Reply

Answer 4

Scott1900D Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2014 2:09 PM in response to Old Toad

Yep I have that enabled on my iPhone and it works fine, if the contact does not have iMessage or iMessage is disabled it reverts to SMS or gives me the option to ' send as SMS '. But I am looking for this ability when sending from my Mac. I have hand off enabled and regularly send SMS messages through hand off from my Mac. However on some contacts Messages on Mac tries to send as an iMessage but is unable as the contact is not set up for iMessage, but does't not revert to SMS through handoff and it does if I send from my iPhone. This is despite all SMS messages inbound from that contact displaying on my Mac Messages.

Reply