Q: I can't receive text messages to my laptop anymore, only iMessages.

Is sms forwarding turned on in Settings - Messages on your iPhone?

Which iPhone do you have?  And is it updated to iOS 8.1.2?

Handoff Continuity Troubleshooting

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac using Continuity - Connect

Hi,

I would check it has the Messages App ON, that the Send and Receive section list the iPhone and the Apple ID as Active and that the Send as SMS option is also enabled.

If this is the case the option to Text Forward SMS items should be an option.

Selecting it will cause the pop up with the code number to appear on the Mac version.  (I once had to select it twice to prompt the Mac successfully).

If it is showing and Enabled it should show you the linked devices if you select it.

9:07 pm      Monday; January 19, 2015

Hi,

Open the Messages App.

Use the Menu of the same name and go to Preferences > Accounts and the iMessages account.

If this is Enabled it "Should" be logged in.

The ONLY way to tell is to iMessage someone.

I would test to your iPhone Number if you have one.

Type the Number in the main window for Messages in the "To" spot after selecting New Chat.

IF it says "Not Delivered" you will have to check other to other iMessages Contacts that you have.

It seems that the app is partially logged in if this happens.

The only way it seems to be fixed is speaking to Apple Support.

The Level 1 people tend to be Script Led and you have to ask to speak to a Level two person.

AS there is no Error message from the iMessages account you will also have to convince them to actually check the Mac's use of the Apple ID on the server. (There is a "known issue" where there is an Error message and a code number to check which involves only the Mac and the Apple ID whilst is still work on an iPhone - so we know it can happen.)

Account /Apple ID issues are free to fix (Does not need Apple Care or payment up front which sometimes the level 1 people say you need)

8:05 pm      Wednesday; January 28, 2015

Hi,

I have also come across this Re: Messages says Not Delivered

People in that thread say it works.

8:30 pm      Wednesday; January 28, 2015

I just spoke with someone from Apple Support (best customer support group - EVER) and he had me check to see if the "Text Message Forwarding" feature was inadvertently turned off on my phone.  It was.  Once I turned it back on, I was able to send and receive text messages.  (I was already able to send and receive iMessages.)  Go to "Settings," then "Messages," then "Text Message Forwarding," and then turn it "on" for you Mac (and other devices, if applicable).  You need to have both devices on hand because the phone will ask for a code that shows up on the Mac.  Once you enter the code, you should be good to go!  I hope this helps!

This worked for me, thank you (my issue must have been that I changed the pw for my appleID and this kicked me out of forwarding, etc)

Question - I stopped receiving messages on my laptop on 8/31. It's 9/3 and I'm back in business. Will the messages that were exchanged in the last 4 days show up on my laptop? Currently those exchanges are only on my iphone.

Thanks.

Hi,

The answer is maybe.

If you have not seen them yet then the answer will be no.

Basically if a device is Registered with iMessages with either an iPhone Number or and Apple ID it will get the iMessages.

If that device whilst registered is Off line fro whatever reason then it will get the iMessages when it is connected to the Internet again.

For me the longest that I have done this is over 7 days.

I have seen 1 post each for 9 days and 11 days but both were around the time the iMessages server had an issue and may have been related to that.

There does seem to be a point when the iMessages servers decide they cannot wait any more and the iMessages is deleted from the server.

There is a "known Issue" on iPhone whereby the iPhone Number become unticked in the Send and Receive section.

If this is not noticed the Number eventually becomes de-registered and you no longer even get the Sync version on the Mac.

It is less common that a Mac end s up in this state but it is not impossible.

Basically an iMessages is divided (copied if you like) so that an individual one can be sent to each device that is registered.

They are then sent to each device after it has uniquely logged in.

This means iPhones generally get all iMessages as they are On all the time with little, if any, breaks with the Internet.

The "Copy" for the Mac can therefore be delayed if the Mac is Off Line.

There is no way to access the "copy" for another device and "redirect" it to another.

The process of delivery is a push.  The Servers Send them or at least try, again and again until they are accepted.

As I said there is a time limit to this.

8:40 p.m.      Friday; September 4, 2015

This worked for me. I am now receiving messages. Thanks

Thanks so much!