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

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

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

You're welcome.

7:42 pm Thursday; December 3, 2015

Hi,

Provided the Messages App on the iPhone is On (including the SMS option)

That you have linked the Apple ID to the iPhone so it shows up on Mac and iPhone.

Made sure the iPhone is WiFi to your LAN

Then when you enable Text Forwarding for the SMS the Code should appear on a slide out in the Messages app on your Mac.

So the iPhone and the Mac needs to be using the Apple ID (which mean they both can use the iPhone number to send iMessages as well).

The iPhone has to be on your LAN the same as your Mac.

Then Text Forwarding needs to be set and the Code Number should appear (it is best that the Mac version is open at the same time).

That number then needs to be entered back on the iPhone (in Settings > Messages > Text Forwarding i.e. don't close this whilst waiting).

Although not using Blue Tooth the process to "Pair" the iPhone and Mac in this respect are very similar to pairing Blue Tooth devices.

10:04 pm Friday; February 5, 2016

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.

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

I ran into this, too, after Apple replaced several parts on my 15" Retina MacBook Pro.

It wasn't that my txt forwarding was turned off on my iPhone - it was that my MacBook showed up as an additional entry in the list of devices to forward txt to... and that entry has the same name as the first entry - that is: two entries with the same device name.

Once I checked off the new, additional entry, Messages began sending/receiving txt again.

Thank You BinkusMommy !!!

Followed your directions and fixed it perfectly. I lost this text msg ability in conjunction with my iOS 9 upgrade last Sep, only now remembering to blog (via google search) the issue and your comment was at the top of the search list.

Thanks!

- farmerguy

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

Handoff Continuity Troubleshooting

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

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