Text Message Forwarding confirm code won't show up in Mac

Thanks GregCAust! Works great now!

After spending several frustrating hours trying re-starts, sign in and sign outs with different variations the solution was a lot simpler.

Before trying any of the above just try resetting network settings as indicated by GregCAust. This worked very well for me.

I believe that the reason is that I often switch Sim cards when traveling to different countries. This means that the same iphone goes through different configurations when using different sim cards. These configurations in turn affect the way the iphone communicates with other iOS devices or even a Mac.

Try it, the solution maybe simpler than you think.

Thank you GregCAust for this procedure. I have done everything you have said and still, no activation code shows up on my Mac. How long does it take for the code to show up ? And is it suppose to appear on the screen or in Messages on the Mac ? This option was working fine until I had to reset my iphone to bring it back to the manufacturer settings and then did a restore from a backup. On top of that, when I turn on iMessage on the iPhone, it gives me the message "Waiting for activation..." and that message never goes away. And under my Send & Receive, the phone number under which I can be reached for iMessages is in grey and the wheel keeps on turning as if it can't activate it. Any reasons for this ?

I had the same problem, but found a simpler solution.

In my case, the issue was in my Messages preferences on my Mac. Under accounts, there is a section called: "You can be reached for messages at:" after which I had my AppleID email, and a phone number listed. But, my phone number was not checked, since I had only been using iMessages not SMS. Once I checked the box next to the phone number, I got several pop-ups for the authentication numbers that had been sent previously.

Warning: don't use the first authentication number that pops up. If you have tried several times, this will be an old number. Instead, close all of the pop-ups and try again.

Hope this saves someone from having to reset their phone and lose all of their network settings.

In my case, the phone number is already checked on my Mac. I have tried the other procedure of resetting my iphone as well and yet, my Mac still will not give me an activation code. I believe I have done everything that I could. If someone else has another solution, please share.

GregCAust - Thank you, you instruction helped me, but I really was not ready to loose WiFi passwords from all networks, so simplified instruction was:

(I have El Capitan on MBP and iOS 9.0.2 on IPhone)

1. Using iPhone, turn OFF iMessage in Settings/Messages (this is an important step)

2. Reboot iPhone

3. Turn ON iMessage

4. Login with AppleID (same as iMessage on Mac)

5. Confirm popup on Mac about new iPhone device logged into iCloud.

6. Press Text Message Forwarding just below this (may take a few seconds to appear after turning iMessages on)

7. Slide button on for one or all preferred devices - POP-UP appeared on Mac (what was missing before)

8. Enter digits into popup

8. Device should be connected, shown by a green slide bar. If not power down the relevant device (not the iPhone) and repeat steps.

i cant get this to work i tried everything still no luck! everything worked before with previous OS X had no problem setting up but with El Capitan stopped working

I tried these steps, re-signed into my wifi, turned imessage back on, then turned on text forwarding and STILL no code.

Worked for me!! Thanks

Eureka, thanks Wa1der

This worked without having to lose wifi passwords. This had not been working for me for several months.

Had the same problem after taking delivery of my new iPhone 6S Plus replacing my old 5S....worked a treat! :-)

Thanks!

Had the same problem, etc. Took the abstract route: checked FaceTime account, and found it wasn't logged in. This should re-enable your Message account (which may be slightly greyed) and when you tell your phone to forward calls and messages it brings up the activation code. (It did for me, but I'm not sure why it logged me out in the first place.)

I just figured out why I wasn't getting the code, it was because i somehow got logged out of my apple ID in iMessages. Check to make sure you are logged in, to do this go to iMessages (on your mac), up at the top Messages, Preferences, Accounts tab, and find your iMessages account and if your not logged in then log in and it will then send you the code.

Thank you. I was very close to wiping my phone out as I had tried everything else. It's odd, it's worked since he day yosemite came out but the last week I couldn't get the code to get texts forwarded. resettings network settings did the trick- thanks much

This helped me, but I had to ensure I had my Apple ID enabled on my iPhone (just as it is on my iPad) before it would work. Once I did that, codes appeared properly on both Mac and iPad. (Weirdly, before doing this, Messages launched itself on my Mac when it was supposed to show a code, but never showed the code.)