joshuafromaustralia

Q: iMessage on my Mac no longer sends messages. It only sends SMS, even to contacts that have apple ID

Recently as of 3 Days ago, I was having no issues with iMessages on both iPhone 6 and Macbook Pro 2012.  Then, I began to have issues in regards to syncing. I can send messages that are blue via iPhone 6 just fine. But the issue is that Blue messages sent by iPhone do not get to my macbook, But when they are sent as SMS they are received by the Macbook Pro.  On the side of the MBP, when I send a message it only sends as SMS. This does show up on my iPhone.  So I guess to simplify the issue is that Blue Messages on my mac are not sending or receiving, but SMS are.   I have attempted several fixes but none have worked.  No settings were adjusted to maybe cause this. If you have had experiences with this

 

Attempt Fixes

1) Sign out of apple id on both devices and then sign back in.

2) Restart both devices after several minutes.

3) Make sure phone setting (the forwarding device setting) is on.

4) Turn the forwarding device setting off then re-sync.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 22, 2015 10:59 AM

Close

Q: iMessage on my Mac no longer sends messages. It only sends SMS, even to contacts that have apple ID

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next
  • by merchantboys,

    merchantboys merchantboys Nov 28, 2015 7:23 PM in response to joshuafromaustralia
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 28, 2015 7:23 PM in response to joshuafromaustralia

    ANSWER!!! :-)   I'm so happy!

     

    I had the same problem. Updated iMac to El Capitan and everything was fine until I updated my iPhone 4s to an iPhone 6s.  All of a sudden, the iMessage on my iMac sent from my email and no matter how many times I signed out and in, the only option it gave me to "Start a New Conversation" was from my email. So, I had two texting conversations going on because my iMac email texts were not in sync with my phone number texts.

     

    SO... drum roll....  on your phone...   settings > messages > send & receive > ADD another email . . . then add the email for your apple ID which is what your iMac is using for texting.

     

    NOW . . . go back to your iMac....  messages > preferences > accounts > ... at the bottom of the accounts screen you'll see "Start a New Conversation".  Click the drop down and you should now see your cell number!  Choose it and all will be well in the world again. :-)

     

    Have a happy day!

  • by katter5,

    katter5 katter5 Dec 6, 2015 10:13 AM in response to cole_V
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 6, 2015 10:13 AM in response to cole_V

    Thank you !  This helped me.  Somehow my account was put in inactive status.  Followed your instructions to notice this and clicked to make active.  No longer have any issues, in fact all back dated txt msgs populated.

  • by pcallies,

    pcallies pcallies Dec 15, 2015 7:34 PM in response to James T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Dec 15, 2015 7:34 PM in response to James T

    This is exactly the problem and situation for me.  I also had my logic board replaced (graphics system had started to fail) and everything worked great when I got it back except iMessage/Messages.  I can still send SMS from my macbook via my iPhone.

     

    The reply from Ralph regarding serial numbers and Apple servers getting registration out of sync makes some sense to me.  If the serial number (or some other identifier) from the logic board was used as part of the iMessage registration and now that ID isn't present on my macbook because the logic board has been replaced, voila -- account sync issue.

     

    I tried removing my macbook from the devices registered to my iCloud account and then re-registered it.  That didn't work, but I added it immediately after I removed it.  Maybe I need to wait longer before adding it again.  Or maybe it'll just start working again in a few hours after all the Apple servers get the new configuration.

     

    In any case, I'm going to schedule a Genius Bar appointment.  Having this thread handy when I go to the Genius Bar will probably be very helpful.  At least I'll be able to point to other examples when the Genius says, "I've never seen that before."  Many thanks to you all.

     

    I'll reply to this thread when/if I find successful resolution.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 16, 2015 12:49 PM in response to pcallies
    Level 9 (72,957 points)
    Applications
    Dec 16, 2015 12:49 PM in response to pcallies

    Hi,

     

    In the Apple Icon Menu you can select "About this Mac".

     

    In versions prior to Yosemite you have to click the line about the version Number twice to see the Serial Number (if it is there).

    In Yosemite and later it is visible in the panel that shows up.

     

    If it is missing only and Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) can "restore" it.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:49 pm      Wednesday; December 16, 2015

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by pcallies,

    pcallies pcallies Dec 16, 2015 7:45 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Dec 16, 2015 7:45 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    The serial number is still present on my MacBook.  What does that mean?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 17, 2015 1:00 PM in response to pcallies
    Level 9 (72,957 points)
    Applications
    Dec 17, 2015 1:00 PM in response to pcallies

    Hi,

     

    It means that the Mac should then generate the IDS: Apple ID-Auth Token in the Keychain (where the italic bit is your email used for iMessages).

     

    If that is there in the Keychain it is more likely that the issue is that the Mac's use of the ID has been blocked at the iMessages servers.

     

    Basically the app on the iPhone and the Mac use the Serial Number to identify you and your devices, so that other people can't pretend to be you.

    It seems, as far as we can judge, that there is an over zealous security feature that is being triggered and blocks some people on their Mac only as each login is Unique doing it this way.

     

    The only solution is to phone Apple Care/Support and say your have an Apple ID issue (free to Fix and off the level one people's Script).

    You usually have to ask to speak to a Level 2.

    They used to be able to reset the iMessages servers regarding the use of the single device with the Apple ID issue.

    Now they tend to get you to jump through lots of hoops including suggestion a reinstall on occasions along with the Engineers getting involved.

    Persist politely that they reset the ID.

    They are still likely to say this will take 24 hours (judging by other recent posts).

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:00 pm      Thursday; December 17, 2015

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by mhalpin,

    mhalpin mhalpin Dec 31, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    FWIW I started having this prob a month or two ago (I think after I upgraded my computer, then my phone). At first it would only work with other iphone users, then it just kept the messages on my desktop and the ones on my phones as two separate identities (ie they appeared on one or the other, not both).

     

    I tried all the stuff mentioned here but what did it in the end was just turning off imessage on my phone and then logging back in.

  • by u2bonorox,

    u2bonorox u2bonorox Jan 5, 2016 10:30 AM in response to cole_V
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2016 10:30 AM in response to cole_V

    Hey Cole_V...I started out using the steps you outlined in this message and I wanted to share a step that was missed (for me, anyway, but possibly not for you... it depends on how many accounts you have set up).

     

    Once I got to "iMessages Preferences," then "Accounts", I could not find the field "Start new conversations from:". However, I also have three accounts...an individual account in my name, a business account with another name and a third option which is my Apple ID email address. The field "Start new conversations..." did not appear on any of the accounts EXCEPT the Apple ID account. I found that I was not logged into the Apple ID account. As soon as I logged in, I changed that field entry to my main (i.e. individual) account to start new conversations there (since it was defaulted to the Apple ID account) and suddenly it came online and is now working. I toggled around because at first, all the contacts were still highlighted in red. I tested one of my contacts and that's actually when I discovered my messages were coming from my Apple ID account so I changed the "Start new conversations..." field and that fixed that issue.

     

    After I did the initial test with the one contact, I clicked on each message with the contacts I've been messaging and one by one, they came out of the red.

     

    So to summarize: All I really had to do was log in on my Apple ID and it began working. Your steps were the only ones that helped me get to where I needed to be. It not only made me realize I had to log in, but I also had to know how to change where my messages were coming from. Thank you very much for sharing what worked for you. I want to also add that I believe iMessage went down once I upgraded to El Capitan and just never realized it since it was most likely a while until I used the application. It was probably long enough so that I never linked the failure of iMessage with the upgrade. I never changed any other settings and that's the only thing I've done recently that I can think of that tripped it off.

     

    I hope this helps others!

  • by brea15w,

    brea15w brea15w Mar 21, 2016 9:17 PM in response to joshuafromaustralia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2016 9:17 PM in response to joshuafromaustralia

    Hi! I was having this same problem on my computer.  Open up your messages app, go to preferences, then when that opens up the "accounts" tab should be selected. Then make sure your apple ID is selected and type in your apple ID password.  The only reason mine wasn't working was because I wasn't signed in.  I don't know why I wasn't but some how my computer logged me out.  Hope this works!!!

    Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 11.06.49 PM.png

    Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 11.07.32 PM.png

  • by ebivins,

    ebivins ebivins Apr 12, 2016 6:16 PM in response to merchantboys
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 12, 2016 6:16 PM in response to merchantboys

    merchantboys for the win!!

  • by pcallies,

    pcallies pcallies May 18, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I have no idea what changed in my case or when it changed in the recent past, but iMessage on my Mac is finally working!  My Genius Bar appointment and leaving my machine at the store for rebuild didn't fix the issue.  And escalation from the Genius Bar to Engineering didn't work (or maybe it did and it just took months).  Regardless, I am thrilled to finally have iMessage back on my Mac!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) May 18, 2016 11:53 AM in response to pcallies
    Level 9 (72,957 points)
    Applications
    May 18, 2016 11:53 AM in response to pcallies

    Good to hear.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:53 pm      Wednesday; May 18, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)
  • by c_tiffin,

    c_tiffin c_tiffin May 25, 2016 9:00 AM in response to joshuafromaustralia
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 25, 2016 9:00 AM in response to joshuafromaustralia

    I happened to have the same problem after getting my logic board replaced on my iMac.

    I restored my keychain from a couple weeks before I brought the computer into apple (thank GOD for time machine) and now it works.

     

    Magic.

     

    Just like many others on this feed, apple had no idea how to help me.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jun 2, 2016 2:05 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (72,957 points)
    Applications
    Jun 2, 2016 2:05 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    4thanx.gif for the 1helpful.png   Points

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:05 pm      Thursday; June 2, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)
  • by Gordon Jue,

    Gordon Jue Gordon Jue Jul 5, 2016 9:31 AM in response to cole_V
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Jul 5, 2016 9:31 AM in response to cole_V

    My daughter's iMessage had the same issue on her Macbook Pro.  Tried all of the suggestions.  I logged her iMessage out of all of her the devices.  On the mac iMessage app under preference I disabled the account.  Sent a couple messages on her iPhone to make sure it was just sending texts.  Rebooted her iPhone and restarted her mac.  Than went back to enable iMessages.  Got it back to work again....

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next