I have iMessage synced between my iPhone, computer & iPad, but on my computer it only displays the phone numbers of the people I'm messaging with, no names or pictures like on my phone and tablet. I use Google contacts and calendars and everything is synced through that, but I've never had a problem before, and my iPad is fine. I've made sure my contacts are backed up to iCloud on computer & phone, but still no names.
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)
Hi,
Messages does not like it when you use two Accounts (Google and iCloud by the sound of things) to sync your Contacts.
Open the Contacts App and go to Preferences > Accounts and check only one option is in use.
You can also do this by checking every account in System Preferences > Internet Accounts including the iCloud one which can be long winded.
Double check the iPhone is using the same Account and is not set to "Keep on the iPhone".
I have seen one post where the Mac was set to use iCloud and the iPhone had been but the person found it was set to "Keep on iPhone" so the device was not syncing back info.
9:41 pm Sunday; December 13, 2015
Thank You! After a little house cleaning between iPhone & Mac, I found that my settings were on the wrong account. FYI for others, on my Mac I went to System Preferences > Internet Accounts, and made sure contacts were turned off for iCloud and were turned on for my Google account.
And it still won't show any names. :-(
Does iMessage on the Mac only work when contacts are set to iCloud, will they not work from a Google account?
Hi,
The Contacts App should sync between the devices no matter what account or service you choose.
It should work if both devices are then using Google as opposed to iCloud.
If you decide not to use iCloud then you should make sure that the List is left on one device at least (you get offered the Option when turning the Account off whether to "Keep on the Mac" (or iPhone) when you stop using it).
Technically the List stays in iCloud and you can test with a web Login to iCloud.com
Although I don't use it I would have thought that your Google Address Book can be accessed on a Google web page to check it is there.
If this side of things checks out (Both Address Books/Contacts Apps have names showing) then check both devices are using the same Apple ID for iMessages.
7:30 pm Sunday; December 27, 2015
imessage only shows phone numbers
