Cannot send iMessages on my Mac but can receive them

I just tried the one from cabrownfromottawa way up, i think on page 5 of this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7528581?answerId=33300061022#33300061022. If that doesn't take you there, here is a copy: So I tried everything on all 4 of these pages and none worked.  Finally I contacted Apple Support and after getting passed to a 2nd level, having them have me capture some logs and have them analyzed, I got it fixed.

Close all applications, specifically Messages

Reboot

Spotlight search for Keychain Access

Search in Keychain Access for - com.apple.facetime

Right click on and delete - com.apple.facetime: registrationV1

Reboot

Launch Messages

It certainly worked for me! Good luck!

Hi,

What have you tried so far ?

I am about to go Off line where I am and a reply may be nearer to 24 hours away.

8:29 pm Thursday; September 14, 2017

Hi,

You do realise that Text Forwarding is sending SMS items from and to the iPhone so it can pass it on via the phone's carrier service ?

iMessages are not SMS.

The Original Poster even says have can send SMS.

8:27 pm Thursday; December 14, 2017

Hi,

Try this Users Tip When the iMessages account will not Login

Particularly the last part about phoning Apple.

If you have two Active Receive At IDs such as the Apple ID and the iPhone Number you may well see "Sync" "Copies" (They are not Syncs as they are just sent to all registered devices - nor are they true copies but it is a simple way to think of the same Message being sent to the Apple ID and the iPhone Number)

9:12 pm Thursday; February 15, 2018

Try this:

1. go to Keychain Access app in the Utilities folder

2. under the File menu, choose *Lock Keychain "Login"*

3. go to the File menu again and choose *Unlock Keychain "Login"*

4. enter your password when prompted.

I'm on Sierra. I could receive messages on all my devices but after an OS security update I could not send or reply in Messages on my laptop. I finally got a useful error message (STKeychainErrorDomain error -25299) from a third-party app (Airmail3) indicating it had a problem accessing the Keychain. They sent me to a lengthy Apple help forum about rebuilding my Keychain. I started with the easiest possible suggested fix (above) and (ridiculously) it solved all my problems.

Hi,

You're welcome.

6:53 pm Monday; April 2, 2018

So I tried everything on all 4 of these pages and none worked. Finally I contacted Apple Support and after getting passed to a 2nd level, having them have me capture some logs and have them analyzed, I got it fixed.

Close all applications, specifically Messages

Reboot

Spotlight search for Keychain Access

Search in Keychain Access for - com.apple.facetime

Right click on and delete - com.apple.facetime: registrationV1

Reboot

Launch Messages

This worked immediately for me.

Hope this might help someone else!

Hi,

Most likely the Apple ID is not logged in and you are seeing "sync" version via the iPhone Number.

See When the iMessages account will not Login

10:11 pm Sunday; October 21, 2018

Midonz solution worked. I had the same issue when upgrading.

by midonzFeb 20, 2018 12:07 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

Try this:

1. go to Keychain Access app in the Utilities folder

2. under the File menu, choose *Lock Keychain "Login"*

3. go to the File menu again and choose *Unlock Keychain "Login"*

4. enter your password when prompted.

I'm on Sierra. I could receive messages on all my devices but after an OS security update I could not send or reply in Messages on my laptop. I finally got a useful error message (STKeychainErrorDomain error -25299) from a third-party app (Airmail3) indicating it had a problem accessing the Keychain. They sent me to a lengthy Apple help forum about rebuilding my Keychain. I started with the easiest possible suggested fix (above) and (ridiculously) it solved all my problems.

Regarding this suggestion, the first in the thread:

midonzLevel 1 (13 points)

by midonz Feb 20, 2018 12:07 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

it worked perfectly for me and saved me so much time. Thanks!!

I tried this, but it did not work:

1. go to Keychain Access app in the Utilities folder

2. under the File menu, choose *Lock Keychain "Login"*

3. go to the File menu again and choose *Unlock Keychain "Login"*

4. enter your password when prompted.

I then tried this, and it did work for me:

1. Close all applications, specifically Messages
2. Reboot
3. Open Keychain Access
4. Search in Keychain Access for - com.apple.facetime
5. Right click on and delete - com.apple.facetime: registrationV1
6. Reboot
7. Launch Messages

IMac (27-in, Mid 2011) with High Sierra Version 10.13.6

Did you ever find a solution other than ditching your old user account? I'm seeing the exact same symptoms. Can't send imessage, but will send SMS. I even tried with different apple ID's. The only solution I found was to setup a new user, and all the problems went away. I just hate to go through the process of reconfiguring all my settings and preferences, but maybe that is the best solution...

I think the last update I received for Sierra must have reset something because that is when it stopped working. I just followed the steps above signing out of all accounts and signing back in and it immediately started working again. Thanks so much!

Check the messages on your phone. I noticed that my MacBook was turned off to send messages but was turned on to receive them. go to settings, messages, Text message forwarding. This should show all devices that can send and receive messages. If the computer is in the off position click it to the so that the slide turns green.

This symptom is closer to what I was first experiencing. After going through the various "stop/start Messages" dances, the symptoms changed. What happens now is that messages I get seem to be showing up on different platforms (I think it's whichever Apple thinks I'm using) but not the other devices. Additionally, the messages I send don't get copied into the threads on the other devices. YET, all my devices are getting and sending messages in one form or another.

Notably, this all started with the most recent OS upgrades, which hit my Mac, iPhone, Watch and iPad on about the same week.