Cannot send group iMessage from laptop

Question

Level 1

8 points

Cannot send group iMessage from laptop

Hi all,

I have switched to a new iphone 6 few days ago. Since then, I can only send imessage to single people from my laptop. For a group conversation, the content is synced with my phone, but i don't have the option to reply from the laptop.

I have version 10.10.5 Yosemite.

I have tried all combinations of restart options but no success. Plus, i don't have the option "Group messaging" on my phone's settings in Messages like described in the apple support page.

Any help would be appreciated on this.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), iPhone 6 ios 9.3.1

Posted on Apr 24, 2016 5:12 PM

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Answer 1

rabih1804 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:08 PM in response to ember1205

Hi !

Thank you very much for your quick reply. I have tried the steps as suggested, but unfortunately it is still not working.

I have upgraded to El Capitan meanwhile still no luck.

Here's a screenshot of my Messages options, the "group messages" does not appear.

Thanks for any help.

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Answer 2

razmee209

Level 10

199,206 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:13 PM in response to rabih1804

rabih1804 wrote:

Hi all,

I have switched to a new iphone 6 few days ago. Since then, I can only send imessage to single people from my laptop. For a group conversation, the content is synced with my phone, but i don't have the option to reply from the laptop.

I have version 10.10.5 Yosemite.

I have tried all combinations of restart options but no success. Plus, i don't have the option "Group messaging" on my phone's settings in Messages like described in the apple support page.

Any help would be appreciated on this.

Send a group message with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

the above apple supported document doesn't mention anything about sending group message from laptop or macs.

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Answer 3

rabih1804 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:15 PM in response to razmee209

Hi,

I was referring to this page, where there is an option : Group Messaging.

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Everything was working fine until I switched to a new iphone 6 few days ago

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Answer 4

razmee209

Level 10

199,206 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:17 PM in response to rabih1804

rabih1804 wrote:

Hi,

I was referring to this page, where there is an option : Group Messaging.

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Everything was working fine until I switched to a new iphone 6 few days ago

again that link and the link I posted doesn't even mention sending group imessasge from laptop or MAC it clearly states in the title iphone, ipad or ipod touch.

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Answer 5

ember1205

Level 2

189 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:22 PM in response to razmee209

razmee209 wrote:

rabih1804 wrote:

Hi,

I was referring to this page, where there is an option : Group Messaging.

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Everything was working fine until I switched to a new iphone 6 few days ago

again that link and the link I posted doesn't even mention sending group imessasge from laptop or MAC it clearly states in the title iphone, ipad or ipod touch.

Out of curiosity...

Why might a Mac be prohibited from sending a group message but an iPod Touch would be allowed? Neither has direct access to cellular service and is restricted to iMessage only (unless added as a text forwarding device from a phone).

I do not see the Group Message option on my Mac, so it seems that there's a definite difference in functionality. I just wonder why?

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Answer 6

ember1205

Level 2

189 points

Apr 24, 2016 5:20 PM in response to rabih1804

Log out of your iCloud account in the Messages app on the phone. Then, disable iMessage and restart the phone.

When the phone comes back up, enable iMessage and wait for activation to complete. Then sign in to your iCloud account. Make sure the Mac is listed for Text Message Forwarding and it's enabled. You should also be able to enable MMS and Group Messaging on the phone again.

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Answer 7

rabih1804 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:28 PM in response to ember1205

@razmee209 : I was talking about the regular iMessages application on the mac. I usually can send/receive text messages from the laptop, and they are synced with the phone. Now I can send/receive/read text messages to anyone, but for group messages I can only read/receive messages, I don't have the text field option to reply from the laptop. However, as soon as I receive a new message on the group, it is syncronised and I can see it on the laptop.

@ember1205 : In reference to your initial suggestion, I thought that the Group Messaging option has to be activated on the phone before it can work on the laptop, just you like you have to activate the Transfer text to a device option.

So my issue is : Text field to reply to a group message does not appear on laptop while it appears for messages to one contact only. Additionally, all messages are synchronised on the laptop wether it is a single or group message.

I hope my issue is clear now. Thanks both for your help.

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Answer 8

ember1205

Level 2

189 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:32 PM in response to rabih1804

My phone has Group Messaging enabled.

I created a new message on my Mac (text-forwarding device) and added to iMessage users to the "TO" field. Seemed fine. I added a third person that is SMS only. Everyone's name changed to green. I deleted the SMS user (2 iMessage users left) and everyone's name changed to blue.

I didn't actually try and SEND one, but it does seem like it could work.

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Answer 9

razmee209

Level 10

199,206 points

Apr 25, 2016 4:22 PM in response to rabih1804

Are you talking about this?

Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

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