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my iMac with os sierra 10.12.4, I cannot text to most contacts now, it seem to start after installing a new hp 7645 printer, I am having a texting problem

I just bought a new printer hp 7645, after installing it, I can't seem to text most of my contacts. Their name is in a colored box, it shows the number to be invalid or the phone number is not registered with messages. I can't figure out why and doing searches people have similar problems, but theirs are on their phone, where mine is my iMac, my phone and iPads aren't affected. I never had the problem before installing the printer, so I am assuming it must have something to do with it.


Any help would be appreciated, but keep it simple, I am not a computer geek and not familiar with some of your terminology.


Thank You

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Apr 9, 2017 8:40 PM

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Posted on Apr 10, 2017 11:58 AM

Being able to send SMS (text messages) from your Mac comes from a feature on your iPhone called Text Message Forwarding.


on your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. You should see your Mac in there, make sure its enabled. Also make sure both your iPhone (settings > iCloud) and your Mac (System Preferences > iCloud) are signed into the same Apple ID.


Let me know if this helps, for more information you can also check out the 'Set up SMS and MMS messaging' section of: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Question marked as Best reply

Apr 10, 2017 11:58 AM in response to cruiservtx

Being able to send SMS (text messages) from your Mac comes from a feature on your iPhone called Text Message Forwarding.


on your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. You should see your Mac in there, make sure its enabled. Also make sure both your iPhone (settings > iCloud) and your Mac (System Preferences > iCloud) are signed into the same Apple ID.


Let me know if this helps, for more information you can also check out the 'Set up SMS and MMS messaging' section of: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

Apr 9, 2017 9:02 PM in response to cruiservtx

See the following for a possible solution:


Possible Fixes for El Capitan and Later Installations


You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.


Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.


  1. Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
  2. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
  3. Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
  4. Repair the disk by booting the from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volumeentry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and returnto the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
  5. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button below Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
  6. Install Combo Updater Download macOS Sierra 10.12.4 Combo Update and install.
  7. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
  8. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the CommandandRkeys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
  2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
  3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continuebutton.

Apr 10, 2017 9:34 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks for the information, but I think I will have to think about if I want to tackle all those steps to solve my problem. Beings I am not a computer geek and with the bad luck I have had the last couple of years, I may be better off not doing it, maybe talk to apple care or take the computer to the apple store.


I do appreciate the help

Apr 10, 2017 5:56 PM in response to cruiservtx

Yup. iMessage is for texting Apple products. But SMS is texting everyone else. You have an SMS problem. You iPad does not have a phone number so it can't text non apple products by it self so it uses the phone number associated with your iPhone. It does that using text message forwarding. Follow the instructions on my previous post to get it working on your iPhone or call apple for assistance. Let me know if you have any questions.

my iMac with os sierra 10.12.4, I cannot text to most contacts now, it seem to start after installing a new hp 7645 printer, I am having a texting problem

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