Level 1

119 points

iMessages not syncing on latest OS

I have an iPhone 7, iPad Mini, MacBook Pro, and iMac.

The iPhone and iPad are both running iOS 11.0.2.

The MacBook and iMac are both running macOS High Sierra 10.13.

Ever since updating my iOS devices to iOS 11, and my macOS devices to High Sierra, I've had significant issues with iMessage. I used to be able to have iMessage open on every device in front of me, and all conversations were always in sync. I could change devices and carry on conversations without missing a message. Now, with everything updated, everything is out of sync. My Mac's don't receive half the messages. If I sign out/sign in, I can sometimes get messages to start flowing through again.

I'm signed into every device with the same Apple ID. I have Text Message Forwarding enabled for all devices. They're all on the same network. I've tried signing out of iMessage on every device, rebooting, and signing back in one at a time. I get confirmation from every device when a new one is signed into iMessage. Everything stays syncronized for a bit, but eventually either the Mac's or the iOS devices will stop receiving messages. I'm looking at a conversation right now on my iMac that is 3-4 messages behind the same message I have open on my iPhone. If I were to send a message from my iMac right now, there would be a LONG delay in it sending, followed by it sending and all messages start updating again.

Really getting frustrated by it, not sure what else to try. Makes it very difficult to multitask during the day if I don't know if my messages are all in sync across all my devices.

Posted on Oct 4, 2017 12:51 PM

29 replies

Dec 28, 2017 8:47 AM in response to marcusdiddle

My problem with Messages is after I upgraded to High Sierra all of my prior Messages conversations on my MacBook Pro are gone. The only Messages that show up are those I sent after the upgrade to High Sierra. Is there any way to get all of my prior Messages conversation back??

bdk414

Level 1

25 points

Dec 31, 2017 4:23 PM in response to dianeoforegon

Thanks for the reply. I opened a new thread and was told that in fact deleting a message or text on one device does not delete it from another. Apparently it was in the beta but never made it to final release in iOS 11 or High Sierra. So I'm told. If I find out different and any solution I will follow up.

ranmach

Level 1

4 points

Mar 12, 2018 8:30 AM in response to marcusdiddle

I know this isn't any solution reply - but I have same issues. I've worked with apple support and they have done the basic reset imessage etc. which can jump start it... possiblity getting it to work for a while; but then it seems to show up again. Appears very "fragile"... I don't know if there is a good answer except wait to see if apple can resolve a problem that seems have been introduced into the software...

Oct 4, 2017 1:23 PM in response to marcusdiddle

I believe sync is not working on the Mac at this time for Messages.

marcusdiddle Author

Level 1

119 points

Oct 4, 2017 2:44 PM in response to dianeoforegon

There is no way to "remove" the account from Messages. Most you can do is "Sign Out" which disables iMessage. I've Signed Out on all four devices, rebooted, and signed back in, to no avail.

fscscott

Level 1

4 points

Oct 6, 2017 2:06 PM in response to dianeoforegon

I'm having the same problem and this didn't work for me.

Oct 9, 2017 9:49 PM in response to marcusdiddle

i'm having this same problem and its driving me insane.

Oct 13, 2017 10:38 AM in response to dianeoforegon

This worked for me, thanks!

Oct 13, 2017 11:32 AM in response to sofia gracia

You can delete the old folder MessagesXX now that Messages is working.

rswc90

Level 1

41 points

Dec 21, 2017 10:19 AM in response to dianeoforegon

I did this (with trepidation!) AND IT WORKED!!!! Thank you!

Feb 6, 2018 2:49 PM in response to jordan11685

i thought i signed out but this didnt work. How/where did you sign out?

thanks

Oct 31, 2017 11:11 AM in response to marcusdiddle

Sign out of your Messages account on your Mac, restart the computer, sign back in (it should prompt you for your Apple ID info, instead of the checkbox) and that should do the trick. It's been working for me for a few hours now, which is great compared to the previous situation.

Oct 12, 2017 2:04 PM in response to marcusdiddle

Hi,

I have the issue as well.

If I send from my iMac (Sierra) to my iPhone (restrict the Receive At to limit the Send from to the Apple ID and enter the iPhone Number in full) then the MacBook Pro (High Sierra) does not show the chat starting.

Turning the App on also does not help.

However Sending to the iPhone (the conversation is already there) then the MacBook Pro plays catch up.

This makes it look like App Sleep but there is no setting in the App for that (Get Info panel).

There is however a setting in Energy Saver on the MacBook Pro to "Enable Power Nap whilst Plugged into a Power Adapter"

I am not sure if this is new (This Macbook Pro is relatively new and I didn't look here when it was using Sierra).

However I have it turned Off right now and I am trying to let the Computer get to a point where it might power nap (? Sleep to some extent) and disconnect from the internet.

If it is I expect the result to look like a Browser after Sleep where it might start up faster than the computer get the internet back but requesting a new page looks no different and a time delay probably would not be noticed.

10:04 pm Thursday; October 12, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 11.x and an iPad (2)

bdk414

Level 1

25 points

Dec 31, 2017 2:42 AM in response to dianeoforegon

Have a related question and maybe you could answer. Are texts and imessages supposed to sync on a delete action? if I delete a message on my iPhone X it doesn't delete from my iMac or my macbook in messages, and vice versa. iPhone and iMac are both running the latest OS's. My macbook is topped out at El Capitan 10.11.6. My watch didn't even reflect that I had deleted a ton of messages from the phone it was set to "mirror." I currently deregistered the watch and rest it. Trying to get the phone and computer figured out first.

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iMessages not syncing on latest OS