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User profile for user: price_01
price_01 Author
User level: Level 1
27 points

Why isn't iMessage working on my mac?

Hello,

Every time I try to send a message from my computer, immediately a red exclamation point pops up and it says not delivered. I am connected to wifi so I know that it's not a connection issue. I've allowed text message forwarding for my computer from my iPhone so I don't think that that's a problem. I've enabled my account for messaging on my mac and it says that iMessage is active and that I can send messages. The one thing that may offer something is that when I sign out and sign back in again, it usually says that there has been an authentication error, and it gives me a pop up notification on my phone that my appleid is being used on a new device even though I've been signed on to my computer since I got it. I have the latest version of the macbook pro and it is running macOS High Sierra (10.13.2).


Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Jan 18, 2018 6:49 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: i_rina
i_rina
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Jan 20, 2018 12:35 AM

Hey there, price_01!

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities. From your post, I understand that you are unable to send messages from your MacBook Pro. When you try, you get a red exclamation mark.I'm happy to help!

It sounds like you've checked all of your settings to make sure they looked correct--that's a fantastic first step! Since they are correct, but you're still having trouble, I would suggest signing out of iMessage on both your MacBook Pro and your iPhone, and then signing back in and setting up SMS forwarding again, starting with your iPhone. You can do that following the steps below:
  1. Sign out of iMessage on your MacBook Pro: Messages Settings preferences on Mac - Apple Support
  2. Sign out of iMessage on your iPhone under Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > tap your Apple ID > tap Sign Out. Then, go back to Settings > Messages and turn the iMessage toggle off.
  3. Restart both your Mac (by selecting the Apple  menu > Restart...) and your iPhone: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
  4. Turn on, and sign into, iMessage on your iPhone, then on your Mac: Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support
  5. Set up SMS forwarding using Continuity: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support
Have a great day!
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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: i_rina
i_rina
User level: Community Specialist

Jan 20, 2018 12:35 AM in response to price_01

Hey there, price_01!

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities. From your post, I understand that you are unable to send messages from your MacBook Pro. When you try, you get a red exclamation mark.I'm happy to help!

It sounds like you've checked all of your settings to make sure they looked correct--that's a fantastic first step! Since they are correct, but you're still having trouble, I would suggest signing out of iMessage on both your MacBook Pro and your iPhone, and then signing back in and setting up SMS forwarding again, starting with your iPhone. You can do that following the steps below:
  1. Sign out of iMessage on your MacBook Pro: Messages Settings preferences on Mac - Apple Support
  2. Sign out of iMessage on your iPhone under Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > tap your Apple ID > tap Sign Out. Then, go back to Settings > Messages and turn the iMessage toggle off.
  3. Restart both your Mac (by selecting the Apple  menu > Restart...) and your iPhone: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
  4. Turn on, and sign into, iMessage on your iPhone, then on your Mac: Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support
  5. Set up SMS forwarding using Continuity: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support
Have a great day!
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User profile for user: price_01
price_01 Author
User level: Level 1
27 points

Jan 20, 2018 12:42 AM in response to i_rina

Thank you for all the advice! I actually came to my computer today to find that iMessage was working again! My computer had restarted to update to a new version of some app and it walked me back through some of the systems settings questions I had answered when I first got my computer. After that, all of my settings have gone back to normal. I'm guessing my computer restarting to update an app had the same effect as your suggestions would have had. Thanks!

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Why isn't iMessage working on my mac?

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