Wrong timestamp for SMS Messages

I've synced my iPhone Messages with the Messages app on my Mac, and it works great.

However, SMS messages often come with a timestamp ~30min prior to when they arrive/when I send them. Sometimes, because of this timing issue, they are stacked, instead of following the back-and-forth of the conversation, with the interlocutor's appearing as one block, and mine as another, since the interlocutor's all appear as if they came a half hour before.

How do I fix this?

MacBook, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Aug 8, 2018 2:51 PM

Top-ranking reply

Ralph-Johns-UK

Level 9

76,853 points

Posted on Aug 9, 2018 12:42 PM

Hi,

Check the Mac's Time and Date settings in System Preferences > Date and Time including the Time Server and Location.

Check that any Daylight Saving time is applied if required.

On the iPhone in Settings > General > Date and Time do the same things (Or as close as the settings allow)

A specific 30 mins does sound like one of those places that is offset by 1/2 hour rather than a more common 1hour Time Zone difference.

Having said that, if is is just SMS that is out in this manner it is more likely to be the server end with your Carrier's service.

8:42 pm Thursday; August 9, 2018

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 MacBookPro 15" 2016 (High Sierra 10.13.x)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 11.x and an iPad (2)

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21 replies

Aug 22, 2018 11:47 AM in response to Osiris Ani

Hi,

The original poster did not remark that the time stamps were different on his/her phone compared to the Mac.

The Reply was good enough for the Host reading it to mark it as Recommended (as the Original Poster has not marked it).

With your new info (albeit you could have a different problem) I can see that it could be read that the Mac has an issue.

Having said that the SMS has to arrive on the iPhone first so the process of syncing would suggest the issue belongs to both devices.

7:47 pm Wednesday; August 22, 2018

Aug 22, 2018 12:31 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi, OP here.

Yes, the problem is strictly with my Mac, not with the phone. The time is now off by over an hour and a half.

I use a VPN, so that may be contributing, but even when I disconnect it, the same problems occur.

I am texting with a friend now, who lives in the same city as me, and her texts are arriving at "1:45pm." It is currently 3:25pm.

I am not sure what other information to add. Please ask any relevant Q's.

~OP

Aug 26, 2018 12:44 PM in response to invisiblehand86

for the Points.

8:44 pm Sunday; August 26, 2018

Aug 26, 2018 6:58 PM in response to invisiblehand86

Help! I'm having a similar problem. All time settings are set to automatic. The messages come in on my iPhone correctly but my MacBook times are showing up to four hours prior. For example, at 6 pm I'm texting with someone on my MacBook and the times are showing at 2 pm. However, when I look at the same text messages on my iPhone, the times are correct. Which leads me to believe the problem is isolated to my MacBook. This problem began a few weeks ago (perhaps with the last update.) It's terrible because I use my MacBook for the majority of my texting and this incorrect time stamp puts them all out of order. I've tried all the things suggested in this thread, but it's not correcting the problem. Suggestions? Please? Thanks in advance!

Sep 9, 2018 11:35 AM in response to JAWWS

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

7:35 pm Sunday; September 9, 2018

Aug 30, 2018 8:11 PM in response to BrenFischer

Regardless of whether Date & Time and/or Time Zone are automatically set, check where they're at in Date & Time preferences on the Mac. Also check in Security & Privacy preferences to make sure Location Services is enabled itself as well as for Messages.

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Wrong timestamp for SMS Messages