messages do not DELETE from all devices

Hi,

How many and what devices ?

How we got to iCloud syncing in iOS 11.4 and macOS 10.13.5

Turn on the app on the iPhone (Settings > Messages) This enables the iPhone Number once the Verifying finishes.

On the Mac open Messages and in the Preferences > Account add an Apple ID that is iCloud Valid. This enables the Messages app on the Mac.

Then you can Add the Apple ID to the iPhone in Settings > Messages > Send and Receive.

This will create a pop up on the Mac to say the iPhone is using the Number and th Apple ID (so they are now linked.) The Pop up has to be accepted to Enable the iPhone Number and a Receive At option on the Setting in Messages on the Mac (it also creates/show the "Start Conversations From..." drop down).

There are extra steps for Allowing SMS Messages to go to and be sent from the Mac.

This was the state of play up to the 2 versions of each OS listed above.

3rd and subsequent devices can add the Apple ID and all the other devices get pop up to say it (they) is (are) using the same IDs (Apple ID and iPhone Number).

This would only Display iMessages on all devices rather than being a full on sync.

Each iMessages you wanted to delete had to be done on each device in turn.

At the OS thresholds listed above you could on the Mac version enable iCloud Syncing.

This only uses the iCloud system as a server base and you cannot enable it in System Preferences > iCloud and the Messages cannot be seen on the web page for your iCloud Login.

So, in Summary:-

The iPhone need to be Enabled for iMessages.

The Apple ID needs to be on all devices.

Essentially the Send and Receive settings need to have both the iPhone number and the Apple ID active as Receive and send options.

Possible issues.

Turning Off either the Apple ID on the iPhone (Not Signing Out but just deselecting the Apple ID as an active option) or the iPhone number on the Mac version can lead to issue with the"sync" as it was originally working.

In some cases there can be an issue where the Mac version using the Apple ID does not login and you see what can be considered sync "Copies" coming in via the iPhone Number.

Again this can lead to issue with the Sync.

Of course that in turn will lead to issues trying to use the iCloud sync method.

Test

This can be long winded to describe.

On the Mac version, in Preferences > Accounts turn Off all the other IDs except the Apple ID.

On the iPhone do the same but in this case leave the iPhone Number as the one that is On.

(i.e. basically you are trying to make it work like before they were linked).

Now on the Mac version start a New Message.

Enter your iPhone Number manually including the Country Code

(if you stick in your name you are not shown the My Card from Contacts to be able to select the Number)

Send an iMessage.

If the iPhone does not get it then there is a good chance the Apple ID is not logged in properly.

If that is the case you will need to work though this Users Tip When the iMessages account will not Login

The last bit about Phone Apple Support is also long winded as you have to politely move up the levels of Responders until one can look at the server info.

It is likely your Apple ID has become blocked. But it is only from your Mac and also the iMessages are standalone servers so it does not affect any other login. (i.e. only Messages looks like it has an issue)

NOTES

Apple ID issues are free to fix.
Reinstalling the OS will not work (often offered up by lower level Responders.)

8:51 pm Friday; October 5, 2018