iMessage stopped working on MacOS 10.13.6

Question

Level 1

24 points

iMessage stopped working on MacOS 10.13.6

I am running a MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2017; 2,8 GHz Intel Core i7; 16 GB of RAM; running MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6 (17G3025).

I updated the latest Security Update 2018-002 and afterwards, my iMessage stopped working. It was fine before.

Prior to the update, I was able to send and receive messages on my Mac (Messages in iCloud was synced and I could see the parity between devices), and after the update, iMessage won't send messages; I have been logged out inexplicably; my "Start New Conversations" pane is consistently set to my phone number (I always set to my email address on all my devices -- never my phone number); I get notices on my devices that I have added iMessage "on a new Mac."

I have logged out and logged back in, quit the app and even restarted my machine a few times. I am unsure what to do except to upgrade to Mojave, but I am currently running apps that I am unsure will work well after updating (not Apple's fault. I need the apps to go thru some updates first).

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6), For Work.

Posted on Nov 5, 2018 5:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 5, 2018 12:10 PM in response to Philip Rae

Hi,

From about Yosemite onwards there can be issues that arise when you Update or Upgrade the OS that cause the App to have issues signing in with the iMessages server.

It seems to affect all types of Macs and Apple don't seem to be able to track it down. (they also never admit to issues until they have found a fix).

The only solution is to phone them (Apple Support/Care) and state you have an Apple ID issue (free to fix) and then move up the different levels of responders until you can find one that can look at the server.
See When the iMessages account will not Login

You ID is likely to have become blocked.

It is Device Specific as it uses each Device's Serial Number as part of the key to prove it is "you".

This means the same Apple ID will work on other device and even other Logins such as iTunes and iCloud itself.

Old style Syncs (Display on All Devices) is still likely to keep your Mac showing recent Messages using the iPhone Number.

The issue can be created if you Migrate a Mac User account from one computer to another, including the Keychain. The Keychain holds an IDS: yourAppleID-Auth Token item that contains the Password, ID and Serial Number which will not work when it is on another computer.

In some cases deleting the IDS item will allow a new one to be created and allow you to login. Prolonged attempts will get you Blocked as above.

8:10 pm Monday; November 5, 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)

Reply

Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,783 points

Nov 5, 2018 6:13 AM in response to Philip Rae

You didn't mention if toy tried signing out of both...

Filed under the technical glitch label, this solution also seems to work more often than not when the solution offered above doesn’t work.

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Messages > and toggle off iMessage at the top. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on.

On your Mac, go to Messages > Preferences… > Accounts. Make sure iMessage is selected in the left column, then click Sign Out. Once signed out, wait a few seconds then sign back in.

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2014/08/21/imessage-not-syncing-between-mac-iphone -ipad-fix/

Reply

Answer 3

Philip Rae Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 5, 2018 10:10 AM in response to BDAqua

I didn't sign out of my devices, as it's relegated to my Mac, not my iPad or my iPhone. They are in sync (due to Messages in iCloud).

The issue isn't about the sync, the issue is about the iMessage simply not working. As I mentioned, iMessage won't send messages; I have been logged out inexplicably over and over; my "Start New Conversations" pane is consistently set to my phone number; I get notices on my devices that I have added iMessage "on a new Mac."
In addition, any syncing issue should/could be iCloud (as in, the toggle in iCloud > Messages > On). The link to the article is from 2014, which might make sense back then, but Messages in iCloud should take care of any sync issues.
This is something entirely different; the app just does not work.

Reply

Answer 4

Philip Rae Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 1, 2018 4:33 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your responses.

The issue still persists (even though I have not reached out to Apple — that takes time that I don’t currently have atm). I have noticed that it’s got something to do with Apple’s iCloud server (or something along those lines) as I see the “Dowloading from iCloud” loader bar, and it never ends. It just loads for the entire day.

I can’t send messages, but I see messages that I send from my iPhone eventually show up, and messages I receive show up, tho the entire message thread blanks out and I only see the last received message.

It’s all v strange, and I’ve resorted to just keeping iMessage closed and not opening it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Reply

iMessage stopped working on MacOS 10.13.6

Similar questions