Messages won't sync - Mojave

Question

Level 1

11 points

Messages won't sync - Mojave

Just got a new iMac Pro with Mojave, and set it all up. Messages shows a blank page, and none of my messages are syncing to the new iMac. I am logged in to iCloud, and my iPhone, iPad, and a different Desktop machine are all sharing contacts, messages, etc. via iCloud with no problem.

In fact, when the new iMac was set up, I got a message on my other devices letting me know that contacts, messages, etc. were being shared with the new machine.

I am pretty sure it is set up properly - still no sync.

Ideas anyone?

iMac Pro (2017), macOS Mojave (10.14.1)

Posted on Nov 15, 2018 7:42 PM

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Answer 1

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 15, 2018 7:45 PM in response to bigZ26

Did you activate iMessage on your new Mac?

Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 16, 2018 4:31 PM in response to bigZ26

But still no enable this account in iCloud and “sync now”?

if no: sign out icloud on all devices. Wait a few min.

then restart each and sign back in.

(did you turn off text forwarding on phone ?

also, are you receiving NEW texts messages in iMessage, or are you not receiving any at all. This is importang for me to know.)

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Answer 3

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 16, 2018 1:20 PM in response to bigZ26

I just notice something in your screenshot!

See where it says "start new conversations from? It appears that you do not have a "check" in that box. check that box!

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Answer 4

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 16, 2018 2:11 PM in response to bigZ26

Ok thanks for the replies. Sigh into your Apple ID

https://appleid.apple.com/#!&page=signin

There you will see at the top,

Apple ID on left: Reachable At on right:

If you do not see the email/phone that you wish to include in iMessage, click the EDIT BUTTON to the left of

Reachable At and add it.

Also, are you using 2 factor Authentication? I suggest that you do. You can do that on your Apple ID page, as well:

see here- but first turn off two step verification.

Switch from two-step verification to two-factor authentication - Apple Support

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Answer 5

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 16, 2018 2:31 PM in response to bigZ26

Another thing- is text forwarding turned on in your phone?

How to forward SMS/MMS texts on your iPhone - Apple Support

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Answer 6

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 6:44 AM in response to Cåts

If by "activate" you mean signed into my AppleID on iMessage - yes.

I can sign out and sign back in, and my other devices pop up a message saying "Your AppleID and phone number are now being used for iMessage on a new Mac". So the communication among all of my devices via iCloud appears to be working, but still no past messages appear on the new Mac.

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Answer 7

Cåts

Level 5

4,584 points

Nov 16, 2018 11:38 AM in response to bigZ26

On your Mac

open Messages: in the upper left of your menubar next to the Apple, you see "Messages"

Click that and in the drop down, hit "preferences".

You'll see this window:

enable this account should be checked

enable messages in iCloud should be checked - then to the right, click sync now

and on on your device, iCloud - apps using iCloud -messages should be in like this

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Answer 8

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 4:34 PM in response to Cåts

Those buttons still don't show up in iMessage preferences. On my iPhone, I cycled the text forwarding button a few times - no change.

I am receiving new text messages on all devices, including the new iMac.

Still no sync of old messages. I will try logging out of iCloud on all devices.

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Answer 9

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 1:44 PM in response to Cåts

It is checked.

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Answer 10

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 1:46 PM in response to Cåts

The "Start new conversations from:" is a pull-down menu with all four of my contact emails/phone numbers. The iPhone number is checked in the pull-down.

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Answer 11

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 4:24 PM in response to Cåts

I see the new iMac in the "Reachable" list. I am using 2FA.

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Answer 12

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 4:25 PM in response to Cåts

Yes, and the list of emails and phone numbers to forward to is complete.

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Answer 13

bigZ26 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 16, 2018 12:06 PM in response to Cåts

Cats,

Thanks for helping out. Unfortunately, it is not that simple.....

For some reason, on Mojave (at least the version that I have installed), iMessage has a different Preferences box. I have attached mine here. The "Enable Messages in iCloud" box and the "Sync Now" button are missing.

New iMessages are showing up on all my devices, including this new iMac, however, the syncing of old messages is not taking place, nor can I find the settings to make it do so.