Messages on iphone not syncing with mac

How to set up iMessage on your Mac

Updated on March 28, 2022

What to Know

• On the Mac, go to the Messages program > Messages > Preferences > Settings > sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone.
• In the You can be reached for messages at section, check all available phone numbers and email addresses.
• Set the Start new conversations from drop down to the same phone number on your iPhone and Mac.

This article explains how to do sync your messages and how to fix it if the Messages app sync isn't working.

How Do I Sync Text Messages Between iPhone and Mac?

Apple assumes you'll want all of your iMessage texts available on both your iPhone and Mac, so it makes syncing messages between devices easy. You might have enabled automatic syncing when you set up both devices. To make sure all text messages sync between iPhone and Mac, follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, to go Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. You'll need the information shown on this screen for your Mac settings.

2. On your Mac, open the Messages app.
   

3. Click the Messages menu.
   

4. Click Preferences.
   

5. Click the iMessage tab.
   

6. Confirm the Apple ID you're logged into here is the same as the one you use on your iPhone. If not, click Sign Out and then sign in with that Apple ID.

7. Check all the boxes in the You can be reached for messages at: section that are checked on your iPhone (see Step 1 for that information). This way, when someone texts you—to your phone number or any email address you may use with iMessage—they will arrive on both devices.

8. Match the Start new conversations from: drop-down on your Mac to the same setting on the iPhone. It ensures that any new message you send will be attached to the same phone number or email address on both devices and stay in a single message thread.

Why Are My iMessages Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac?

Syncing iMessage between iPhone and Mac usually works flawlessly, but sometimes messages get out of sync. In that situation, here are some other commons causes of, and solutions to, this problem:

• The texts are SMS, not iMessage: iMessages are not the traditional, standard text messages that any phone can send. iMessage is an Apple technology that only works on Apple devices. You can tell a standard SMS because of its green bubble, whereas iMessages have blue bubbles. Only iMessages can sync to a Mac (though the iPhone supports both kinds of text).
• You're signed into the wrong Apple ID: If you signed in with different Apple IDs on your Mac and iPhone, all of your messages might not sync between the devices. Make sure to sign in to the same Apple on iPhone (Settings > [your name]) and Mac (Messages > Messages > Preferences > Apple ID).
• Not all phone numbers and email addresses are enabled: Since you can get iMessages delivered to both your phone number and email addresses, you have to make sure all of your numbers and addresses are set up on your Mac and iPhone. If they're not, that could explain why messages are only showing up on one device. Match the settings on iPhone (Settings > Messages > Send & Receive) and Mac (Messages > Messages > Preferences > You can be reached for messages at) and see if that fixes the problem.
• You're not using Messages on both devices: The Messages app can only sync texts between Mac and iPhone if you're using the same app on both devices. There are many alternative text message apps available on the iPhone that you could be using. If you do not see texts sync, make sure you're using Apple's pre-installed Messages app on both devices.
  

FAQ

• How do I sync iMessage history to Mac?

  Turn on Messages in iCloud. From your iPhone, select Settings > your name > iCloud > and move the toggle to the right (on) next to Messages. To turn on Messages in iCloud on your Mac, go to Messages > Preferences > iMessage > and check the box beside Enable Messages in iCloud.

• How do I sync contacts to iMessage on Mac?

  Connect your iPhone and Mac to iCloud and turn on contact syncing. Go to System Preferences > iCloud > and select Contacts on your Mac. Repeat the steps on your iPhone; tap Settings > your name > iCloud > and toggle on Contacts.

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