How to fix Receive/Send iMessage Not Working On Mac 2023, MacBook Pro- Q&A – Issues

Many Mac users have been complaining that unable to use the Messages app or iMessage send or receive on your Mac running macOS 12 Monterey or macOS Big Sur with effects or Catalina. I Know macOS has the biggest update ever, Are you a new Mac user or Setup Clean install macOS. Then you might be not getting or sending a message from your Mac cause old settings are reset or overwritten.

In this article, we cover all major issues and troubleshooting tips on how to refresh your Mac again to use iMessage.

Thankfully, Apple is abandoning the need to download third-party applications and developing a better world for its customers. If you want to connect with a video call, then simply go to FaceTime [Having FaceTime issues], want to pay money then Apple Pay is there for you, etc. Likewise, to text someone without spending extra bucks then use iMessage, only you will need an internet connection. All these facilities are available on almost all devices like Mac, MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

Though it will take some time to build a stable platform. Till then we have to face and fix our issues whether it is FaceTime Not Working or iMessage waiting for activation. The problem with iMessage in Mac after updating to macOS, in spite of being perfectly logged into iCloud are showing Authentication error, and so iMessage is down in mac after Monterey or Big Sur Update.

iMessage Problems on Mac & MacBook, That Won’t Receive and Send: macOS Not Working

My Mac Won’t receive or send Message: is the apple server down? Check Apple System Status. Ope this link to your Device Browser and look forward to the iMessage service. It should be green to work iMessage perfectly in your region. Check out these links for the different regions where you are from?

• System Status in Canada:
  • https://www.apple.com/ca/support/systemstatus/
• System Status in France:
  • https://www.apple.com/fr/support/systemstatus/
• System Status in the UK:
  • https://www.apple.com/uk/support/systemstatus/
• System Status in India
  • https://www.apple.com/in/support/systemstatus/

Messages app on Mac required valid authentication; First Authenticate your Apple ID in the Message app to start New Conversation, receive a message, or reply text message.

Before Starting your fix, Make sure about the Date and Time Updated on Mac with the current location.

• Open the “Messages app” on Mac using Spotlight Search.
• Are you using the Message app the first time then you need to log in with your Apple ID?
• After a long time, you haven’t used Mac for Message. Logout and Login Message app on Mac.
• Go to top Menu” > “Messages” > “Preferences” > “iMessage” > “Sign Out”
• And “Sign in” again.

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Unable to log in with Apple ID On Mac’s iMessage or FaceTime app

Reboot your Mac in Safe more works in most cases, my Reader “titioft” share the problem and fix that work for him, boot in safe mode (maintain shift key while powering-on the mac until the beep and the apple logo). That helps you to login back into iMessage & FaceTime.

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Everything is Fine then use iMessage for Apple ID

Use Your Apple ID for iMessage if reach message via Phone number is not working or iMessage Deactivated for a mobile number for any reason or not activated. we can set up these things under the Message app’s Preference on Mac. Open Messages On Mac > Preferences from Top Menu > Click on iMessage Tab > Settings Tab > You can be reached for Messages at “Select Apple ID checkbox” that’s it.

Try Reset Then Rebuilt keychain for iMessage on Mac

We can rebuild the keychain by simply unlocking the keychain login and Reset by deleting the Keychain iMessage from Mac and Restore after restarting your Mac. Follow the below sequential steps that most people found helpful who are struggling to use Messages on MacBook or Mac.

1. From Launchpad, Search Keychain, and Open keychain on Mac.
2. On the Keychain window, Click on the Login option and From the top menu, File > Unlock Keychain “Login”.

The keychain window will ask to enter your Mac System login password.

Once you verified, Your Mac Keychain will be rebuilt. Now Test with the Message app, Hopefully, it will work. in it’s not working then delete FaceTime Keychain and Reset with the below steps.

1. Next, it Reset your iMessages Keychain.
2. On your Mac’s keychain window, Search “com.apple.facetime” from the top search box.

You will find one result, Right-click on and Select Delete Keychain profile. Delete “com.apple.facetime:registrationV2”.

Now Restart your Mac and Re-login your iMessage.

That’s it.

Send and Received Text message from another device that signed in same iMessage account

Use your Mac when your iPhone is nearby, Start sending and receiving a Text message from your Mac, Before that you must have enabled text Message forwarding on an iOS device.

1. To enable Go to the Settings app on the iPhone.
2. Find and Tap on the Messages option.
3. Next, Tap on Text Message Forwarding and Enable the toggle for your Mac or Macbook.
4. That’s it. Now you will get a notification on your Mac when you receive a text message on your iPhone.

Delete iMessage Cache File Under the Library

First of all, Open the Finder window on Mac. Now, Go to the top Menu and Go > Go to Folder.

Now on your Finder window, New popup windows appear on the screen, Enter the below path and Hit to Go.

•  ~/Library/Caches

Next, Find the Folder named,

• com.apple.icloudhelper
• Com.Apple.Messages
• Com.Apple.imfoundation

Select the above folder and drag it to a Trash bin. Now Go back to Library Folder and Find the Preferences folder. Finder the Below files and folder and delete them.

• com.apple.iChat
• com.apple.icloud
• com.apple.ids.service
• com.apple.imagent
• com.apple.imessage
• com.apple.imservice

After that Reboot your Mac and try again. I m sure this will fix the issues iMessage not Delivery and failed to send from the macOS message app.

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problem 2: Contacts not Showing in iMessage

You are unable to start a new conversation because no other device was found on Mac. First Sync all the iPhone contacts means iCloud contacts to your Mac.

• Go to “System Preferences” on Mac.
• Click on “iCloud” > Login with “Apple ID” if not > Enable or “Keep selected Contacts”.

That’s it.

More, you can create Group chat for text with multiple people at once. Add more contacts and enjoy.

Now, you can search All the Contacts and Apple ID saved in the contacts app. Not necessary all contacts have iMessage enabled.

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Problem 3: iMessage not sent: Your message could not be sent

• “Your Message Could Not Be send, Not Register with iMessage“
• You can only send or This Apple ID or number for that iMessage activated.
• We can set it from the iOS device: First, try to activate iMessage on the Phone number. In case you failed, iMessage Waiting For Activation error then try to enable iMessage on Apple ID.

Activate iMessage on Apple ID from the iOS device:-

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Problem 4: iMessage not syncing between Mac (Mojave/Catalina) and iPhone (iOS 12/13)

iMessage not syncing between Mac and iOS Devices

• Turn on “Sync Now” in the Messages app on Mac,
• Open the “Messages app” on Mac.
• Go to “Top menu” > “Preferences” > “iMessages” > Enable “Messages in iCloud”
• Also Enable On iOS: Go to the “Setting app” on iPhone > “Profile Name” > “iCloud” > “Turn on Toggle” for Messages.

 

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Problem 5: Not Receiving Message for particular contacts or all

You should check Do not Disturb not turned on for the contact from Message app contact details.

• Open your Conversation, Tap on “Details” at the top-right corner of the app.
• Uncheck “Do Not Disturb”.

-> Check Blocked Contacts in iMessage

Contacts added in Blocked list unable to receive iMessage or send from your Mac. First, check the settings and unblock them.

• Go to the Messages app preference on your Mac (MacOS Mojave/ macOS Catalina), Open “Messages app” > “Preferences” > “iMessage” Tab > “Blocked” Tab > Select “Contact” and Click on (-) sign to remove from list.

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Problem 6: Unable to Sign in Apple ID in iCloud on Mac

• Try Again or Force Close app, I think it should be okay now.

Log Out of iCloud account on Mac

• Step 1: Click on the “Apple menu”. Open “System Preferences”.
• Step 2: Choose “iCloud”.
• Step 3: Click “Sign Out”.

• Step 4: Select “Keep a Copy”.
• Step 5: Download all files locally.
• Step 6: Click “Keep on This Mac”. This will save credentials locally.
• Step 7: Reboot Mac.

Re-Launch Messages app on Mac

• Step 1: Open the Messages app on Mac. Log in with your Apple ID that you use on other devices (iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch)
• Step 2: After login successfully, you now send and receive iMessage on Mac.

Log into iMessage

• Step 1: Open “iMessage”.
• Step 2: Enter “iCloud” details.
• Step 3: Click “Next”.
• Step 4: Tap “Done”.

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Your Mac Stuck on Date and Time Zone [iMessage/FaceTime issues]

Date and Time in Smart device is a crucial part of the system to work correctly, Your Smart device creates a log file that helps to prepare your data and send it over at the right time. Sometimes users are looking for the Timestamp of the message also called last seen. This point plays an important role here. Now, Let’s check how to do and set it Automatically or Manually depends on where you are? Select contradict options if Date & Time Automatically then select Manually or Manually to Automatic. The reason is some Firewall systems are stuck on the update date and time.

• First Go to the Apple logo on your Mac > System Preference.
• Next, to This option, Select Date & Time.  Click on the lock icon and enter a password to change the setting right now. Enter your Mac’s username and password. Now uncheck the option, Set Date and Time Automatically.
• Next, in the same windows, Move to the Time Zone tab. And Manually enter your location here, Click on Wold map to set your country. After change the time zone, close windows and reboot your Mac.

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Problem 7: iMessage Sound Not playing on Mac: Mute & Unmute

Check Your Mac’s system sound is turned on.

• Open Messages app on Mac > Top Menu “Messages” > “Preferences” > “General” Tab > Select “Play Sound effects“
• Do not disturb should be disabled

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Problem 8: Keep Messages On Mac: iMessage Text

For Messages app on Mac, Open Messages app on Mac

• Go to “Top menu” > “Messages” > “Preferences…”
• Next to click on the “General” Tab > Select One of three options from the Dropdown list.

• Forever
• One Year
• 30 Days

In case you remove the conversation from the list of Messages app.

• Another option is here that prevents and stays all the conversation after you delete or remove/ Closed.
• Enable – “Save history when conversations are closed”.

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Problem 9: Old Conversation Won’t load or isn’t save

Force Close app and Reopen Messages app on Mac.

Change: Save Received Files to the location for message app on Mac

• Go to Message preferences page, “Messages” > “Preferences” > “General” > Use Dropdown option and Click on “Other”.
• Choose Finder location and “save” it.

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Problem 10: How to use Tapback on Mac’s Messages app

• Click and Hold on Message to see quick Tapback options in the popup. Or Right-click on Message to see Tapback option.

Problem 11: iMessage Effects Not Working on macOS Big Sur or later

Same as iOS & iPadOS, Your MacOS required a system motion effect. We can find the Reduce motion settings on macOS Under the Accessibility in System Preferences on MacBook, Mac. Follow the Below steps and Play iMessage Screen Effects and Bubble effects on your Messages app on Mac.

1. Go to the Apple Logo from top Mac Menu > System Preferences.

Now, Select the Accessibility settings.

Next, select Display from the sidebar and Uncheck the Reduce motion. Now you will play the message effects on the Mac messages app.

Here’s the test in below screen,

That’s it.

Above are the most common Q&A for iMessage problems that help to fix and answer your questions. More Burning Questions and troubleshooting, please share with us via comments.