How to sync iMessage from iPhone to Mac

Syncing your messages between an iOS device and a Mac should usually be a seamless experience, requiring very little input from you personally. But we’ve all had those moments when our devices do a sudden tech burp and iMessage stops working. If this is happening to you, here is how to sync iMessage from iPhone to Mac, to give it a little push again.

Read more: How to enable iMessage on iOS, macOS, and Apple Watch

How to sync iMessage from iPhone to Mac

Before proceeding with these troubleshooting tips, it’s a good idea to see if the issue is at Apple’s end. Therefore, go to Apple’s System Status page and look up iMessage. Green is good, red is not so good.

If you see that iMessage is green and therefore up and running, then here is how to begin the re-sync process. We will be focusing on the iPhone, but this works the same way for iPads too.

Ensure all devices are logged into the same iCloud account

This may seem like an obvious one, but if you’re running more than one iCloud account, it can be easy to mix them up. Since iMessage syncs via iCloud, all devices need to be logged into that one account. So check that first.

While you’re there, go to the Apps using iCloud section on your iPhone and check that Messages is enabled.

Tapping on it will give you the option to Sync this iPhone. Make sure it’s toggled green.

Toggle iMessage off on the iPhone then back on again

Next, you need to go to Settings–>Messages and ensure that iMessage is toggled on. If it already is, and it’s not working, toggle it off and back on again.

Enable Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone

Further down that screen, you’ll see an option called Enable Text Message Forwarding. This ensures that non-iMessage SMS’s are forwarded to your other devices. Tap it.

You will now see your other Apple devices logged into the same iCloud account. Toggle on the ones you want to sync your messages with.

Sign out of Mac iMessage and sign back in again

It’s time now to shift your attention to the Mac. Open Messages on your Mac, and go to Messages–>Preferences at the top of the screen. Then click the iMessage tab and the Settings sub-tab.

If this is already filled out, and it’s not working:

• Sign out and sign back into the iCloud account again.
• Untick and re-tick Enable Messages in iCloud.
• Ensure your phone number is correct and then tick it. If the phone number is not correct, log into your iCloud account and change it.
• Make sure your iCloud accounts are ticked as well.
• Finally, click Sync Now, and your messages should start appearing. It may take a minute so be patient. If it still doesn’t work, restart your devices and try again.

Read more: Why iMessage is such a big deal

FAQs