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Messages not working on a Mac? 4 things to check

4 fixes, 4 with a real screenshot from our MacBook Neo on macOS 27.0.1. Try them in order.

By · Updated 1 Nov 2026 · 3 min read · Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

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Quick answer

Check that the Mac is online and signed in under Messages, Settings, iMessage, restart it and install the latest macOS update. Make sure the date and time are set automatically. For green text messages, turn on Text Message Forwarding for this Mac on your iPhone and keep the iPhone on.

The Messages app on a Mac sends iMessages over the internet. SMS and RCS text messages are relayed through your iPhone.

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps in order. After each step, check if it works.

0 of 4 steps
  1. 1

    Check that you are signed in to iMessage

    In Messages, choose Messages, Settings and click iMessage. Check that it shows the same Apple Account as your iPhone. If sign-in fails, click Sign Out and sign in again. On our MacBook Neo the iMessage tab shows an Apple Account with Sign Out and Sync Now buttons, and Enable Messages in iCloud is ticked.

    Mac screenshot: Check that you are signed in to iMessage
  2. 2

    Restart the Mac

    Choose Apple menu, Restart…. On our MacBook Neo, Restart… sits between Sleep and Shut Down….

    Mac screenshot: Restart the Mac
  3. 3

    Install macOS updates

    Open System Settings, General, Software Update and click Check for Updates. The steps are in how to update macOS on your Mac. Our MacBook Neo reports Your Mac is up to date: macOS 27 Golden Gate 27.0.1.

    Mac screenshot: Install macOS updates
  4. 4

    Check the date and time

    Open System Settings, General, Date & Time and switch on Set time and date automatically. Our MacBook Neo shows it on, with Source: Apple (time.apple.com.).

    Mac screenshot: Check the date and time

If you do not see this option

  • No Text Message Forwarding switch on the Mac The switch is on the iPhone: Settings, Apps, Messages, Text Message Forwarding. On our MacBook Neo the iMessage tab in Messages, Settings (step 1) shows Sign Out, Sync Now and You can be reached for messages at, but no forwarding switch.
  • Messages shows not registered with iMessage Apple's Messages article: make sure that your iPhone is turned on and that Text Message Forwarding is set up correctly on it. Source: If you can't send or receive messages on your Mac

If this does not work

  • Messages go to the wrong person Apple's Messages article: make sure that you are addressing the message to the correct phone number or email address. Use the same Apple Account on the Mac as on the iPhone.
  • iMessage still fails Check the iMessage tab (step 1): on our MacBook Neo it lists the Apple Account and one ticked address under You can be reached for messages at. Use the same Apple Account on the iPhone, and restart the iPhone too.
  • iMessage may be down Open a website in Safari to check that the Mac is online: Mac won't connect to Wi-Fi: 8 fixes that work. Then look at the entry for iMessage on Apple's System Status page. If there is an outage, waiting is the only fix.
  • Couldn't sign in or contact the iMessage server? Apple's sign-in article adds two checks beyond this page: look for an iMessage outage on Apple's System Status page, and sign in at account.apple.com with the same Apple Account. Then click Sign Out in Messages, Settings, iMessage, restart the Mac and sign in again with that account.
  • Still can't sign in after that? Apple says VPN or security software can block the network ports iMessage uses. Try again with the VPN off or on a different network. You can also try to activate your account online at apple.co/IMFT-mac, under Enable Apple Account.

Good to know

If the iPhone itself cannot activate iMessage: iPhone iMessage waiting for activation: 8 fixes to try.

A wrong clock on the phone: iPhone showing the wrong time: how to fix the date and time.

macOS 27 compared with macOS 26: We rewrote this guide on macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo): it now has 4 steps instead of 8. The macOS 26 page keeps the steps and screenshots as they were.

Version history: the macOS 26 version of this guide, with its own screenshots.

About this guide

Device
Mac
Shown on
macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
App
Messages
Real screenshots
4 of 4 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Sources

Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

Related guides

How to make sidebar icons and text bigger on a MacHow to set up text replacements on a MacHow to make a Mac read selected text aloudHow to make the menu bar text bigger on a MacWhat's new in macOS 27.2 on a MacBook NeoHow to use Screen Time on a Mac

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