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Messages not working on a Mac? 8 things to check

Illustration: Messages not working on a Mac? 8 things to checkIllustration

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 9 November 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/messages-not-working-on-a-mac-8-things-to-check/ · Checked 9 November 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide
  1. Check Apple's System Status page
  2. Check the internet connection
  3. Restart the Mac
  4. Install macOS updates
  5. Check the date and time
  6. Check the address
  7. Switch on Text Message Forwarding
  8. Sign out and in again
  9. Good to know
  10. Sources
Quick answer

Check that the Mac is online, restart it and install the latest macOS update. Then make sure the date and time are set automatically. If green text messages do not go out, switch on Text Message Forwarding for this Mac on your iPhone and keep the iPhone switched on.

3 of 8 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device
Mac
Shown on
macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App
Messages
Real screenshots
3 of 8 steps
Checked
9 November 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

  1. Check Apple's System Status page

    Search for Apple System Status and look at the entry for iMessage. If there is an outage, waiting is the only fix.

  2. Check the internet connection

    Open a website in Safari. If it does not load, fix the connection first: Mac won't connect to Wi-Fi: 8 fixes that work.

  3. Mac screenshot: Restart the Mac
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Restart the Mac

    Choose Apple menu, Restart.

  4. Mac screenshot: Install macOS updates
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Install macOS updates

    Open System Settings, General, Software Update. The steps are in how to update macOS on your Mac.

  5. Mac screenshot: Check the date and time
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Check the date and time

    iMessage refuses to sign in when the clock is wrong. Open System Settings, General, Date & Time and switch on Set time and date automatically.

  6. Check the address

    Make sure the message goes to the right phone number or email address. A number saved without the country code can fail when you or the other person is abroad.

  7. Switch on Text Message Forwarding

    For text messages to people without iMessage: on the iPhone, open Settings, Apps, Messages, Text Message Forwarding and switch on your Mac. The iPhone must be switched on and online.

  8. Sign out and in again

    In Messages, choose Messages, Settings, click iMessage and check that you are signed in with the same Apple Account as on the iPhone, and that your number is ticked under "You can be reached for messages at". If sign-in fails, click Sign Out and sign in again.

About this guide

The Messages app on a Mac sends blue iMessages on its own, over the internet. Green text messages (SMS and RCS) always travel through your iPhone. That difference explains most problems.

Menu names are from recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The picture is our own screenshot from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Good to know

Messages missing on the Mac but present on the iPhone? Switch on Messages in iCloud on both: on the Mac under Messages, Settings, iMessage.

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.

In short: Signed in to iMessage, restart, update, date and time.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

📷 Camera Lab: the same 6 scenes photographed with 11 phones, side by side.

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