How to Fix iMessage Not Syncing on Mac?

Searching for effective ways to fix iMessage not syncing on Mac?

It can be frustrating when an app doesn’t work as intended. Case in point: iMessage. It’s a great messaging tool that allows users to send and receive messages between their iOS and Mac devices. But sometimes, iMessage doesn’t sync on Mac.

Several culprits could be behind this issue. These include updating to the latest iOS 14 and other newer versions. There could also be random bugs on any of your devices. Another possible cause is unmatched Apple ID. Nevertheless, Saintlad is here to help.

We understand how frustrating it is to face tech issues. That’s especially true when you need to send or read a time-sensitive message. So in this article, we list several troubleshooting methods. Here’s how to fix iMessage not syncing on Mac.

Let’s get started!

1. Turn iMessage Off and On.

Since the issue is about syncing, you need to refresh the connection between two devices. One way to do that is to re-enable iMessage on your iPhone and Mac. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings.
2. Select Messages.
3. Then, toggle off the button next to iMessage.

4. On your Mac, open iMessage.
5. Pull down the Messages menu. Then, click Preferences.
6. Go to Accounts. Under Apple ID, uncheck Enable this account.
7. Wait for a few minutes before turning iMessage back on both on your iPhone and Mac.

After this, open iMessage on both devices. See if the messages finally synced. 

2. Check and Adjust iMessage Settings.

You need to log in using one Apple ID to make iMessages automatically sync between your iPhone and Mac. That’s what happened when you first set it up. But a software update or random bug could change your iMessage settings. Hence, the disconnect.

If re-enabling the iMessage on both devices didn’t work, it’s time to check your iMessage settings. See if anything has changed without your knowledge. And if there is, restore it to your original settings. This could fix iMessage not syncing on Mac. 

Here’s how to check your iMessage settings on your iPhone:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Select Messages.
3. Tap Send & Receive.

4. Under the You can be reached by iMessage at section, make sure the correct phone number and Apple ID are listed with a checkmark. If not, edit them.

Here’s how to check the iMessage settings on Mac:

1. Launch the Messages app.
2. In the top menu, select Messages.
3. Hit Preferences. Then, select Accounts.
4. Under the You can be reached for messages at section, check if the phone number and Apple ID match the ones listed on your iPhone. If not, add the correct details.

With similar settings on your iPhone and Mac, you should be able to use iMessage on both devices without a glitch. If not, try other potential fixes below.

3. Confirm Phone Number via Apple ID Website.

Again, you have to log in using the same Apple ID to make iMessages sync across all devices. You also need to make sure your device settings match your Apple ID settings. The best way to do this is to confirm your details via the Apple ID website. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to appleid.apple.com. 
2. Log in with your Apple ID and password.
3. You will be directed to the Account page. Look for the Reachable At section. Make sure the phone numbers and email addresses listed here are correct.

4. Otherwise, click the Edit button beside the existing email address or phone number. Then, update them or add more email addresses or phone numbers. 

After that, restart your iPhone and Mac. Then, see if the messages have already synced. If not, we still have a few more ways to fix iMessage not syncing on Mac.

4. Make Sure Message Forwarding on iPhone Is Enabled.

After a software update or due to a random bug, some settings might have changed on your iPhone. These can include your settings for message forwarding. So it pays to check this feature and make sure it’s enabled for the Mac you’re using right now.

Here’s how to do it:

1. On your iPhone, navigate to Settings.
2. Tap Messages.
3. Scroll down to find and tap Text Message Forwarding.
4. Assuming you use the same Apple ID on both your iPhone and Mac, you will see the name of your Mac on the list of devices that can send and receive text messages from the iPhone. Make sure the toggle button beside your Mac is on.

For some users, this troubleshooting method worked. If that isn’t the case for you, we have two more potential solutions to fix iMessage not syncing on Mac.

5. Send a Message from Mac.

This workaround may sound unorthodox, but it has solved the issue for many users. The idea here is to sort of help your Mac catch up. When you send a message from the device that’s lagging, it will trigger all other messages to begin flowing in.

This fix banks on the rationale that your Mac just needs to refresh its connection to your iPhone. So give it a try. With this simple trick, you might suddenly receive all the other messages that had failed to appear on iMessage on your Mac before. 

6. Use FoneDog to Fix iMessage Not Syncing on Mac.

The solutions above worked for most users. But on rare occasions that everything else failed, you may want to use a third-party tool to sync messages between your iPhone and Mac. One of the tools we recommend is FoneDog iOS Data Backup and Restore.

FoneDog iOS Data Backup and Restore allows you to backup your iOS data, including your messages. You can also use this tool to restore those backed-up messages to your Mac. Then, your messages on both iPhone and Mac will be synced and updated.

This wraps up the article. Hopefully, we have helped you fixed your issue. Got more iPhone or Mac-related tech issues? Feel free to leave a comment below. Our team will do our best to offer effective troubleshooting methods and guide you through these fixes.