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5 Top Ways to Fix iMessage Not Syncing on Mac [2024 Update]

By Nathan E. Malpass, Last updated: January 23, 2024

In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix the problem of the iMessage not syncing on Mac.

The iMessage is a great messaging tool for Apple users, as it allows them to send and receive messages between all iOS and Mac devices. You would just need to log in using one Apple ID to multiple devices and the iMessages will automatically sync across all devices.

However, there will be cases where the iMessage will not be syncing between Mac and iPhone, making it hard for you to access your iMessage when you switch devices. This could for a number of reasons but mostly it happens after updating the device to the latest version, such as iOS 17.

Tips: If you want to recover deleted text messages from your iPhone, then follow this step-by-step guide.

Before We Fix iMessage Not Syncing on Mac Issue:

Having spent several years on iOS software development, we have created an effective tool for iOS users to easily manage their data.

Check this: Download FoneDog iOS Data Backup and Restore to sync iMessage to Mac in one click, as well as retrieve iMessage if they were lost. Instead of using this tool, if you want to do it manually, we have also collected some ideas below.

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Part 1. What to Do When iMessage is Not Syncing Between iPhone and MacPart 2. Better Alternative Way to Sync iMessages Between iPhone and MacVideo Guide: How to Achieve iMessage Syncing Between Mac and iPhonePart 3. Conclusion

iMessage Not Syncing on Mac

Part 1. What to Do When iMessage is Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac

There are a lot of ways for you to deal with this problem and we will be discussing some of them here.

Method 1. Turn On and Off iMessage

The first solution is the simplest one, considering that you just updated your device, maybe a simple rebooting of the iMessage tool can do the trick.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. On the iPhone
  2. Go to Settings > Messages
  3. Turn off iMessage
  4. On the Mac
  5. Open iMessage app
  6. Click on Messages > Preferences > Accounts
  7. Uncheck the Enable Account under the Apple ID

Wait for a few minutes then turn the iMessage back on both devices and see if that has done the trick. If not, then you can try the next solution.

People Also Read: How Do I Sync iMessage from iPhone to Mac?

Turn On and Off iMessage to Fix iMessage Not Syncing on Mac

Method 2. Double Check the Settings of your iMessage and Apple ID on Mac/iPhone

It is possible that the settings of your iMessage have changed after your update, so it is best to double check them to see if anything has changed.

Simply do the following steps:

  1. On the iPhone
  2. Go to Settings > Messages
  3. Go to Send & Receive
  4. Make sure that your Apple ID is there

Make sure that the right mobile number and email is appearing under the “YOU CAN BE REACHED BY MESSAGE AT” and “START NEW CONVERSATION FROM”.

Then, check the setting on your Mac:

  1. On your Mac
  2. Open the Messages app
  3. Tap Messages > Preferences
  4. Click Accounts

Make sure that the correct email and phone numbers are displayed under the “YOU CAN BE REACHED BY MESSAGE AT”.

If not, edit it and input the right details.

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Method 3. Check your Apple ID from Official Website

  1. Using your Mac, open the Apple ID website and sign in to your account.
  2. Go to "REACHABLE AT".
  3. Confirm that your Apple ID is listed there, as well as your mobile number. If not, then edit and make it right.
  4. If everything turns out okay, or if the correct information has already been edited, reboot your iPhone and Mac and see if the messages have already synced.

Double Check the Settings of Your iMessage and Apple ID

Method 4. Try Using the Device that is not syncing to send out Messages

It is possible that one of your devices is just delayed when it comes to updating, so using that device can also trigger an update of the messages.

Follow the steps:

  1. Check which of your devices is not updating properly.
  2. If it is your iPhone, try sending a message using your iPhone, if it is your Mac, then use the Mac to send messages.
  3. Once the message has been sent, this will usually prompt the device to start updating the messages, thus syncing your iMessage properly across all devices.

Now, if all the solutions above still didn’t work, then you might want to try looking for a different solution to fix the problem. Luckily, FoneDog Mobile Solution Provider has a way to solve the problem, and that is with the help of their iOS Data Backup and Restore.

Try Using the Device That Is Not Syncing to Send out Messages

Part 2. Better Alternative Way to Sync iMessages Between iPhone and Mac

FoneDog’s iOS Data Backup and Restore is one of the best ways to sync your iMessage from iPhone to Mac and vice versa. The software program allows you to easily back up and restore your iOS data, including your messages.

So to properly sync your iMessages across your devices, you would first need to back up your iPhone using iOS Data Backup and Restore software. Once you have backed it up, you can then restore the back up to your Mac.

Once it is done, your messages for both iPhone and Mac will be synced and be updated. Now, doing this with the software is actually easy, as it will only need one click to backup your iPhone data and another click to restore them. But that’s not the only thing that the software program can do, there are actually a lot more.

This program also allows you to preview first the backup files that you have, so you can select which of them you want to restore, either to your iPhone device or Mac computer.

You also won’t have to worry about any data loss during backup and restoration, as FoneDog made sure that your precious data is protected. The iPhone restore of the software program also won’t overwrite your data, so you won’t have to worry about losing important files.

Here are easy steps to sync iMessages between iPhone and Mac:

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  1. Download, install, and launch iOS Data Backup & Restore.
  2. Choose "Standard backup" or "Encrypted backup".
  3. Click "Start".
  4. Select the type of data you want to back up.
  5. Click "Restore iOS Data" to sync the iMessages to Mac.

Better Alternative Way to Sync iMessages Between iPhone and Mac

Plus, you can try out the FoneDog iOS Data Backup and Restore for 30-days by downloading the free trial version. This will allow you to decide on whether or not you want to avail of this software or not without any risk.

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Video Guide: How to Achieve iMessage Syncing Between Mac and iPhone

In this video, you can learn how to achieve iMessage syncing between Mac and iPhone devices with few simple steps.

Part 3. Conclusion

Having your iMessage synced across all your Apple devices is a big thing, especially if you are constantly switching devices, depending on your work or activity.

This is usually done automatically, as you will just need to use your Apple ID on all devices. But there will be some issues experienced here, especially after you have updated your iPhone device to iOS 17. To fix this, you can try several troubleshooting solutions to solve the problem.

But if any of the solutions didn’t work, then you might want to try using other software to fix the problem. One software program that can help you properly sync your iMessage between Mac and iPhone devices is the FoneDog iOS Data Backup and Restore.

This software program is designed to allow you to easily backup your data and restore them to any computer or Apple device, including your messages. This will allow you to sync the data you have on your iPhone to your Mac, thus keeping them both updated.

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James G Kahn2020-03-19 16:28:34

Greetings. Nice post, thanks. My problem with syncing of iPhone and iMessage (Mac) is only for two specific correspondents. That is, sync works very well for almost all my contacts. But for two, it fails. I've double-checked that the contact mobile #s are the same on both devices. Indeed, both used to sync, and now they don't. Any thoughts?

author image

Nathan E. Malpass

iPhone/Android Devices’ Maintenance Expert

Staying home, listening to music, writing tech articles

Many people asked me to repair their mobile phones so I have a lot of experience in mobile phone repair, and I know a lot about Android or Apple phones.

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