How to Sync Messages from iPhone to Mac

What to Know

  • When syncing messages, make sure that you're using the same Apple ID for all of your devices.
  • Make sure that all of your phone numbers and email addresses are enabled so that your texts can sync.
  • You can sync messages from iPhone to Mac by enabling them in the Messages settings on both your iPhone and Mac.  

Here's how to set up Apple's Messages app on an iPhone, Mac, or iPad. Once you've done this, you can view text messages sent and received from all the Apple devices you've synced. Let's start learning how to connect iPhone to Mac and iPad to get iMessage on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

iMessage Not Working? How to Sync Messages from iPhone to Mac & iPhone to iPad

I recently wrote an article about how to get messages on Mac, but when I was doing my research, many readers were asking about iMessage not syncing on Mac. Many users have trouble figuring out how to sync messages from iPhone to Mac, which is different from learning how to forward a text to your Mac or iPad. 

When iMessage isn’t syncing between your devices, it’s usually a communication issue in Apple’s Continuity feature. This problem can be fixed by making sure your iPhone, iPad, and Mac have all enabled your phone number and emails as ways to send and receive messages. Setting that up, as well as making sure all your devices are using the same Apple ID, will allow you to sync text messages from iPhone to iPad and from iPhone to Mac. For more great tutorials about Apple's Messages app, like how to auto-delete verification codes, check out our free Tip of the Day

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Prepare iPhone to Sync Messages on Mac & iPad

Here's how to adjust iPhone Settings so you can sync messages from iPhone to Mac and iPhone to iPad.

  1. Open the Settings app.

    iphone settings app
  2. Tap Messages.

    tap messages
  3. Make sure iMessage is toggled on (it may take a moment to activate).

    make sure imessage is toggled on
  4. Tap Send & Receive.

    tap send and receive
  5. If Use your Apple ID for iMessage pops up, tap it and sign in with the Apple ID you use on the Apple devices you want to sync with.
  6. Under You Can Receive iMessages to and Reply From, make sure your phone number, Apple ID, and other emails you use for iMessage are checked.
  7. Under Start New Conversations From, select your phone number, unless you have a strong preference for one of your email addresses.
  8. You’ll see your Apple ID at the bottom. Make a mental note of this, because you need to make sure you’re using the same one on iPad and Mac too.

    make sure apple id and phone number are checked
  9. Now go back to Settings and tap FaceTime.

    tap facetime in settings
  10. Under You Can Be Reached by FaceTime At, make sure your phone number and Apple ID are checked.

    make sure apple id and phone number are checked in facetime settings

Related: iPhone Texting Tricks for the Messages App

Once you have your messages syncing properly, find out how to pin important text conversations.

How to Sync Messages from iPhone to Mac

Here's how to adjust Mac Settings so you can sync messages from Mac to iPhone and Mac to iPad.

    1. On Mac, open the Messages app; it will be in your Applications folder.

    2. If you’re not already logged in, Messages will prompt you to do so.

    3. On your iPhone, a message telling you that your Mac is added to Messages will appear. Tap OK.

    4. Click Messages on the Menu, then click Settings.

    5. Click iMessage at the top of the pop-up box.

    6. Near the top, you’ll see your Apple ID. Make sure it’s the same as the Apple ID you're logged in with on your iPhone.

    7. Under You can be reached for messages at: make sure you’ve checked your phone number and all the emails you use for messages, including your Apple ID email.

    8. Under Start new conversations from: select the same thing (phone number or email) that you did on the iPhone.

    For example, I chose my phone number on my iPhone, which means I’m also going to select my phone number on my Mac (and my iPad).

    How to Sync Messages from iPhone to iPad

    Here's how to adjust iPad Settings so you can sync messages from iPad to iPhone and iPad to Mac. These steps are the same as the ones you took earlier on your iPhone, but now you'll make sure your iPad is synced.

    1. Open the Settings app.
    2. Tap Messages.

    3. You may need to sign in with your Apple ID; be sure it's the same Apple ID you're using on your iPhone and Mac.
    4. Tap Send & Receive.

    5. At the top, find your Apple ID. Make sure it matches the Apple ID on your iPhone and your Mac if you want your text messages to sync between all devices.
    6. Under You Can Receive iMessages to and Reply From, check your phone number and the emails you use for iMessages, including your Apple ID email.

    7. Under Start New Conversations From, select the same number or email that you chose on your iPhone and your Mac.

    After following these steps, you shouldn’t have any more problems with messages not syncing between devices. If it ever stops working again, you should be able to return to this article for a reminder on how to sync messages from your iPhone to your Mac or your iPhone to your iPad. Also, if your iPhone isn't showing up in Finder when you connect it to your Mac, we can show you how to fix it!

    iMessages Not Syncing Between iPhone & Mac

    Usually, you won't encounter any issues with syncing text messages between iPhone and Mac or iPad, but messages can sometimes get out of sync. Singing in with the wrong Apple ID can prevent text messages from syncing, so make sure to sign in with the same Apple ID on your iPhone and Mac. Another thing to check is if all of your phone numbers and email addresses are enabled for iMessages to sync to all of your Apple devices. Disabled phone numbers and email addresses can hinder text messages from syncing to other devices. Lastly, iMessages won't sync from your iPhone to your Mac if you're using a third-party texting app instead of the Messages app on both devices, so make sure to use the native Apple Messages app. Next, learn how to unsync your iPhone from your iPad.

    FAQ

    • Can someone see my iMessages from another device? Other people can view your iMessages on different devices if they are using the same Apple ID as you. However, it is rare to share an Apple ID with someone else, so the chance of someone viewing your messages is slim. Nevertheless, if you want to make sure that other people aren't seeing your text messages on other devices, please read our article on how to hide text messages
    • Why can't I send SMS messages from my Mac? One reason why you can't send SMS messages from your Mac is that you might have Messages disabled on your Mac. You should be able to enable Messages by signing in with your Apple ID. For more details, you can read our article on what to do if iMessage isn't working on Mac
    • How do you refresh Messages on Mac? On your Mac, go to Messages Settings and click iMessage. There, you will find an option to click Sync Now. If that doesn't work, try de-selecting and then reselecting Enable Messages in iCloud. As a last option, sign out and back into your Apple ID.
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    Author Details

    Conner Carey's picture

    Author Details

    Conner Carey

    Conner Carey's writing can be found at conpoet.com. She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country.