Easy methods to repair iMessage not engaged on Mac [2024]

Bar none, iMessage is my go-to messaging app that I’ve been utilizing because it was first launched in 2011. I like its simplicity, multimedia assist, fast sync throughout units, and the flexibility to textual content any quantity, whether or not it has iMessage put in or not. 

Sadly, as with most default Apple apps, iMessage is vulnerable to occasional glitches, particularly when used on a Mac. Typically messages are despatched however not acquired, or there are occasional syncing points between Mac and iOS, or it’s onerous to inform whether or not you’re sending a message to a telephone or e mail. 

When you see iMessage not sending on a Mac, observe my guidelines to repair the issue rapidly.

Easy methods to repair iMessage not engaged on Mac

In case your iMessage stopped engaged on a Mac, it’s not you, it’s the app! You’re not alone in case you expertise points like a clean display screen, you stopped receiving messages from others, or you may’t ship iMessages from a Mac — we’ve all been there. 

Luckily, you may clear up these and different app issues in only a few minutes — more often than not, in case you apply recommended fixes step-by-step. I’ll present you.

Reboot your Mac

The best and quickest answer to almost any downside in your Mac is to easily restart it. This forces your Mac’s reminiscence to reset and macOS to reload all lively processes, which tends to clear random bugs.

You possibly can reboot your Mac by clicking the Apple icon within the menu bar and selecting Restart. In case your Mac is frozen and doesn’t reply, pressure restart it by urgent and holding the ability button.

Clear messages’ cache

One of the frequent bugs that ends in iMessage on Mac not working appropriately is a glitch in cached information. Cache shops information and preferences that Messages can preload to hurry up your interactions with the app. But when part of a message within the cache has a bug, it could trigger a ripple impact and stall all app processes. 

Fortunately, you may safely delete cached information to revive all of the performance. While you clear them, all of your texts will stay in Messages. Phew! The app will merely cache all of the information once more — this time with none bugs. 

To clear cached information in Messages:

1. Open Finder in your Mac.
2. Press Shift + Command + G in your keyboard.
3. Kind /System/Library/Messages and press Return. 
4. Delete chat.db, chat.db-shm, and chat.db-wal information from the Messages folder.
5. Empty Trash. 
6. Restart iMessage. 

Typically, you’ll discover that the glitch has been fastened. When you, nonetheless, don’t really feel comfy deleting system information from the Library folder manually, you may obtain the identical (and even higher) outcomes mechanically with CleanMyMac X. 

CleanMyMac X is a device that helps optimizing and dashing up your apps’ efficiency in quite a lot of methods, from cache cleanups (together with iMessage) to dashing up reminiscence, deleting unneeded information out of your Mac, and extra. The perfect half is that it takes care of any lingering bugs and glitches in only one quick total scan. 

To scrub up the iMessage cache and optimize your Mac: 

1. Open CleanMyMac X. 
2. Click on System Junk within the sidebar. 
3. Click on Scan. 
4. Click on Assessment Particulars and regulate the choice. 
5. Click on Clear.

Re-log in to iMessage

When you expertise iMessages not engaged on Mac, it may point out a glitch within the iCloud sync course of. A fast repair right here is to signal out of the app after which again in. Don’t fear. All of your chat historical past and messages will probably be protected. 

To signal out and again in with Messages:

1. Open Messages in your Mac. 
2. Click on Messages within the prime menu bar and select Settings.
3. Swap to the iMessage tab. 
4. Click on Signal Out after which Signal In. 

Re-enable iMessage on Mac

When you’ve tried to signal out and again in, and it didn’t get you far, the opposite choice is to disconnect Messages on Mac from iCloud after which instantly re-enable it. 

To re-enable Messages on Mac: 

1. Open iMessage in your Mac. 
2. Click on Messages within the prime menu bar and select Settings.
3. Swap to the iMessage tab. 
4. Uncheck Allow Messages in iCloud. 
5. Select between Disable This Gadget or Disable All. 
6. Choose the checkbox again once more

Be certain to disable and re-enable iMessage rapidly. When you obtain texts in your system whereas not related to iMessage, you would possibly lose them upon reconnecting. 

Examine time-zone settings

When you wouldn’t suppose that time-zone settings have something to do with messages, that’s not really the case! Since iMessage syncs through iCloud servers, the timing of each message has to align together with your Mac’s or iPhone’s time and date too — in any other case, messages “from the longer term” would possibly by no means arrive, and messages “from the previous” would possibly get caught someplace in your archives. 

The best solution to clear up this downside is to set your Mac’s clock to automated: 

1. Open System Settings. 
2. Go to Basic and click on Date & Time. 
3. Toggle on and off Set time and date mechanically. 

Examine Keychain Entry

A much less frequent and extra obscure cause to have iMessage not delivered on Mac might need one thing to do with encryption keys lacking from Keychain Entry. 

Keychain Entry is a default macOS utility that shops all types of confidential info required to your apps to perform correctly, from passwords to numerous keys and certificates. If a secret is lacking, components of the app won’t work appropriately. 

To examine encryption keys for iMessage, open Keychain Entry from the Utilities folder and seek for “message”. 

When you see some outcomes, the encryption keys are working. If not, they’re lacking, and you need to attempt reinstalling your macOS to repair the problem. 

Bonus tip: Easy methods to hold all of your messages in a single messenger

Like many others, I get pleasure from utilizing iMessage and attempt to default to it each time I’ve a selection. However the actuality is that almost all of us nonetheless have to juggle a number of messaging apps to communicate with everybody in our community. So, how are you going to deal with precise conversations moderately than remembering the place a selected chat is?

My recommendation to you is that in case you use a couple of messenger each day, you need to contemplate uniting all of them in IM+. 

IM+ combines all of your communication channels in a single app. Add your WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, Slack, LinkedIn, and plenty of different conversations to IM+ and handle all of them beneath the identical interface. Plus, you get shortcuts, file sharing, and customized work and residential notifications.

iMessage on Mac not working: Remaining ideas

While you discover your iMessage being buggy, simply undergo the guidelines of rebooting your Mac, logging out and in of iMessage, and checking your time zone. It’s also possible to clear cached information with CleanMyMac X (say goodbye to bugs and glitches), which shouldn’t take various minutes — your message app will thanks. And in case you’ve been having difficulties managing a number of messengers, IM+ will be the proper answer for you.

Attempt CleanMyMac X and IM+ for seven days completely free by way of Setapp — a platform of greater than 250 curated apps for Mac and iOS. Get prompt entry to all of the apps within the assortment to boost your workflow!

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