Messages are designed to sync across all your devices connected to the same iCloud account. Default iMessage synchronization; SMS/MMS and RCS messages synchronize if you have activated access to them from your iPhone. (Go to Settings > Messages [iOS 17 and earlier] Or Settings > Applications > Messages [iOS 18] and under Text message forwardingdecide which devices receive them.)
If Messages in iCloud is enabled, syncing and backup happens in part through iCloud, creating an archive that is restored to devices if you set up a new computer, phone, or tablet.
However, readers regularly report – and I've noticed this myself recently – that messages in macOS can lose the figurative and literal thread: you either wait a long time or never see some or all of the messages. messages received on other devices. This seems to happen rarely on iPhones and iPads (or at least you don't email us about it). Here's what you can do to trigger syncing.
Is iMessage not working? Find out if iMessage is down and how to fix iMessage issues on iPhone and iPad in our separate article.
Reboot
Sometimes, > Restart That's all you need to start syncing again.
To use Sync now
When Messages in iCloud is enabled, you can access Messages > Settings > iMessage and click Sync now.
Turn Messages Off and On in iCloud
If Messages in iCloud is enabled, also visit Messages > Settings > iMessage and uncheck Turn on Messages in iCloud. You will receive a prompt that warns you what happens next: Messages downloads all messages data on your Mac, then stop syncing. You can choose to click Disable this deviceand this turns off Messages in iCloud for this Mac. If you have seemingly larger issues, click Disable all to disable it on all iCloud-linked devices.
To re-enable Messages in iCloud, simply check the box Enable Messages in iCloud box in macOS. On iOS and iPadOS, go to Settings > Account Name > iCloud > Messages and enable “Use on this iPhone” or “Use on this iPad”.
Turning Messages off and on in iCloud can start your Mac or iCloud servers in the right way to restart syncing.
Apple
Disconnect from messages
Messages (and FaceTime) both have a separate iCloud option to sign out and sign back in. Messages > Settings > iMessageclick Log out, and confirm. Now log in again.
When I recently set up a new Mac using Migration Assistant, everything worked after restarting, but my entire message history was missing. Disconnecting and reconnecting to Messages started the lengthy download process.
Sign out of iCloud
Signing out of iCloud on your Mac can be a bad idea except in extreme circumstances, because it attempts to make local copies of data and, if you sign back in, it can take a long time to resync and produce duplicate entries. time, among other problems. But if none of the steps above work, it's worth it.
Start by making sure you have a complete local backup of all your files. If you sync your Photo Library with iCloud and use Optimized Uploads (in Photos > Settings > iCloud), you will be prompted to download all images and videos before logging out. Make sure you have enough storage if you want to have a local copy before continuing.
Then go to System Settings > Account Name and click Log out. macOS requires confirmation. All your apps synced or linked to iCloud will ask you how to manage data stored locally and data stored only in iCloud. Answer all these questions. Now log in again.
This Mac 911 article answers a question submitted by a igamesnews reader.
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