13 Ways to Fix iMessage Not Working on Mac [Solved].
Can’t appear to get the iMessage app working in your Mac?
This is a irritating state of affairs, particularly when you want to ship a message with file attachments saved in your Mac for work or college. Not solely that, however a number of customers have additionally reported that they discover a bit purple exclamation mark image that seems proper next to their messages, and clicking on it doesn’t resend the message nor point out if one thing has gone fallacious.
The important a part of troubleshooting this drawback is to know the place to begin, which this information is written particularly to information you step-by-step in the best path. The information is sorted from essentially the most fundamental to the more superior procedures which ensures that you don’t leap into the deep aspect of the pool but unnecessarily with out checking the more widespread elements off the listing.
Let’s dive proper in!
1. Test Your Connection.
When you’re network connection is just not working appropriately, iMessage gained’t work as properly because it wants steady web. To affirm this, use the Terminal to verify the standard of your network.
Here’s what you want to do:
- First, press the Command + Space keys in your keyboard to open Spotlight Search.
- After that, search for the Terminal and run it.
- Lastly, sort ‘networkquality‘ and hit Enter.

Now, observe for those who’re getting the proper bandwidth indicated in your plan. If not, head to the subsequent answer.
2. Restart Your Network.
If you’ve confirmed that your network is the issue, we propose restarting your router or modem to re-establish the connection between your device and your service supplier’s servers.
To do that, unplug your router’s energy cable from the outlet and let it relaxation for five to 10 seconds. Once achieved, reconnect the facility cable to restart your router.

Go back to iMessage afterward and verify if the issue is solved.
3. Check Apple Servers.
Since iMessage is a web based service, it depends on Apple’s servers to ship options and messages to customers. If iMessage is just not working in your Mac, attempt to verify the standing of the service.
Head to Apple’s System Status web page and see if iMessage is out there. If there’s a difficulty with the servers, you’ll see an orange or purple marker beside the service.

Unfortunately, server-related issues can’t be resolved in your finish. This implies that the one possibility you may have if iMessage’s servers are down is to attend.
4. Check Date and Time Settings.
Like any on-line platform, iMessage could cease working in case your date and time settings aren’t appropriately set. The servers may not permit your device to attach if it stories the fallacious date and time.
To repair this, observe the steps beneath to vary your date and time settings:
- First, click on on the Apple brand on the higher left nook of your display screen.
- After that, select System Preferences.
- Now, click on on Date & Time.
- To change your settings, click on the Lock icon on the decrease left nook of the window.
- Lastly, be certain that ‘Set Date & Time Automatically‘ is enabled.

Once achieved, return to iMessage to verify if the issue is solved.
5. Disable Third-Party Security Software Temporarily.
Unlike your iOS and iPadOS, you may have the choice to put in third-party safety software program in your Mac, reminiscent of an anti-virus or firewall app.
Although this isn’t required because the in-built safety on macOS is sufficient, for many who are precautious of safety, you could have one other safety layer put in for sanity’s sake.
However, at occasions the third-party safety software program that’s put in could not play properly with macOS and as an alternative can hinder you from sending and receiving a message using the iMessage software. To confirm if that is so, you may attempt to disable the safety software program first then proceed to check using your iMessage as you normally would.
If you may ship and obtain messages on iMessage after that, you might must name your third-party safety software program’s assist and allow them to know that the safety software program is obstructing entry for iMessage. They will provide help to out configure the settings of the software program so it gained’t have an effect on your iMessage app.
6. Check Accounts in Sync Devices.
There can also be the chance that there are conflicts between your iMessage app in your Mac and the one in your iPhone (or iPad). Since you might be using the identical Apple ID on all of your Apple gadgets, it’s advisable that you just use the identical accounts to keep away from confusion.
For iPhone and iPad:
- Go forward and faucet the Settings of your iPhone or iPad.
- Then, scroll down and faucet Messages possibility.
- Now, guarantee that iMessage is enabled. If not, toggle the button to allow it.

- Finally, faucet the Send & Receive possibility and verify the account you might be using.
For Mac:
- Go forward and click on on the Messages tab in your Mac.
- Then, click on on Preferences on the drop-down menu.

- Now underneath Accounts, choose iMessage from the left sidebar then choose the Settings tab.

- Finally, verify the account that’s at the moment in used if it’s the identical as in your different Apple gadgets. If not, attempt to sign up to proper account.
Now you can verify the account settings in your iMessage app, you need to be capable of use it with no points.
7. Force Quit the App.
You could or could not have already tried this however force-quitting your iMessage app may help whether it is caught or buggy.
Here’s how one can force-quit your iMessage app:
- Go forward and click on on the Apple menu in your Mac.
- Then, choose and click on the Force Quit possibility.
- On the listing of functions, click on on the Messages app and click on on the Force Quit possibility.

- Finally, relaunch your iMessage app and do a ship/obtain message check.
Try sending a couple of messages to your contacts to see if the issue is solved.
8. Restart Your Mac.
Again, you could have already tried this, however for many who haven’t, a restart of your Mac can remedy many of the issues it’s having. Your laptop would possibly probably have reached the utmost restrict of its sources. This normally occurs when your laptop has been operating for days, and also you haven’t restarted it since.
So to repair this, click on on the Apple menu in your Mac and click on on the Restart possibility.

With this, your laptop will offload the sources and can be capable of begin new duties after startup. Once you may have restarted your Mac, you need to be capable of use any software, together with iMessage, with out points.
9. Re-Login to Your Apple ID.
A few customers discovered this answer to be efficient, which was initially shared on the boards. By logging out of your Apple ID after which logging back in, it is possible for you to to refresh the information and patch up any interruptions or corrupted knowledge that will have been caught with the account.
It’s comparatively straightforward to log off and log back into your Apple ID account, right here’s what you do:
- Go forward and click on on Messages on the menu on the high display screen.
- Then, click on on the Preferences possibility.
- Now click on on the Accounts tab and click on the Sign Out button.

- Finally, signal back in and ensure to verify the Enable this account checkbox. Once you’re in your iMessage account, attempt testing the ship/obtain options and see for those who’re capable of do it.
Go back to iMessage afterward and verify if the issue is solved.
10. Update macOS to Latest Version.
Since iMessage is an app that’s straight tied to Apple’s ecosystem, subsequently you will need to guarantee that your macOS model is saved up to date for the brand new patches to take impact for the iMessage app too. The likelihood is that if Apple did launch a brand new update, they could have already patched the iMessage points up.
To verify if there are any pending macOS updates, click on on the Apple brand in your laptop, then click on on System Preferences and choose Software Update.

You shall be prompted with directions to finish the set up course of.
Once you’ve up to date your macOS, attempt using your iMessage as soon as once more and see if the problems are nonetheless current.
You all the time have the choice to avail the companies of Apple-certified technicians on the nearest Apple Store. Now earlier than you do, be sure to verify your guarantee choices. It’s vital to know the choices which are out there to you in addition to whether or not you qualify for any reductions or free repairs. For instance, for those who simply purchased your new Mac then you may have as much as 14-days for returns and refunds, must you want to use it.

That ends our information on how to repair iMessage if it’s not working in your Mac. If you may have questions, tell us within the remark part, and we’ll do our greatest to assist.
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