Apple users can access their text messages from any of their Apple devices: simply use the same ID on your iPhone and Mac, and all your conversations will sync. Or at least they should.
It’s not uncommon to encounter an iMessage error on your Mac. If you keep getting a pop-up saying “Your message couldn’t be sent,” there could be several reasons. Here are some possible solutions that will allow you to fully use iMessage again.
Consider server issues
A problem with Apple’s server can cause an iMessage error. You can check the status of Apple’s server for each of its services by visiting the System Status page.
- Go to Apple System status website.
- Find iMessage in the list.
A red dot next to iMessage will indicate server problems. Wait until Apple fixes the problem and your error should be a thing of the past.
Click “Ignore”
Sometimes this error message is not related to the status of your message at all. It may also appear due to a synchronization error. If you click the “Ignore” button on the pop-up window but the error message doesn’t go away, this is probably the case. The easiest “fix” is to click the “Ignore” button until the window disappears. It may take a while, depending on how many messages your device is trying to sync. This won’t fix the root of the problem, but it’s a useful trick when you have no other option.
Check your data
Different settings on your iPhone and Mac can also cause sync issues. You will need to check the iMessage settings on both devices and make sure your ID is the same.
On your iPhone:
- Open your Settings app and tap “Messages.”
- Under “iMessage,” select “Send and Receive.”
- Check that all the information is correct and choose your phone number in “Start new conversations from”.
On your Mac:
- Open the Messages app, click “Messages” and then “Preferences.”
- Switch to the “iMessage” tab.
- Check your ID and other information. Make sure your contact points are checked under “You can be contacted for messages at”.
- Select the same phone number in “Start new conversations from” as on your iPhone.
Additionally, you may want to double-check that you’ve enabled iCloud in your Apple ID settings in System Preferences on your Mac.
If all of this was set up correctly, the problem lies elsewhere.
Restart iMessage
The next quick fix you can try is to turn the app off and on. This could fix a temporary error in the system. Here’s how to do it on your iPhone:
- Go to your Settings and open “Messages.”
- Disable iMessage with the switch, wait a few seconds and enable it again.
You must also sign out and sign back in on your Mac:
- Open your Messages on your Mac.
- Click “Messaging” in the menu bar, then “Preferences.”
- Find the “iMessage” tab and choose “Settings.”
- Sign out of your account and restart your device just in case.
- Please log back into your account and see if this worked.
Enable forwarding
Another setting that must be correct for your iMessage to sync is forwarding. Get your iPhone and follow these steps:
- Open your Settings and go to “Messages.”
- Tap the “Text Message Forwarding” option.
- Your Mac device should be listed. Enable forwarding by turning on the switch.
- Enter the code that appears on your Mac on your iPhone.
If forwarding was already enabled, disable it and enable it again. If your Mac device is not listed or does not have a forwarding option, double-check that you are signed in with the same ID on both devices.
Look at the other end
Sometimes this error message is due to a miscommunication, but not always. You may also see this pop-up because your message may not have been sent legitimately. Therefore, if the issue persistently affects one or more contacts in particular, check to see if they are having issues with your network.
Additionally, you should verify that you have entered your contact information correctly.
- Open Messages on your Mac and select the affected conversation.
- Click the recipient’s name in the conversation window.
- Check the correct phone number in the pop-up window. If it is already checked, uncheck it and check it again.
Send messages from your Mac again
Sometimes you can fix the Mac iMessage “Your message could not be sent” error with a simple change to your settings. Other times, the problem may not be yours. Whatever the case, one of these solutions usually works. If your iMessage is still malfunctioning after trying everything, you should contact support.
Have you experienced iMessage sync issues like this before? Which of these fixes resolved your error? Tell us in the comments section below.
