Your iPhone messages aren't showing up on your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac only gets the same conversations as your iPhone when both keep them in iCloud and both are signed in to iMessage with the same Apple Account. If Messages in iCloud is off on either one, each device keeps its own copy. Green text messages from non-Apple phones also need forwarding switched on in your iPhone.

How to fix it

1. Open Messages on your Mac, then choose Messages, then Settings… from the menu bar and click the iMessage tab.

2. Check the Apple Account shown there is the same one your iPhone uses. If it isn't, sign out and sign in with the right one.

3. Tick Enable Messages in iCloud, then click Sync Now next to it.

   Messages›Settings…›iMessage›Enable Messages in iCloud

4. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, and make sure Messages is on there too.

5. Leave the Mac plugged in and on Wi-Fi for a while. The first sync of a big message history can take hours.

Still not fixed?

1. If only green text messages are missing, open Settings on your iPhone, go to Apps, then Messages, then Text Message Forwarding, and turn on your Mac.

2. If new messages sent to your phone number don't arrive, tick your number under You can be reached for messages at in the same iMessage tab.

   Messages›Settings…›iMessage

3. If iMessage says it's waiting for activation or can't sign in, check your Wi-Fi and that the date and time are set automatically. Then click Sign Out in the iMessage tab, restart the Mac and sign in again.

   Messages›Settings…›iMessage

4. If messages still won't sync after a day with both devices online and on the same account, contact Apple Support. They can check your iMessage account.