Text Message Forwarding Not working after upgrading to iOS 18 and upgrading to MacOS 15.0 on iMac

Followup:

First, I found that protonVPN worked using IKEv2

Next, this solution from IVPN also worked, using the wireguard client on the Mac App store instead of the IVPN client.

Reply from IVPN:

This is a known issue with macOS 15 and our development team is investigating.

Currently, the only known solution involves using a manual WireGuard connection using the official WireGuard client instead of using the IVPN App:

https://www.ivpn.net/setup/macos-wireguard/

The IVPN App's firewall and routing policies tend to be very restrictive with respect to preventing leaks. The official WireGuard client is permissive enough to allow the Apple applications to operate as expected, like allowing iMessages to go through.

You might prefer to run a leak test or two before connecting the VPN and after connecting to verify that nothing leaks:

https://www.dnsleaktest.com/

https://browserleaks.com/ip

After some experimentation with settings I just happened to try turning my VPN off and voila text forwarding from my iPhone to my Mac is again working. Maybe just coincidence, but if you are using a VPN may be worth a try. I haven’t time at the moment to check my VPN settings, later on I will.

EDIT: definitely my Private Internet Access VPN, turn it off and forwarding works, turn it on and forwarding doesn't work!

Same for me on IVPN Wireguard and OpenVPN. This worked until iOS18 and macOS15 upgrades.

Not good.

Same here, very frustrating, tried everything like signing out, turning forwarding off and back on, signing out of account and signing back in, nothing works. Text forwarding to my iPad still works fine just not to my Mac Studio.

I think I'm having this same issue too. I updated my MacOS to 15.0 a few days ago and it appears the synchronization between my iPhone and MacBook are off.

I've 'synced' multiple times from both the iMessage Settings menu (in the Messages app) and from iCloud+ in System Settings. Additionally, Messages on my MacBook always shows 'syncing with iCloud paused.' I've even checked my Text Message Forwarding settings along with the Apple ID and number I can be reached at for iMessage.

I didn't notice this until some time after I updated. So I'm assuming that's what did it.

Very frustrating. Any help is appreciated.

With PIA on, I needed to turn the kill switch off and then restart PIA, the only workaround I can find. At least you still have the protection of the VPN just not the kill switch.

I see the same issue is being reported on Reddit. I have reported the issue to PIA but so far the response hasn't been all that helpful.

I experience this problem with OpenVPN. Has anyone tried wireguard VPN? Maybe it will work.

Problem still exists with MacOS 15.0.1.