A friend created a group so we can all text back and forth as a group (seven people). I can see the texts on my phone but none of them appear in Messages on my MacBook - even though other texting groups do.
Is there something about how this group was created that is keeping the texts from appearing on my MacBook? Thanks.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6
Zeppo246 wrote:
A friend created a group so we can all text back and forth as a group (seven people). I can see the texts on my phone but none of them appear in Messages on my MacBook - even though other texting groups do.
Is there something about how this group was created that is keeping the texts from appearing on my MacBook? Thanks.
text forwarding need to be enabled on your iphone. Forward text messages from your iPhone to other devices - Apple Support
Thank you. The texts are showing up now. But *all* of my *other* group texts were showing up previously, before I enabled text forwarding. Just that one group wasn't showing up. So clearly it's more complicated. Thanks again.
One follow-up thought: Could it have anything to do with whether or not the originator of the texting group has iMessaging capability? I've noticed that the messages I send to the group are green, not blue, which leads me to believe that the originator has an Android phone. So maybe Android messages go only to an iPhone and not to other Apple devices, but iMessages go to every Apple device? Interesting.
Zeppo246 wrote:
One follow-up thought: Could it have anything to do with whether or not the originator of the texting group has iMessaging capability? I've noticed that the messages I send to the group are green, not blue, which leads me to believe that the originator has an Android phone. So maybe Android messages go only to an iPhone and not to other Apple devices, but iMessages go to every Apple device? Interesting.
Correct imessage is for Apple devices.
MMS/SMS/RCS - non apple devices.
Read here Use Messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
Thanks for the follow-up response, but I'm not seeing this distinction in the reference you provided. What is it about the iPhone and iPad that cause them to handle messages (in the Messages app) differently than a MacBook? Is it related to cellphone service, which an iPhone and iPad can have but a MacBook cannot?
Zeppo246 wrote:
Thanks for the follow-up response, but I'm not seeing this distinction in the reference you provided. What is it about the iPhone and iPad that cause them to handle messages (in the Messages app) differently than a MacBook? Is it related to cellphone service, which an iPhone and iPad can have but a MacBook cannot?
Imessage is an Apple's messaging system you can use it on any Apple device so long as you're log into imessage, so you can message macbook/ipad/iphone/ipod (maybe) using imessage so long as device is connected to wifi or cellular data.
A macbook and ipad alone can't receive/send SMS/MMS (your phone carrier feature) without using text forwarding on your iphone, as outlined in the first link I provided.
Read here too If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
razmee209 wrote: A macbook and ipad alone can't receive/send SMS/MMS (your phone carrier
feature) without using text forwarding on your iphone, as outlined in
the first link I provided.
The link you provided says nothing about SMS/MMS/RCS messages. In fact it seems to want Apple users to know nothing about those formats - just use iMessage and that's all you need to know. Thanks.
Zeppo246 wrote:
razmee209 wrote: A macbook and ipad alone can't receive/send SMS/MMS (your phone carrier
feature) without using text forwarding on your iphone, as outlined in
the first link I provided.
The link you provided says nothing about SMS/MMS/RCS messages. In fact it seems to want Apple users to know nothing about those formats - just use iMessage and that's all you need to know. Thanks.
first paragraph:
With the Text Message Forwarding feature of your iPhone, the SMS, MMS, or RCS messages that you send and receive on your iPhone can also appear on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro, so you can continue the conversation from the device you want.
From this link Forward text messages from your iPhone to other devices - Apple Support
Everything has been outlined for you with 3 different links, I won't reply back anymore.
That's a different page, but it's okay - you win. We can at least agree that the Messages app has the usual Apple problem, which is that everything is easy and smooth as long as you do everything within iOS on Apple devices. But iOS and Apples devices don't play well with other systems. I wish I could use a texting app of my own choosing and not be stuck with the Messages app.
Thank you for helpng me.
Group texts show on iPhone but not on MacBook