Every Solution You Need to Fix iMessage not Working on Mac

“My iMessage is not working on MacBook. How can I fix it and start sending messages to my contacts again?”

It has been a while since the iMessage app was included in Mac and gradually become a favorite. It lets us sync our messages across multiple devices and stay in touch with our contacts seamlessly. Nevertheless, there are times when Mac users face unwanted issues like these with the iMessage app. Don’t worry – the iMessage not working on Mac is a common situation that can easily be fixed. In this guide, I will let you know how to fix the iMessage not working on MacBook problem like a pro.

• Part 1: Why is iMessage not working on Mac?
• Part 2: Quit the iMessage App and Reopen it
• Part 3: Delete Some Messages and Restart Mac
• Part 4: Make sure the Data Connection is working correctly
• Part 5: Reset Network to Default on Mac
• Part 6: Make sure iMessage is on and Set it up correctly
• Part 7: Reset the Keychain feature on Mac
• Part 8: Update your Mac

Part 1: Why is iMessage not working on Mac?

Before we discuss ways to fix the iMessage on Macbook not working issue, it is important to diagnose the problem. Ideally, one or more of the following reasons can cause this issue.

• The iMessage app on your Mac could be corrupted.
• There might be some syncing issue with your iMessage account.
• Your system might not be connected to an active internet connection.
• A malware or virus could have corrupted your device.
• Your Mac might not have enough free space to run the app smoothly.
• Any other third-party application could have blocked your messages.
• Your system might be running on an outdated version of macOS.

Part 2: Quit the iMessage App and Reopen it

When users get the iMessage not working on Mac problem, they are able to resolve it most of the time by restarting the app. Chances are that the iMessage app on your system could have been stuck or is not responding. To fix this, just close the app from running in the background and reopen it.

1. If iMessage is already running in the background, then go to the Apple logo from the Finder and click on the “Force Quit” option.
2. Alternatively, you can press the Command + Option + Esc keys on your Mac keyboard to launch the Force Quit window.
3. This will display a list of all the apps that are running in the background. Just select the iMessage option from here and click on the “Force Quit” button.

You can wait for a while and launch the iMessage application again to check if it fixes the issue.

Part 3: Delete Some Messages and Restart Mac

If there is a lot of data saved on the iMessage app, then it can also make it malfunction. To fix this, you can just delete the saved data from the iMessage app – chats, exchanged media, documents, and so on. Later, you can restart Mac that would refresh its primary memory and would most likely fix the iMessage not working on Mac problem. Here is a stepwise method to do it.

1. To start with, just launch the iMessage app on your Mac and open any conversation. From here, select the message you want to get rid of, right-click, and choose the delete option. You can also select multiple messages and click on the trash icon to delete them.



2. If you want to delete all saved iMessage data, then click on Go > Go To Folder on Finder and enter the “~/Library/Messages/” path location.
3. From here, just delete the chat backup files and even get rid of them from the Trash.



4. Once you have deleted the iMessage data, go to Finder and click on the Apple menu to restart your Mac.

Part 4: Make sure the Data Connection is working correctly

As you know, the iMessage app completely relies on the network connection on Mac to work smoothly. Therefore, if iMessage is not sending messages on Mac, then check its data connection. If it is connected to an Ethernet, then check the connecting cables carefully. Go to Finder to see the available networks and make sure that your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection. You can also launch a browser and check if your system is getting a stable data connection or not.

Part 5: Reset Network to Default on Mac

Chances are that there could be a serious issue with your Mac’s network settings as well. If you are sure that your Mac is connected to a stable data connection, and the iMessage app is still not working on Mac – then you can take this measure. This will reset the network settings to default on Mac and would also erase any saved network settings. To reset the network on Mac, follow these simple steps:

1. Disable the network connection on your Mac and from its Finder, click on Go > Go to Folder.
2. As the Go to Folder window will open, type “/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration” as the target path and launch it on Finder.



3. Here, you can view different system files. Simply look for the “preferences.plist” file and rename it to “preferences.plist.bak”.
4. That’s it! Now you can just restart your Mac and let it create a new preferences.plist file for its network settings.

Part 6: Make sure iMessage is on and Set it up correctly

Needless to say, you should be using the correct Apple ID on Mac for iMessage to work and the feature should be turned on. If you have never used the iMessage app on your Mac, then you might encounter issues like these. To fix the iMessage on MacBook not working issue, just follow this quick check.

1. Firstly, launch the Message app on your Mac and from its main menu, go to Messages > Preferences.



2. From here, just go to the Accounts settings, select your iMessage account, and make sure it is linked to the correct Apple ID.
3. Also, you can see an option for “Enable this account”. Make sure that it is checked if it isn’t already.
4. If needed, you can click on the Sign Out button to log out of your iMessage account. Later, just restart your Mac and log back in to the iMessage app using your Apple ID and password.

Part 7: Reset the Keychain feature on Mac

Keychain is the native password management application in Mac that helps us keep all the passwords secure in one place. While the feature is extremely beneficial, it can sometimes affect the functioning of other apps. For instance, some users have noticed that they are able to fix the iMessage not working on Mac issue by resetting the Keychain. You can also do the same by following these instructions on Mac.

1. Go to Finder on your Mac and browse to Applications > Utilities to launch the Keychain app.
2. Once it is opened, go to the Keychain Access option from the main menu and click on “Preferences”.



3. As the Preferences window will open, go to the General Settings, and click on “Reset my Default Keychain”. Now, you can just reset Keychain by entering the new credentials.

Part 8: Update your Mac

Lastly, the iMessage not working on Mac can also happen if your system is running on an old or unstable macOS version. The good news is this issue can easily be fixed by upgrading your Mac. Not only would it fix iMessage not working on MacBook, but would also make its functioning smoother. Here’s how you can update your Mac to its latest stable version.

1. Go to your Mac’s home, click on the Apple logo on the Finder, and visit the “About This Mac” option.
2. From the Overview section, click on the “Software Update” feature.
3. This will launch a new window with the listing of the latest stable macOS version available. Just click on the “Upgrade Now” button adjacent to its profile to update your Mac.

Make sure that you maintain a stable internet connection and have enough space on your Mac to complete the update successfully.

I’m sure that after reading this guide, you would be able to fix the iMessage not working on Mac problem. From connectivity issues to account-related problems, there could be several reasons for iMessage not working. I have covered almost all the possible fixes for it that you can easily implement and access iMessage on Mac without any trouble. Feel free to give them a try and share some of your tips regarding iMessage on Mac with us as well!