How to get text messages on your Mac

The best thing about Apple's Messages is the fact that all of your messages are unified across your iPhones, iPads, and Macs, as long as you're logged in to the same Apple ID on all devices. However, as much as we wish everyone was using iMessage and a blue-bubble user, SMS text messages are still popular because not everyone uses an iPhone. Did you know that you can still get text messages on your Mac? It's super easy, and we're going to show you how to get that up and running.`

But before you get started with anything, you'll want to check to make sure that Messages on your Mac is set up properly.

How to turn on Text Message Forwarding

1. Ensure that you're logged in to the same Apple ID on both your iPhone and Mac.
2. Open Settings on your iPhone.

3. Tap Messages.

   

4. Tap on Text Message Forwarding.

5. Toggle the ON/OFF switch on the Mac(s) you want to get text messages on, as well as any other devices like an iPad or iPod touch.

   

Now, as long as your iPhone is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, any new SMS or MMS text messages you receive on your iPhone (green text bubbles) are forwarded to your selected devices. You can also reply to these text and multimedia messages using your Mac too.

Apple now keeps all of your messages history in iCloud, so it's always updated and available on all of your Apple devices, even brand new ones.

How to Enable Messages in iCloud

1. Make sure you're logged in to the correct Apple ID on your iPhone, iPad, and Macs that you want to be synced up.
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings.

3. Tap on your Apple ID account, which is shown at the top.

   

4. Tap iCloud.

5. Toggle the ON/OFF switch for Messages.

   

6. Open Messages on your Mac.

7. Click Messages in the menu bar.

   

8. Click Preferences.

9. Click the iMessage tab.

   

10. Click the checkbox next to Enable Messages in iCloud so all of your messages, SMS and iCloud, will sync to and from your Mac.