IOS – How to get iMessages in sync across an iOS 5 iPhone, iPad and Mountain Lion Mac

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One of the new features of Mountain Lion is the Messages app – and the "fact" that all your Messages threads are consistent across all your devices.

I would really like to have my the threads that I have going on my phone, automatically sync to my iPad and ML Mac. I understand SMS messages will not sync. The one caveat that I noticed is that it must be started on my Mac.

How do I get iMessages in sync across an iOS 5 (or older) iPhone, iPad and Mac?

Best Answer

Theres been a few reports online of messages sync being a bit buggy if you don't set it up exactly right. Heres a few solutions that should get everything syncing nicely for you:

Firstly, you need to have all devices set up to the same Apple ID

iOS Devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad):

  1. Navigate to Settings > Messages.
  2. Make sure iMessage is turned on.
  3. Tap on Receive At.
  4. Check your Apple ID. Make note of this Apple ID.
  5. Tap on Caller ID.
  6. Use your email address. If you use your phone number (assuming you’re on an iPhone), then the non phone devices (including the Mac) may not (and probably won’t) see the messages.

Mac version:

  1. Navigate to the Messages app.
  2. Go to Preferences > Accounts.
  3. Add the same Apple ID as you used on the iOS devices.

 

In a nutshell: everything needs to be consistent. Use the same Apple ID everywhere and an email address as a caller id for best results.

If things are still not syncing, try the following.

  1. Delete all your previous conversations: Some people have reported that they had to delete all of their conversations before things would sync up.
  2. Make sure you have your phone number added to your Apple ID account online.
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