How To Fix iMessage When Your Message Could Not Be Sent

Apple users can access their text messages from any of their Apple devices: just use the same ID on your iPhone and Mac, and all your conversations will sync. Or at least, they should do.

It isn’t uncommon to run into an iMessage error on your Mac. If a popup saying “Your message could not be sent” keeps appearing, there could be several reasons why. Here are a few possible solutions to enable you to fully use iMessage again.

Consider Server Issues

A server issue at Apple can lead to an iMessage error. You can check Apple’s server status for each of their services by visiting their System Status page.

1. Go to Apple’s System Status website.
   
2. Look for iMessage on the list.
   

A red dot next to iMessage will indicate server issues. Wait until Apple fixes the problem, and your error should be a thing of the past.

Click “Ignore”

Sometimes, this error message isn’t related to your message’s status at all. It can also appear due to a syncing error. If you click the “Ignore” button in the popup but the error message doesn’t disappear, this is likely the case. The easiest “solution” is clicking the “Ignore” button until the window disappears. It can take a while, depending on how many messages your device is trying to sync. This won’t fix the root of the problem, but it’s a helpful trick when you have no other option.

Check Your Data

Different settings on your iPhone and Mac can also lead to syncing issues. You’ll need to check your iMessage settings on both devices and ensure your ID is the same.

On your iPhone:

1. Open your Settings app and tap “Messages.”
   
2. Under “iMessage,” select “Send & Receive.”
   
3. Check that all the info is correct, and choose your phone number under “Start new conversations from.”
   

On your Mac:

1. Open the Messages app, click “Messages,” then “Preferences.”
2. Switch to the “iMessage” tab.
3. Go over your ID and other data. Make sure that your contact points are checked under “You can be reached for messages at.”
4. Select the same phone number under “Start new conversations from” as on your iPhone.

In addition, you may want to double-check that you have enabled iCloud in your Apple ID settings in your Mac’s System Preferences.

If all of this was set up correctly, the issue lies elsewhere.

Restart iMessage

The next quick fix to try is turning the application off and on again. This might solve a temporary error in the system. Here’s how it’s done on your iPhone:

1. Go to your Settings and open “Messages.”
2. Disable iMessage with the toggle, wait a few seconds, and re-enable it.

You should also log out and log back in on your Mac:

1. Open your Messages on your Mac.
2. Click “Messages” in the menu bar, then “Preferences.”
3. Find the “iMessage” tab and choose “Settings.”
4. Sign out of your account and restart your device for good measure.
5. Log back in to your account and check if this did the trick.

Enable Forwarding

Another setting that needs to be correct for your iMessage to sync is forwarding. Get your iPhone and follow these steps:

1. Open your Settings and go to “Messages.”
2. Tap the “Text Message Forwarding” option.
3. Your Mac device should be on the list. Enable forwarding by toggling the switch.
4. Input the code that appears on your Mac into your iPhone.

If forwarding was already enabled, disable it and enable it again. If your Mac device isn’t on the list or you have no forwarding option, check again that you logged in with the same ID on both devices.

Look at the Other End

Sometimes, this error message is due to miscommunication, but not always. You may also be getting this popup because your message could legitimately not be sent. Therefore, if the issue persistently affects a particular contact or contacts, check if they’re having problems with their network.

Moreover, you should verify that you’ve inputted your contact’s info correctly.

1. Open Messages on your Mac and select the affected conversation.
2. Click the recipient’s name in the conversation window.
3. Check the correct phone number in the popup. If it’s already checked, uncheck it and check it again.

Send Messages From Your Mac Again

You can sometimes fix Mac’s “Your message could not be sent” iMessage error with a simple toggle in your settings. Other times, the problem may not be on your end. Whichever the case, one of these solutions usually does the trick. If your iMessage is still acting up after trying everything, you should contact support.

Have you experienced iMessage syncing issues like this before? Which of these fixes solved your error? Tell us in the comments section below.