How To Receive Android Messages On Mac

| 05-10-2021
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One of the greatest functions of iMessage is that you can easily text from a device other than your iPhone. It’s great to be able to type on a regular keyboard. But unless you go through some extra steps, you can only text other Apple users from your Mac.

The big problem with Android Messages is the fact that its messages aren't encrypted. Apple’s iMessage, Facebook Messages and WhatsApp all offer end-to-end encryption, so your private messages. Thanks to this ingenious app, and a little bit of work, iOS devices can now receive alerts (SMS, calls, events and more) from your Android device. INTRODUCING IFTTT Available for both Apple and Android, IFTT (or “If This, Then That” ) allows users to create mini apps – applets, that can perform tasks under a particular set of circumstances.

First, make sure you have iMessage fully configured.

  1. On your iPhone go to Settings > Messages. If you are offered to sign into your Apple ID go ahead and do so. Make sure that the iMessage switch is “on”.
  2. Tap “Send and Receive”. The first group is the numbers and email addresses that people can reach you on. Feel free to turn all of these on. This doesn’t connect to your email account, it’s simply that if someone tries sending an iMessage to one of those email addresses it will come through to your Message app. In other words, there are no actual email messages involved, they are just used to identify who you are.
  3. From the second group choose one address, which will be the source, or “caller ID” on your outgoing messages. For most people I recommend choosing your phone number.
  4. If you have other iOS devices that you want to receive texts on (iPads, iPod Touch) go through steps 1 to 3 on each of these devices as well. Step 3 is the key.
  5. On any Macs that you want to get texts we go through a similar process. But instead you will open the Messages app (in your Applications folder or use Spotlight or Siri to launch it).
  6. Click the Messages menu > Preferences. Switch to the “Accounts” tab. Select iMessage on the left column.
  7. Sign in if needed.
  8. In the first group “You can be reached for messages at”, I recommend selecting all the options. At the very least select your phone number.
  9. Below that, under “Start new conversations from” choose your phone number

Now that iMessage is configured across your devices you can connect regular text messaging so that you can message people on Android, Blackberry, etc. For this to work you must:

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  • Have an iPhone (your iPhone is used as the relay to send texts)
  • Your iOS devices must be at least iOS 8.1
  • Your Macs must be at least 10.10 Yosemite
  1. On your iPhone go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding
  2. Slide the switch on for any device you want to enable for plain text messaging. It doesn’t matter which one you start with.
  3. If prompted for a code, go to the device you just enabled for Text Message Forwarding and it should be displayed on the screen. Enter this 6 digit code on your iPhone to link them together. If you are not prompted for a code that’s fine, sometimes it’s not necessary.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each device.

Troubleshooting

  • If you don’t get the code to connect your devices: sometimes it’s not required. If the switch turns green you’re good to go. If you are prompted for a code but you don’t get one then make sure your other device is awake and connected to a live internet connection. And make sure that your phone number is enabled in Settings > Messages > Send & Receive on your other device.
  • If you are stuck on “waiting for activation”: Try signing out of iMessage on ALL of your devices. Reboot all of your devices. Sign in on your iPhone and wait. You do not need to stay on this screen while you wait. Go do something else and come back. It normally takes only seconds but when Apple’s servers are overloaded (such as on an iPhone launch day) it can take hours.
  • Why am I getting all of these pop-up notices that iMessage has been enabled on a new device? Apple just wants to be sure that if someone stole your password you are alerted. Otherwise they could be intercepting your text messages. Since you know this is being set up you can just tap “OK”.

The Messages App on your Mac allows you to receive and send unlimited iMessages to anyone using an Apple device. Additionally, the Messages App on your Mac can also be setup to send and receive carrier supported SMS Text Messages to those who are not using Apple devices.

Send SMS Text Messages On Mac

Your Mac does not have a SIM card and it cannot be classified as a phone or mobile device by any stretch of imagination. However, the Mac can still be setup to send and receive SMS and MMS Messages by linking it to an iPhone with a Cellular Plan.

This is made possible by the operating system on your Mac (MacOS) which is capable of linking Mac to your iPhone, whenever a common Apple ID is used on both devices. Due to this linkage, the two devices know when they are on the same network together, making it possible to send and receive SMS Text Messages on a non-cellular device like Mac.

Although, your Mac appears to be sending and receiving SMS Text Messages, it is actually your iPhone which is sending and receiving SMS Text Messages using its Cellular Plan.

However, for all practical purposes, sending and receiving text messages on Mac will feel the same (if not better) as doing it on an iPhone.

Steps to Send and Receive SMS Text Messages On Mac

In order to setup your Mac to send and receive SMS and MMS messages, you will need an iPhone with a Cellular plan. Also, you need to make sure that you are signed into your iCloud Account, both on iPhone and Mac using the same Apple ID.

1. On your Mac, click on the Apple logo and then click on System Preferences option in the drop-down menu.

2. Next, click on the iCloud option in the System Preferences Window.

3. On the Next Screen, login to your iCloud Account by entering your Apple ID and Password (in case you are not already logged in).

4. You may see a popup on your iPhone informing you about your Apple ID and Phone number being used on a new Mac.

After making sure that you are logged into your iCloud Account on Mac, go to your iPhone and confirm that you are logged into your iCloud Account with the same Apple ID.

1. From the Home Screen of your iPhone, tap on Settings.

2. On the Settings screen, scroll down and tap on iCloud.

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3. On the next screen, make sure that you are logged into iCloud with the same Apple ID as used on your Mac.

After confirming that you are signed into iCloud on both devices using the same Apple ID, follow the steps below to set up text message forwarding on your iPhone:

1. Open the Messages App on your Mac by clicking on the Messages icon in the Taskbar.

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Leave the Messages App open on your Mac (required to receive a security code) and get back to your iPhone to complete the following steps.

2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone

3. On the Settings screen, scroll down and tap on Messages.

4. On the Messages screen, tap on Text Message Forwarding (See image below)

Receive Android Texts On Mac

How To Receive Android Messages On Mac

5. On the next screen, you will see a list of Apple devices linked to your Apple ID under “Allow these devices to send and Receive Text Messages from this iPhone”. Turn on the option to Send and Receive Text Messages for your Mac (See image below).

6. Next, you will see a popup on your iPhone, prompting you to enter a verification code as shown on your Mac, in order to allow iPhone text messages to be sent and received on your Mac.

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How To Receive Android Messages On Mac

Get Android Texts On Mac

7. Enter the Verification Code (As it appears on your Mac – See image below) and tap on Allow. (See image above)

Now, whenever anyone sends a text message to you (your iPhone), you will be able to access the Message on your Mac and also reply to the text Message from your Mac.