Everyone knows that you can send iMessages from any iOS or MacOS device that you own. However, did you know that you can actually send standard SMS messages too?
This rings true for both the iPad and Mac, and today we’re going to walk you through the steps. The process of getting everything set up is pretty straightforward and simple.
A pre-requisite needed before setting any of these services up is that your Mac and iPad must be logged into the same iCloud account. This is so that the forwarding process works as necessary as your iPhone is essentially “handing off” or “forwarding” the messages to your other devices.
The process for being able to send and receive SMS messages on your iPad is pretty simple. However, before getting started, you’ll need to set up something called SMS Relay on your iPhone.
In order to do so, here are the steps:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Select Messages
Select Text Message Forwarding
Toggle On the option to forward to your iPad
Wait for the authorization code to appear on your iPad
Enter the code on your iPhone
Once completed, you will be able to use your iPad to send green bubble messages. Of course, you will need to be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or built-in cell service in order to send these messages.
Send SMS Messages from Mac
As is the case with the iPad, you’ll need your iPhone before being able to send messages from your Mac instead of your other iOS devices. Here are the steps you’ll need to take:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Select Messages
Select Text Message Forwarding
Toggle On the option to forward to your Mac
Wait for the authorization code to appear on your Mac
Enter the code on your iPhone
Now, you can start sending the messages to your non-iOS friends and family members from the comfort of your Mac. This is extremely useful and comes in handy so you can keep your eyes on your computer, versus reaching for your phone or missing a message.
Conclusion
After you have completed the steps above, you will be able to receive and reply to SMS messages from everywhere. You will even be able to compose and create new messages without worrying to have your iPhone attached to your hip. We just recommend that you sync your Contacts list across your devices so you can start conversations with ease.
It’s really great to see Apple make life easier for those entrenched in the iOS and MacOS ecosystem. From here, the company can only continue to improve the circle of the Apple life.
If you have run into any issues, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. We’ll be more than happy to help with any problems that may arise during the process.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
Did you ever solve this? I have same problem. I have even had some texts to the same person go for years, but now they won’t send to people without Apple products.
sending IMS messages from Mac. I do not understand step 4 “toggle” on the option to forward to your Mac.
I have an iPhone and iMac computer. I’ve lost the ability to text to
Open your Mac’s Messages app and then open Message Preferences (under the top Messages Menu)
Select the iMessage tab and make sure that Enable this account is ticked as well as Enable Messages in iCloud–make sure your email is listed in You can be reached at and start new conversations from.
If all this is already ticked, untick the enable this account box, wait for a few minutes, and tick it again.
If that doesn’t work, let’s look at your keychain:
Open Keychain Access (use spotlight search)
Go to the File menu and tap on “Lock Keychain “login” or Command + L
Wait a few minutes and then g back and select Unlock Keychain “login”
Enter your admin password
Try sending a message
Hi. I followed the instructions above but when I enabled the forwarding messages to my mac, no code was given, the toggle simply went on.
My iMessages works but my sms won’t send. I just did an upgrade to MacOS Big Sur 11.2.3 and wondering if that caused the problem.
Thanks
texts get through to some but not other contacts
Did you ever solve this? I have same problem. I have even had some texts to the same person go for years, but now they won’t send to people without Apple products.
sending IMS messages from Mac. I do not understand step 4 “toggle” on the option to forward to your Mac.
I have an iPhone and iMac computer. I’ve lost the ability to text to
ever since my upgrade to Mojave, my imessages do not work. I can receive messages but cannot send, Pleas help.
Hi Shay,
Are you receiving any messages or none at all?
Open your Mac’s Messages app and then open Message Preferences (under the top Messages Menu)
Select the iMessage tab and make sure that Enable this account is ticked as well as Enable Messages in iCloud–make sure your email is listed in You can be reached at and start new conversations from.
If all this is already ticked, untick the enable this account box, wait for a few minutes, and tick it again.
If that doesn’t work, let’s look at your keychain:
Open Keychain Access (use spotlight search)
Go to the File menu and tap on “Lock Keychain “login” or Command + L
Wait a few minutes and then g back and select Unlock Keychain “login”
Enter your admin password
Try sending a message
Hope something helps!
Liz