Other Cannot Send MMS Message through 2015 MacBook anymore (with iPhone 7 Plus)

[MalagLagoon]

For the past 8 years I've sent text messages (cell phone text messages) through my 2015 MacBook Pro. This is accomplished in conjunction with my iPhone 7 Plus. That way I can text people easily using my MacBook Pro (instead of my tiny iPhone). One or two days ago my iPhone's iOS got updated. Suddenly I can't use my MacBook to send text messages to people NOT using an iPhone. I can still send text messages through my Mac to persons using an iPhone.

I'm guessing that my old hardware + recent iPhone update is the problem. I rebooted everything - on the off chance this was a glitch - but no luck.

Anyone else experience something similar?

My hardware

mid 2015 MacBook Pro running Monterey 12.7.6

iPhone 7 Plus (purchased in March of 2017) updated this week to iOS 15.8.7

 

[eyoungren]

For the past 8 years I've sent text messages (cell phone text messages) through my 2015 MacBook Pro. This is accomplished in conjunction with my iPhone 7 Plus. That way I can text people easily using my MacBook Pro (instead of my tiny iPhone). One or two days ago my iPhone's iOS got updated. Suddenly I can't use my MacBook to send text messages to people NOT using an iPhone. I can still send text messages through my Mac to persons using an iPhone.

I'm guessing that my old hardware + recent iPhone update is the problem. I rebooted everything - on the off chance this was a glitch - but no luck.

Anyone else experience something similar?

My hardware

mid 2015 MacBook Pro running Monterey 12.7.6

iPhone 7 Plus (purchased in March of 2017) updated this week to iOS 15.8.7

A few days back I updated iOS 26 on my 11 Pro Max to that recently released security update. Shortly thereafter I had a similar issue. My first thought was to check my iPhone and sure enough I was logged out of both Messages and Facetime.

My iPhone 6+ is showing that there is the security update to 15.8.7 and I am guessing it's the same thing. I have not updated yet on my 6+. So, you might want to go into the Settings app and verify that you are logged in to Messages and Facetime.

 

[MalagLagoon]

Not sure what you mean. I don't log into anything to use text messages on my cell phone. I just pay for a cell number (which includes texting). If you mean the setting on my iPhone that forwards everything to my Mac - well that's been on for 8 years now (and I've already checked to see if it's still on - and it is). Also, I know forwarding works because I can still use text message on my MacBook to persons who happen to own an iPhone.

Or do you mean login on my MacBook? But, again, a cell phone text message doesn't have a password - just a SIM card.

I'm confused.

 

[eyoungren]

Not sure what you mean. I don't log into anything to use text messages on my cell phone. I just pay for a cell number (which includes texting). If you mean the setting on my iPhone that forwards everything to my Mac - well that's been on for 8 years now (and I've already checked to see if it's still on - and it is). Also, I know forwarding works because I can still use text message on my MacBook to persons who happen to own an iPhone.

Or do you mean login on my MacBook? But, again, a cell phone text message doesn't have a password - just a SIM card.

I'm confused.

OK. All I know is that when I applied the update to my 11 Pro Max, my Mac stopped sending or receiving any messages (iMessage, RCS or SMS). My wife in the meantime had sent me messages that I didn't see either on my phone or my Mac.

So, I opened the Message section in Settings on my iPhone and it said I was logged out of iMessage. Same with Facetime. I tapped to log back in and my Mac started being able to send and receive messages again.

Maybe not the exact same issue you are having, but I was just bringing it up in the off chance it might have been related to your issue.

 

[MalagLagoon]

Wait. I do see "activation unsuccessful" just under iMessage in my iPhone in the Message app settings. hmmm

 

[MalagLagoon]

I don't see how to make "activation" successful

 

[RRC]

I don't see how to make "activation" successful

Try turning off iMessage, rebooting the phone and then turning it on.

Also try signing out of your Apple ID.

 

[MalagLagoon]

I believe that was the procedure I used - and it eventually worked:

• Turn off iMessages, and turn off FaceTime
• reboot iPHone
• Turn on iMessages and FaceTime

However, I had to repeat the above three times for it to stick. For a the first few tries connection would restore briefly before the iPhone reverted to the "activation unsuccessful" mode. I'd even see a message on my MacBook alerting me to a device using my iMessages. I tenaciously repeated the above procedure and eventually the connection lasted beyond a few seconds. It's been 7 days since and it's still working.