iPhone iMessage\Text Forwarding\Contact Not Registered Driving Me NUTS

[shenan1982]

Apple is driving me NUTS with this iMessage thing. Such a simple thing they've turned into such a nightmare for several years now.

I changed phones (went from old phone to new because my phone was replaced)... now when I try to send an iMessage from the computer to a new contact it shows "Contact is not registered with iMessage" when they clearly are because it works from other computers already having a convo in progress.

When I try to activate text message forwarding, it shows my other iDevices but not my iMac...

I've tried logging out, resetting iMessage, turning off all devices signed into apple ID and restarting, resigning in... nothing seems to be resolving this. I'm at the end of my rope. Now when I send an iMessage from my phone, my iMac isn't even syncing with iMessages sent from the phone, so when someone replies it shows on my phone but not my desktop.

Anyone have a similar issue, and how did you fix it? This is driving me INSANE! I see by the tons of articles online many people seem to be plagued by iMessage issues.... but nobody seems to have any real solutions.

 

[gordon1234]

Are you sure all devices are defaulting to your phone number. It sounds a bit like some are using the phone number and some are using your email address.

 

[shenan1982]

Are you sure all devices are defaulting to your phone number. It sounds a bit like some are using the phone number and some are using your email address.

They're all using the phone number. Have even tried removing everything and starting from scratch. The removal and trying to re-add each device actually is where the issue begins... nothing sees each other after 10.10.2 and iOS 8.1.x ... there are many other forums I've found about it on here, so it's clearly a widespread issue. Very frustrating. Very unacceptable.