How To enable MMS messaging on Mac

To send and receive MMS messages on your Mac, you need to link your iPhone’s cellular messaging capabilities with your Mac using Apple’s Text Message Forwarding feature. This setup allows your Mac to utilize your iPhone to handle MMS messages, as Macs do not have their own cellular connection. Here is how you can enable MMS messaging on your Mac step-by-step:

Step 1: Confirm Apple ID Is the Same on Both Devices

Ensure your iPhone and Mac are signed into the same Apple ID.

• On your iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top to verify the Apple ID.
• On your Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) > Apple ID and confirm the same account is signed in.
  Using different Apple IDs will prevent MMS forwarding from working properly.

Step 2: Enable iMessage on Both Devices

Turn on iMessage on your iPhone:

• Open Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage to ON.

Enable iMessage on your Mac:

• Open the Messages app.
• Go to Messages > Settings or Preferences, then the iMessage tab.
• Make sure Enable Messages in iCloud is checked and that your phone number appears under “You can be reached for messages at.”

Step 3: Set Up Text Message Forwarding on Your iPhone

This is the crucial step for enabling MMS on Mac.

• On your iPhone, open Settings > Messages.
• Scroll down and tap Text Message Forwarding.
• A list of devices associated with your Apple ID appears. Find your Mac and toggle the switch ON next to it.
• A verification code will pop up on your Mac. Enter this code on your iPhone and tap Allow.
  This configures your iPhone to forward SMS and MMS messages to your Mac.

Step 4: Test MMS Messaging from Your Mac

Open the Messages app on your Mac and try sending a picture or video message to a non-Apple user.

• The message bubble will appear green when sending SMS/MMS (as opposed to blue for iMessage).
• Your iPhone’s cellular connection handles sending and receiving these messages.

Step 5: Troubleshooting if MMS Does Not Work

If MMS still doesn’t function after setup:

• Verify your iPhone runs at least iOS 8 or later.
• Confirm the same Apple ID is used on both devices.
• Ensure your carrier supports MMS and your phone plan allows it.
• Restart both your iPhone and Mac to refresh connections.
• Disable and re-enable iMessage and Text Message Forwarding if needed.

By following these key steps to link your iPhone and Mac via Text Message Forwarding and verifying your Apple ID and iMessage settings, you enable seamless sending and receiving of MMS messages directly from your Mac’s Messages app. This lets you enjoy the convenience of typing on your Mac while still sending photos, videos, and group texts to all users, regardless of their device platform.