Articles and essays on design, technology, and my POV of the world. For shorter bursts find me on Mastodon.

Secret Solution to Improve SMS Messaging on macOS

Screenshot of a failed text message with the “green” SMS status and a warning that reads ‘not delivered.’

Having an iPhone and a Mac makes for a lot of seamless transitioning between mobile and computer. One of those transitions is with messaging. Text on one device, then move to the other. Everything continues where you left off. It works really well and really fast.

This is possible because of Apple’s proprietary instant-messaging service, iMessage. It’s a platform that’s Apple first with respect for SMS, which everyone else uses.

People using iMessage can text people using SMS and vice versa (like sending emails). In fact, no one on either side of the fence has to do anything special to communicate with someone on the other. Other than the blue/green status colors on iOS/macOS.

The only time it breaks down is when you’re sending a message from a Mac to someone using SMS. By default, your Mac can’t send SMS messages. But there’s an iOS setting that enables an iPhone as a relay for text message forwarding.

Three iPhone screens laid out horizontally showing the steps outlined in the article on how to setup an iPhone to use text message forwarding with a Mac.

On your iPhone, take the following steps to enable message forwarding (see image above):

  1. Tap on settings
  2. Tap on Messages
  3. Tap on Text Message Forwarding
  4. Toggle the switch for your Mac to the “on” position (green)

Screenshot of a successfully-sent text message with a ‘blue’ iMessage status.

That’s it. Now, when you send a text from your Mac to someone who is using a device using SMS, your conversation is possible.

#SMS #iMessage #Texting #iOS #macOS

Like this? Find out when I publish new work.




Illustration of me with a content facial expression. I am wearing a wine colored beanie, teal glasses, and my long full beard is brown with gray edges. There is a dreary forest in the background.
I’m Mark Wyner, an activist, dad, husband, Designer, writer, public speaker, and Mastodon moderator. If you want me to write for you or speak at your event please say hello.