How to Sync iMessages on iOS and OS X

One of the cool features introduced with OS X Mountain Lion last year was the addition of the Messages app that lets users sync their iMessages from their iOS device to their Mac. That way, they can chat with other iMessage users without just being exposed to their iPhones.

Messages makes its way back in OS X Mavericks, and if you’re like me and waited until Mavericks before upgrading from OS X Lion, it’s your first time accessing iMessage on a Mac. Setting up and syncing iMessages can be a little tricky, so we’ll show you how to do it in this quick guide. I hope you’re on your way to cross-platform iMessaging soon.

Get started with your iPhone or iPad

iMessage should sync with all your Apple devices as long as they’re all signed in under the same Apple ID, but surprisingly, sometimes it doesn’t work that well. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Open the application.
2. Tap on it.
3. Tap on it.
4. Make sure your email address appears at the top next to . If not, tap this and sign in with your Apple ID.
5. Also, make sure your phone number is selected in the section titled.

Repeat these four steps on all your other iOS devices. That said, not only is it between your iPhone and Mac, you’ll be able to add an iPad you may have lying around as well.

Sync iMessages to Your Mac

The steps to set up iMessage on your Mac are similar to iOS, except it’s a different user interface:

1. Open the application.
2. Click and then select (or just press your keyboard) in the menu bar in the upper left corner.
3. Next, click on the tab and you should see your Apple ID email address in the sidebar. If not, click the + sign at the bottom and add your Apple ID.
4. Once added, click on it and you will see some similar settings you have made on your iOS device. Make sure this is checked below with your phone number.
5. At the bottom of the preferences pane, make sure your phone number is selected from the drop-down menu at the bottom.

Once this is set, you should be ready to go and any iMessages you receive on your iOS device will also appear on your Mac and vice versa. If you have any problems with iMessage syncing, sign out of iMessage on all your Apple devices and sign back in; this is a quick fix and works best when dealing with iMessage sync issues most of the time.