Messages App On Mac Not Showing Names
Recently, I was having this problem: Every time when I receive a message , the message app was showing its phone number instead of its contact name even though I had saved the contact information of this particular person in my iPhone. For example, I had a friend named Selma and her number was (217) XXX XXXX. I saved her (this number) as Selma. However when Selma sent a message, it was showing her number, (217) XXX XXX and not her name, Selma, even she was listed.
When selecting MMS, names will appear as they normally would in a group message. When you go to compose a group text, at the top, you will see the option 'Recipients reply to' Group, MMS, or Just Me. This post did not help at all. I have just updated to OS 11.0 on my iPhone and the contact names on ‘Messages’ have been cleared I just have the phone numbers. Your article says to go to ‘SettingsContactsAccounts’ but in my ‘ContactsSettings’ there is no ‘Accounts. Set up Messages on iPhone. In the Messages app, you can send text messages as SMS/MMS messages through your cellular service, or with iMessage over Wi-Fi or cellular service to people who use iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or a Mac. Texts you send and receive using iMessage don’t count against your SMS/MMS allowances in your cellular messaging plan, but cellular data rates may apply. Oct 18, 2019 If it's not already set up, you're asked to sign in when you first open the Messages app. Sign in with same Apple ID that you use with Messages on your iPhone and other devices. It's usually the same Apple ID that you use for iCloud, the iTunes Store, the App Store, and the account you created when you first set up your Mac.
I was able to fix this problem. This short article explains how I was able to fix this. If you are having this problem, this article will teach you how you can troubleshoot it. Here is how:
Phone numbers instead of Contact names (iOS devices)
Please note that we explained this issue before when users were having a very similar problem with then-new iOS 9 update. Please read that article also. If you are still having issues, then please try the following tips:
- It seems that iCloud Contacts may cause this. If this is the case, here is you can fix it:
- On your iPhone or iPad tap Settings > Your Name > iCloud and then turn off Contacts (you will be asked what you would like to do with the previously synced iCloud contacts on your device. Select Delete) and wait a few seconds and turn it back on (when you are asked select Merge).
- Restart your device. You can restart your device by going to Settings > General > Shut Down and start again.
- Force quit the messages app and open again. To close the app (if your device have a Home button), double press the Home button, and swipe up the Messages app. If your device does not have a Home button, e.g, iPhone X, swipe up from the home screen and then swipe up the Messages app. And then reopen the Messages app.
- Go to Settings > Messages and turn off MMS Messaging (under the SMS/MMS section) and then turn back on.
- Try to disabling Short Name. Please tap Settings > Contacts > Short Name and toggle it off. Please note that Short Name is turned on by default. Short Name lets you see your contacts’ first names (or last name or nick name depending on your settings) instead of the full name.
- Check the contact number. Make sure it is in this format: + country code (area code) phone number (like: +1 217 721 0000) if it is not in this format, change it and fit in this format. This may be an issue especially if you have international contacts saved. You may want to do this because your iOS device may not recognize it. Here is how you can change a contact name and number:
- Open Contacts
- Tap the name of the contact that you would like to change its number
- Tap the Edit button (upper right corner)
- Tap the number field
- Make your changes
- and then finally tap Done (upper right corner)
See also:
If none of the tips works for you, then you may want to contact Apple support. You can chat or meet with a Genius.
Messages Won't Work On Mac
Mail User Guide
Use Viewing preferences in Mail to change options for viewing messages.
To change these preferences in the Mail app on your Mac, choose Mail > Preferences, then click Viewing.
Option | Description |
|---|---|
List Preview | The number of lines of the message to show in the message list. |
Move discarded messages into | Choose whether to delete a message or move it to the Archive mailbox when you swipe left on a message in the message list. This setting also determines whether you can delete or archive messages from Mail notifications. |
Show message headers | Show default or custom fields in message headers. To add fields, click the pop-up menu, choose Custom, click the Add button , then enter the name of a message header, such as Return-Path. |
Display unread messages with bold font | In column layout, show unread messages in bold to help distinguish them from messages you have read. |
Load remote content in messages | When remote content is retrieved from a server, information about your Mac can be revealed. You can deselect the option for increased security, but some messages may not display correctly. Remote content isn’t displayed in messages that Mail marks as junk. |
Use Smart Addresses | Open terminal shortcut. Show recipients’ names but not their email addresses (if a recipient is in the Contacts app or the Previous Recipients list, or on a network server). |
Use dark backgrounds for messages | Show messages in the preview area and new messages you’re writing with a dark background (when this option is selected) or a light background (when this option isn’t selected). This option is available only if you selected the Dark appearance in General System Preferences. When this option is selected, you can switch to a light background while viewing or writing a message. Choose View > Message > Show with Light Background. To see the message with a dark background again, choose View > Message > Show with Dark Background. |
Highlight messages with color when not grouped | When conversations are turned off, highlight the messages in a conversation in the message list, to help identify them more easily. Click the color well to choose a highlight color. |
Include related messages | Include related messages (those located in other mailboxes) when viewing a conversation. |
Mark all messages as read when opening a conversation | Mark all unread messages in a conversation as read when you view the primary message of the conversation. |
Show most recent message at the top | Display the most recent message in a conversation first in the preview area. If deselected, the oldest message appears first. |
Update Messages App On Mac
You can sort, filter, and otherwise change how messages appear in the message list.