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I've been reading instructions to enable Messages to send SMS texts to Android phones. Every single one I've read starts out by telling me to do something to my iPhone in conjunction with what I do with my MacBookPro, but (A) I don't HAVE a bloody iPhone, and (B) the descriptions of the commands afforded by Messages>Preferences are not shown in my Messages preferances pane.
MacBook Pro (2021)
If you do not have an iPhone, you cannot set up Text Message Forwarding. You wouldn't see anything in Messages>Preferences on your Mac as everything is set up from the iPhone.
You might check with your carrier to see if they offer a web or application option for sending SMS messages. My carrier, Verizon, has such an option (both web and application), called, I believe, Messages+. It doesn't require any specific type of phone.
If you do not have an iPhone, you cannot set up Text Message Forwarding. You wouldn't see anything in Messages>Preferences on your Mac as everything is set up from the iPhone.
You might check with your carrier to see if they offer a web or application option for sending SMS messages. My carrier, Verizon, has such an option (both web and application), called, I believe, Messages+. It doesn't require any specific type of phone.
I'm glad it helped.
For what it's worth, these are Apple's instructions. The fact that the phone is involved is mentioned in the title:
Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad - Apple Support
However, I do understand that just because something is clear to me doesn't mean it will be to everyone.
As IdrisSeabright says, sending text messages to non-Apple phones is performed by forwarding the message through the Apple-ID system, then sending the message through your physical iPhone. It only works if:
You have an iPhone.
that iPhone is using the SAME Apple-ID as your Mac
the iPhone is powered on
the iPhone has adequate cellular service.
Thanks so much. Perfect clarity, unlike the instructions, which don't even mention that the procedure involves forwarding through an iPhone. I wonder if there are 3rd party apps that will do the SMS globally, as I think I once had many years ago.
owen
That set did mention the iphone, but none of the others, nor did their (not legacy either) descriptions of the Messages app's preferances pane match mine. Some searching has failed to come up with any even remotely functional or targetted 3rd party apps that might give a simple interface to send SMS to any phone that's out there. Absurd. Sometimes it seems that the entire 'progress' of the technology is not the evolution of the new things you can do nearly as much as it is 'here are some more things you cannot do anymore.'
But again, thanks for making it so much more clear why the glib instructions online don't work!! I don't know what I would do without this forum. Without your help I would still be floundering about.
Messaging through your iPhone from your Mac is at best 'fiddly' to get set up properly. It is often said to take at least one Restart of the Phone and at least one restart of the Mac, after assuring that all settings appear correct on each device.
Glad it makes sense now. And, definitely check with your carrier to see if they have an option that will do what you need.
Sms
can receive on both my phone and my Mac but I frequently cannot send to the same recipient (using iMessage) on my Mac... but I CAN on always send on my phone
Trying to send SMS to Android Phone. Instructions
