The first thing to do is make sure both your Mac and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network – otherwise it won’t work. Get started Step 1 – get on the same Wi-Fi network If you don’t, check out our post on how to update your iPhone. Note that you must have iOS 8.1 installed on your iPhone. If the person doesn’t use iMessage or has a non-Apple device, your Mac will just send a plain old SMS relayed via your iPhone. Normally, when sending a contact message from your the Mac, it will attempt to send an iMessage first (by checking the person’s email address or phone number with Apple’s database). The Messages app will also synchronise your regular SMS messages (in addition to allowing you to send and receive them), so your message list looks identical on all your devices. How does it work?įor the SMS “relay” to work, you Mac and iPhone must be using the same Apple ID and and be on the same network. The principle applies equally to an iPad or iPod Touch – in fact the setup process is just as simple. This short guide shows you how to send SMS messages using OS X Yosemite and an iPhone. Many people wonder how I reply to SMS messages so quickly – and this is my secret!! The new feature in Messages is extremely useful, and I find myself using it all the time when my iPhone is on the desk – mainly because it’s usually quicker to type a quick SMS response in the Mac’s slide-in notification. In older versions of OS X, you could only send iMessages to people with an iOS device, but it was always rather frustrating that any “green bubble” friends would only show up on your iPhone. SMS messages with OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1įor anyone that uses OS X Yosemite and also has an iPhone, it is now possible to use your Mac to send and receive SMS messages as part of a feature which Apple calls Continuity. Step 4 – enter the validation code on your iPhone.Step 3 – enable text message forwarding.Step 2 – make sure you’re signed into iCloud.SMS messages with OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1.

How to receive sms on mac