Apple’s iOS and macOS operating systems offer a great feature called “Continuity,” which brings some great features to the iPad, iPhone, and Mac. One of the continuity features is the ability to send SMS and MMS messages from both iOS devices and Mac computers.
System Requirements
SMS and MMS messaging requires an activated carrier plan on any iPhone using iOS 8.1 or later. You can then send and receive SMS and MMS messages from these devices:
- Any Mac using OS X Yosemite or later.
- Any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iOS 8 or later.
How to Setup SMS and MMS Messaging
- Each device needs to be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
- On your iPhone, go to “Settings” -> “Messages” -> “Send & Receive.” Double-check to make sure the Apple ID displayed at the top of the screen is the same Apple ID that you’re using for iMessage on your other devices.
- Tap to add a checkmark to your phone number and email address. This allows you to be reached by iMessage at both contact points. Do the same on your other iOS devices.
- On your iPhone, go to “Settings” -> “Messages” -> “Text Message Forwarding,” then select which devices and computers to allow to send and receive text messages from the iPhone. If you’re not using two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, a verification code will appear on each of your other devices: enter the code on your iPhone.
- On your Mac, open the Messages app, and then click “Messages” -> “Preferences.” Click “Accounts,” then click your iMessage account. Check to make sure that the Apple ID shown here is the same Apple ID you’re using on the other devices. Click to add a checkmark to your phone number and email address.
Now, you can start a conversation on any of your iOS devices or your Mac. Conversations can be started by clicking a phone numbers in Safari, Contacts, Calendar, or any other app that can detect a phone number. All incoming and outgoing messages will appear on all of your devices, and can be continued form any of them.
For more tips and tricks that can help you make better use of your Mac, iOS device, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, be sure to visit the “How To” section of our website.
