macOS High Sierra Users Report Significant Delays Receiving iMessages and SMS Texts - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

macOS High Sierra Users Report Significant Delays Receiving iMessages and SMS Texts

by

A bug in macOS High Sierra is causing users to receive iMessages and SMS texts on Macs and other iCloud-connected devices long after they were originally sent, according to reports that have been gradually building up over the last week or so.

First spotted by AppleInsider, a growing number of complaints on Apple's support forums detail the issue, which is affecting Mac owners with iPads, iPhones, and Apple Watches. The issue has also been picked up on MacRumors' forums, while at least one MacRumors staff member has experienced the same problem.

macOS High Sierra Messages iCloud
On updating to macOS High Sierra, some users report that iMessages only appear on their Mac after a long delay compared to their iPads and iPhones. Others have noticed that notifications are not coming through at all on other devices connected to the same iCloud account.

Some contributors to Apple's support forum and the MacRumors forum have suggested a couple of temporary fixes, including disabling and re-enabling messages, or sending messages on a Mac instead of an iOS device. Recent beta versions of macOS High Sierra don't appear to solve the problem, making reverting to macOS Sierra the only persistent workaround. Meanwhile, a community bug report has been created to alert Apple to the issue.

There's some speculation that the bug could be related to changes to the way iMessages function behind the scenes. Apple is working to bring iCloud syncing to iMessage in macOS High Sierra and iOS 11, so that deleting a message on one device removes it from all devices linked to the same account, for example. The advertised feature was pulled when the two operating systems were launched, but Apple hopes to introduce it later this fall.

Related Forum: macOS High Sierra

Top Rated Comments

OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
115 months ago
If you're seeing this issue, please report it to Apple. They don't fix a problem if they don't have significant data to show it's impacting many.

Don't just assume someone else will vote for you. That's how we end up with political officials we don't like.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avieshek Avatar
115 months ago
Is macOS becoming Windows while Windows is trying to become macOS?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
115 months ago
I’m quite aware that bugs exist and no software is perfect, but I sure am glad that the professional software I rely on for my job takes 1-3 months to certify for Apple’s new operating system that comes out every year. That means that I cannot switch over to High Sierra until at least November or December. And that has worked out really well for me since nowadays all of Apple’s operating systems essentially are in beta mode for the first couple of months after public release.

Don’t worry folks, I love Apple, but unfortunately, over the last 5 years they have changed. They still make great products, but they have been drifting more and more away from producing software that “just works”. All of Apple’s operating systems (mac or mobile) are riddled with problems and it takes them the better part of 6 to 10 months to get everything running smoothly and then the cycle repeats itself all over again since they feel compelled to release something new every single year. It’s sad really. And it’s not the same insanely great company we used to know.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fizzyfizz Avatar
115 months ago
Yep, I'm experiencing this problem. Glad I'm not the only one!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
115 months ago
i've had this problem forever. with every bloody version of macos. some days it's worse than others. but it's generally flakey.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
115 months ago
Is macOS becoming Windows while Windows is trying to become macOS?
That transition happened with windows 10.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Thursday July 30, 2026 6:12 am PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. Labor Day is September 7 this year. The last time the holiday fell on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the last time Labor Day was on September 7 in a normal year was in ...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors