Set up Messages on Mac
If you have an Apple ID, you can use iMessage — a secure messaging service — to send unlimited messages to anyone signed in to iMessage on their Apple device. Messages sent using iMessage appear in blue text bubbles.
If you have an iPhone, you can also send SMS, MMS or RCS text messages to any mobile phone from your Mac. (Availability may depend on your service provider, country or region.) Messages sent using SMS, MMS and RCS appear in green text bubbles. See Set up iPhone to get SMS, MMS or RCS messages.
Get messages on your Mac using iMessage
Go to the Messages app
on your Mac.Enter your Apple Account email address or phone number, then click Sign In. Make sure to sign in to the same Apple Account on every device.
Enter your Apple Account password, then click Sign In.
Choose Messages > Settings, click iMessage, then do any of the following:
Store your messages in iCloud: Select Enable Messages in iCloud. See Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.
Note: You can also turn Messages in iCloud on or off in iCloud settings. See Change iCloud settings.
Choose your email addresses or phone numbers for sending and receiving messages: Select options below “You can be reached for messages at” for incoming messages, then, if you selected more than one option, click the pop-up menu below “Start new conversations from” to specify which email address or phone number to use for new, outgoing messages.
Note: The phone number or email you select is what others see before you share your name and photo.
See the Apple Support article Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime.
Let senders know when you read their messages: Select “Send read receipts”.
You can also send read receipts for a specific conversation.
You can also set up name and photo sharing and notifications (such as sounds and alerts).
Sync your messages with iPhone
To see your messages on both your Mac and iPhone, make sure you sign in to the same Apple Account on both devices and turn on text message forwarding on your iPhone. See Set up iPhone to get SMS, MMS and RCS messages on Mac.
All messages you send or receive appear on both devices, even if you’re texting someone without an iPhone.
Stop receiving messages on your Mac
If you don’t want to see messages on your Mac, you can sign out of iMessage.
Go to the Messages app
on your Mac.Choose Messages > Settings, then click iMessage.
Click Sign Out, then confirm that you want to sign out. When you sign out of iMessage, you no longer receive messages on your Mac.
Note: If you want to stop receiving messages sent to your phone number, deselect the phone number below “You can be reached for messages at”. See the Apple Support article Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime.