6 Best Fixes for iMessage Not Sending Pictures on Mac

You can use iMessage on your Mac if your iPhone is far or you don’t want to use it temporarily. Sync all messages from your iPhone to your Mac to reply to contacts or send pictures downloaded on either device.

However, some users complain about not being able to send pictures to contacts on iMessage using their Mac. If you are facing the same issue, here are some solutions to fix iMessage picture sending on your Mac. Note that these solutions are for the iMessage service used with the Messages app on your Mac.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

To ensure a strong internet connection on your Mac, start by checking its strength. It’s crucial for sending high-quality images via iMessage. Run a speed test to make sure your internet service provider isn’t experiencing downtime.

2. Enable iMessage Service Again on Mac

You can try re-enabling the iMessage service on your Mac to check if that solves the problem. After disabling and enabling iMessage, the Messages app will download your chats and sync them again on your Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Messages, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Messages at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Settings.

Step 4: Click the iMessage tab.

Step 5: Click the checkbox next to ‘Enable Messages in iCloud’ to disable the service.

Step 6: Click the same box next to ‘Enable Messages in iCloud’ to re-enable iMessage.

After the Messages app downloads all your chats on your Mac, send a picture to your contact to check if the problem is solved.

To cease any stuck processes in the background, force quit and relaunch the Messages app on your Mac. This will give the app a fresh start. Force quitting an app helps when it has been running in the background for a long time on your Mac.

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top-right corner. Step 2: Select Force Quit from the options. Step 3: Select the Messages app. Step 4: Click the Force Quit button.

Step 5: Click on Force Quit again to confirm.

Step 6: Press Command + Shift to launch the Spotlight Search, type Messages and press Enter to check if the problem is solved.

4. Check Your iCloud Account

We suggest checking if you’re using the same iCloud account on your Mac and iPhone. If you can’t send pictures taken with your iPhone, make sure both devices are connected to the same iCloud account.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap your profile name at the top.

Step 3: Check your iCloud ID at the top.

Step 4: On your Mac, use the Command + Spacebar shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type “System Settings,” and press Return.

Step 5: Click on your profile name at the top-left corner.

Step 6: Check if you use the same Apple ID on your Mac.

5. Remove Messages Preference Files

The Messages app creates and stores Preference Files on Mac containing contact names, messages, and app preferences. With time, the Preference Files may get corrupt. You can remove the Preference Files for the Messages app to solve the problem.

Step 1: Open Spotlight Search using the Command + Spacebar shortcut, type Messages, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Messages at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Settings from the options.

Step 4: Click the iMessage tab in the General window.

Step 5: Click the checkbox next to ‘Enable Messages in iCloud’ to disable the service.

Close the window and click on Go in the top Menu Bar.

Step 7: Go To Folder.

Step 8: In the search box, type “~/Library”. Click on the first result.

To review: “Step 9: In the Library window, click the Messages folder.”

Revised: “Step 9: Click the Messages folder in the Library window.”

Step 10: Delete all files ending in .DB.

Step 11: Close the window, then click the Apple logo at the top-left corner.

Step 12: Select Restart.

Step 13: After restarting your Mac, open the Messages app and sign in to your iCloud account again to see if the problem is resolved.

6. Update macOS

If none of the solutions work, the last resort is to update the Messages app with the latest version of macOS. This works only if you have been avoiding to install the latest macOS updates.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type “Check For Software Updates,” and press Return.

Step 2: Download and install any available updates.

Send Pictures Using iMessage

Following these solutions should help you share pictures using iMessage on your Mac. Additionally, you can read our guide on editing and unsending messages on iMessage.