Via your iPhone it is possible to receive text messages such as traditional SMS and MMS on your iPad or Mac. An option that many iPhone users overlook. You can then read the messages, reply or send new text messages via your iPad or Mac.
This is all thanks to Apple’s continuity feature that allows the software to work together more closely. Examples include Handoff, Universal Clipboard and unlocking your Mac with an Apple Watch. To send text messages from your iPad or Mac, you must first enable your iPhone for this option.
Conditions SMS option iPad and Mac
To forward your text messages to your iPad or Mac, Handoff must be activated. In addition, the same iCloud account must be used on all devices and they must be connected to the same network.
Forward text messages from iPhone
- Open Institutions on your iPhone
- Navigate to ‘Apps‘
- Tap ‘To inform‘
- Scroll down to ‘Forward text messages‘
- Open the option
A list of devices on which you are logged in with the same iCloud account will now open. Enable or disable the devices you want to receive or send text messages from. This is only possible if you do not use Messages in iCloud.
Messages in iCloud
If you turn on Messages in iCloud, all your text and iMessage messages will automatically sync and forward across all your iCloud devices, so you have the same conversation history everywhere; You can only stop this automatic synchronization by completely disabling synchronization via iCloud on the device in question. In the article below we explain how to enable or disable Messages in iCloud.
Advantage of SMS forwarding
Thanks to this option it is possible to receive all your text messages on the linked devices. The advantage of this is that you can answer immediately via your iPad or Mac. This is also useful if you want to log in to a website with two-step verification, you will then immediately receive the login code on the device.
Disable SMS forwarding
Open Institutions on your iPhone, navigate to ‘Apps‘and open’To inform‘. Tap ‘Forward text messages‘ and switch off the devices on which you no longer want to receive text messages. If you have ‘Messages in iCloud’, you must completely disable synchronization on the device itself, for example an iPad or Mac.
Devices do not appear in the list
If your device does not appear in the list, it is advisable to force restart your devices. Please note that the option only works if iMessage is activated on your iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same Apple Account.