Mac Setup

Text Your List uses the built-in Messages app to send texts through your iPhone. No extra software required.

Mac Windows Phone Link (Windows)

Setup steps

1

Download and install the app

Go to textyourlist.com/download, choose Mac (Apple Silicon) or Mac (Intel), download the .dmg, and open it to install. If you're not sure which to pick: Apple Silicon is any Mac made in late 2020 or later.

First time opening? Right-click the .dmg → Open → click "Open" to bypass Gatekeeper. You only do this once.
2

Open Messages on your Mac

Press Cmd + Space, type Messages, and press Enter. Or click the green Messages icon in your Dock.

Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted: Messages > Settings > iMessage. Use the same Apple ID that's on your iPhone.

If you already text from your Mac, you're most of the way there. Just make sure Messages is open when you send.
3

Make sure your phone number is active

Go to Messages > Settings > iMessage. Under "You can be reached for messages at," make sure your phone number is checked, not just your email address.

If only your email is checked, texts will send from your email address, not your phone number. Check the phone number box.
4

Enable Text Message Forwarding (required for Android contacts)

iMessage contacts (iPhones) work automatically. To send to Android numbers, your iPhone needs to forward SMS through your Mac:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
  2. Find your Mac in the list and toggle it on.
  3. A code may appear on your Mac, enter it on your iPhone to confirm.
You only need to do this once. After it's set up, Android sends work the same as iMessage sends.
5

Log in to Text Your List and send

Open the Text Your List app, log in with your account, and send a test message to yourself. The first time you send, macOS will ask permission to control Messages.

Click Allow. This is required for the app to send messages. You only grant this once. macOS remembers it.

Troubleshooting

Click any item to expand.

"App can't be opened" or "app is damaged" from macOS

The app is not yet notarized with Apple, so macOS shows a security warning. Here's how to get past it:

  1. After seeing the warning, click Done (not Move to Trash).
  2. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to find "Text Your List was blocked..." and click Open Anyway.
  4. Enter your Mac password if asked, then try opening the app again.
You only need to do this once. After Open Anyway, macOS remembers your choice.
macOS permission denied: app can't control Messages

If you accidentally clicked "Don't Allow" when macOS asked permission:

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation.
  2. Find Text Your List in the list.
  3. Enable the Messages toggle.

Then try sending again. It should work.

Messages opened but the app shows an error
  1. Make sure Messages is open and visible, not minimized or hidden behind other windows.
  2. Make sure you're signed in to Messages with your Apple ID (Messages > Settings > iMessage).
  3. Try quitting Messages (Cmd + Q) and reopening it, then send again.
  4. Make sure your iPhone is nearby with Bluetooth enabled on both devices.
Sends to Android numbers fail or show "Not Delivered"

Android contacts don't use iMessage, they require your Mac to relay SMS through your iPhone's cellular connection. If this isn't set up, Android sends will fail silently.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
  2. Find your Mac in the list and toggle it on.
  3. A confirmation code may appear on your Mac, type it into your iPhone.
  4. Try the send again from Text Your List.
Your Mac and iPhone need to be signed into the same Apple ID and on the same Wi-Fi or Bluetooth range when enabling this for the first time.
Texts show as sent but recipients didn't get them
  1. Check the Messages app on your Mac. If the conversation shows the message, it was sent successfully on Mac's end.
  2. If the message shows a red "Not Delivered" error in Messages, your iPhone may be out of range. Move it closer and try again.
  3. Send a test text to yourself first before running a bulk list.
Apple Silicon Mac asked me to install Rosetta

Rosetta is a free Apple tool that lets M1/M2/M3 Macs run certain apps. Click Install when prompted. It takes about a minute and only happens once. After it installs, the app will open normally.

I need to download the app again

Go to textyourlist.com/download and download the Mac version again. Your account and billing are stored in the cloud. Reinstalling the app won't affect your account. Local job history will be reset.

Still stuck?

Email us and we'll help you get set up: [email protected]