View a text conversation in Messages on Mac

If you only see an email address or phone number in the sidebar when you’re texting someone, you can open their contact card from the conversation and edit it to add a name, so you see that in the sidebar instead.

1. In the Messages app on your Mac, double-click a conversation in the sidebar to open it in its own window.

2. Hold the pointer over the email address or phone number in the To field, click , then choose Add To Contacts.

3. Click Contacts in the lower-left corner of the window.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Search for an existing contact card for your friend, select it, edit the contact details, then click Update.

   • Select New Contact, enter the contact details, then click Create.

   You may not be able to add or edit contacts if you’re restricted by communication limits in Screen Time.

1. In the Messages app on your Mac, select a conversation.

2. To view photos, Live Photos and videos, do one of the following:

   • View in the conversation: View the photo, play the video, or double-click the file to open it in a Quick Look window.

     Note: Live Photos have a Live Photo button in the upper-left corner.

   • View in Details: Click Details in the top-right corner of the conversation, click Photos, then double-click a file to open it. The file appears in the appropriate app. For example, a photo opens in Preview.

     Note: You can’t view a video or play a Live Photo in Details view. Instead, either open it in the conversation or Control-click it, then choose Add to Photos Library.

While viewing a photo or video in Details view, you can drag it to another document or the desktop.

An audio clip appears in a conversation with its recorded length listed.

1. In the Messages app on your Mac, select a conversation.

2. Click the Play button in the clip.

   After you listen to the clip, it’s removed from the conversation in 2 minutes. To save it in the conversation, click Keep.

If someone adds you to a note in the Notes app, you see a message with a link to the note. See Add people to notes and folders.

1. In the Messages app on your Mac, select a conversation.

2. Find the “Open my shared note” message, then click the note.

   The note opens in the Notes app. The People icon appears next to the note in the list of notes.

   

Using some iOS and iPadOS devices, people can send you handwritten messages and Digital Touch elements (like a sketch or heartbeat), and send payments with Apple Cash. Some of these items can only be viewed on an iOS or iPadOS device, but you can view others on your Mac.

1. In the Messages app on your Mac, select a conversation.

2. Do any of the following:

   • View handwritten messages and Digital Touch elements: Double-click the item in a conversation. It opens in a Quick Look window. To save the item as an image file, drag it to your desktop or a document.

   • View an item sent with invisible ink: Any type of item (such as a text message or video) can be sent blurred with invisible ink from an iOS or iPadOS device. In a conversation, hold the pointer over the ink to ‘wipe’ it away and view the item. The item is again blurred when you move your pointer away.