Text Message Forwarding - Option missing from iPhone
I wish to enable Text Message Forwarding to send and receive SMS from my MacBook Pro (running macOS High Sierra 10.13.4). I remember having used this feature for a while with both iOS 10 and iOS 11 on my iPhone. However, when I try to enable it now, I can no longer see the option available under Settings app → Messages (I'm running iOS 11.3). It used to be available previously. I have only one Apple ID which I use for everything. I am logged in with it on both my MacBook Pro and my iPhone.
Is this feature removed in iOS 11.3? I remember using it after upgrading to iOS 11. I don't recall this option requiring some other setting to be enabled in iPhone. Here's the screenshot from the Messages setting. The Text Message Forwarding option is clearly missing:
How do I resolve this issue? As I compare the screenshot from my iPhone with the one provided in the Apple knowledge base article, it appears that Show Contact Photos toggle is missing too. Are these official/documented changes in the Messages app?
Turn off iMessage on your Mac by going to Messages → Preferences → Accounts → Enable this account and turn it on again.
Now restart your iPhone and the option will show up.
To add to the other answers… Another reason Text Message Forwarding may not show up, is that you simply need to activate your Apple ID email address for use with iMessage. Even if it was enabled previously, it's worth checking this again, because it's a very simple fix if this is all it is.
- Open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
- If your Apple ID email address is not listed, look for a button that says 'Use your Apple ID for iMessage' and tap it.
- When your email address appears, confirm that it is checked.
- Confirm that the 'Text Message Forwarding' option is now visible. If not, refresh the screen by going back to the main Settings screen, and then back into Settings > Messages.
- At this stage, your other devices may ask you if you want to use your phone number in Messages. If not, activate them under Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
For iPad users, I was able to make text forwarding re-appear by checking off my phone number in iMessage.
- On your iPad, open Settings -> Messages -> Send & Recieve.
- Make sure your phone number is checked.
- Reboot your iPhone
The message forwarding option should now be available
Credit to HankAZ and lv1 on iMore’s forums for this method.