How to receive text messages from your iPhone on your Mac

SMS relay is part of Continuity in both iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite and lets you receive messages from all your green bubble friends. Yep, you heard that right! The Messages app on your Mac is no longer iMessage exclusive. All you've got to do is activate SMS relay and you're good to go!

Before continuing, remember that you'll need to meet the following requirements in order to be able to use SMS relay on your Mac.

• Your iPhone must be running iOS 8.1 or later and have an active carrier plan that supports text messaging
• Your Mac must be running OS X Yosemite

There are not model requirements. As long as your iPhone and Mac can both run the aforementioned versions, you can use SMS relay.

How to start receiving regular texts on your Mac with SMS relay

1. Make sure you are signed into iCloud on both your Mac and your iPhone via the Settings app.
2. On your iPhone, launch the Settings app and tap on Messages.
3. Tap on Text Message Forwarding.
4. Turn On the option for your Mac — keep in mind you won't see it unless you've got it linked to your iCloud account.
5. The Messages app on your Mac should now give you a code you need to enter on your iPhone.
6. Enter the code when it appears.

That's it! You will now start receiving messages from all your green bubble friends on your Mac. The only requirement? Both devices have to have an active data connection. You don't even have to be in the same location.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!