View a conversation in Messages on Mac

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

   To search for contacts and content in conversations, click in the Search field in the top-left corner and enter what you’re looking for. Or choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos and more.

2. To view 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 top-left corner.

   • View in Details: Click the Details button in the top-right corner of the conversation, scroll to Photos, then double-click a file to open it. The file appears in the Quick Look window, where you can then open it in its app. For example, click Open with Photos for a video.

     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 message appears in a conversation with its recorded length listed.

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

   To search for contacts and content in conversations, click in the Search field in the top-left corner and enter what you’re looking for. Or choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos and more.

2. Click the Play button in the message.

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

If someone shares a note from the Notes app , you see a message with a link to the note. See Share notes and folders.

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

   To search for contacts and content in conversations, click in the Search field in the top-left corner and enter what you’re looking for. Or choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos and more.

2. Find the message with the shared note, then click the note.

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

   

With macOS Big Sur or later or an iOS or iPadOS device, any type of item (such as a text message or video) can be sent blurred with invisible ink. Other message effects like bubble animation (such as Slam Effect) or screen animation (such as fireworks) are visible on macOS Big Sur or later; however, friends who don’t have it just see text, such as “sent with Slam Effect”.

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

   To search for contacts and content in conversations, click in the Search field in the top-left corner and enter what you’re looking for. Or choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos and more.

2. In a conversation, hold the pointer over the item sent with invisible ink to “wipe” it away and view the item. The item is again blurred when you move your pointer away.

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.

   To search for contacts and content in conversations, click in the Search field in the top-left corner and enter what you’re looking for. Or choose from the suggested contacts, links, photos and more.

2. To 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.