iMessage

Learn how to connect your iPhone and Mac to WhatSnap for sending and receiving iMessages and SMS through GoHighLevel using your personal devices.

Connect your iPhone and Mac to WhatSnap to send and receive iMessages and SMS directly through GoHighLevel. This personal device integration (P2P) gives you the power of iMessage's high engagement rates combined with GHL's automation capabilities.

Personal Device Power: Using your own iPhone/Mac for iMessage allows you to leverage Apple's messaging ecosystem with its superior deliverability and engagement rates, all managed through GoHighLevel.

Important Usage Guidelines:

  • iMessage accounts are designed for personal, relationship-based messaging, not bulk outreach

  • Recommended limit: 50 unique contacts per day to maintain good standing with Apple

  • Your Mac must remain powered on and connected to the internet for messages to send/receive

  • Best suited for: Sales follow-ups, customer service, VIP communications

Prerequisites

Before connecting your iMessage account to WhatSnap, ensure you have:

  • ✅ iPhone with active iMessage and cellular service (iOS 12.0+)

  • ✅ Mac (MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini) running macOS Monterey 12.4 or later

  • ✅ Same Apple ID signed in on both iPhone and Mac

  • ✅ Active internet connection on both devices

  • ✅ WhatSnap account connected to your GoHighLevel sub-account

Hardware Requirements: Not sure if your devices are compatible? Check our iMessage Device Specifications guide for detailed hardware requirements, supported models, and Mac recommendations.

Overview: How iMessage Integration Works

Part 1: Sync Your iPhone and Mac

Before installing the WhatSnap gateway, you need to ensure your Apple devices are properly synced.

1

iPhone Setup - Enable Messages in iCloud

This allows your messages to sync across all your Apple devices:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone

  2. Tap on your Apple ID name at the top

  3. Sign in with your Apple ID if not already signed in

  4. Select iCloud

  5. Scroll down and tap Messages

  6. Toggle Sync this iPhone (or "Messages in iCloud") to ON

  7. Wait a few moments for sync to complete

What This Does: Enables message syncing across all devices signed in with your Apple ID, ensuring replies and conversations stay in sync between your iPhone and Mac.

2

Mac Setup - Configure iMessage

Set up iMessage on your Mac to work with WhatSnap:

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac

  2. Sign in with the same Apple ID used on your iPhone

  3. Go to Messages → Settings (or Preferences on older macOS)

  4. Click the iMessage tab

  5. Check the box for Enable Messages in iCloud

  6. Under "You can be reached for messages at", ensure your phone number is checked

  7. Under "Start new conversations from", select your phone number (NOT your email)

    • ⚠️ This is crucial - uncheck your email address to avoid confusion

Critical Setting: Always start conversations from your phone number, not your email. This ensures proper routing and delivery tracking in WhatSnap.

3

Test the Sync

Verify that your devices are properly synced before proceeding:

  1. On your Mac, send a test iMessage to a friend or secondary phone

  2. Verify the message appears on both your Mac and iPhone

  3. Have the recipient reply

  4. Confirm the reply appears on both devices

Sync Confirmed! If messages appear on both devices, you're ready to proceed to installing the WhatSnap gateway app.

Part 2: Download & Connect WhatSnap Gateway

Now that your devices are synced, install the WhatSnap Mac app to connect your iMessage to GoHighLevel.

1

Access WhatSnap Dashboard

  1. Log in to your WhatSnap Plugin in GoHighLevel

  2. Navigate to Connected Accounts or Devices

  3. Click "Add Account" or "Add Device"

  4. Select "SMS/iMessage (P2P)" from the account type options

2

Download the WhatSnap Mac App

  1. Click "Connect Device" for Mac

  2. Download the WhatSnap Gateway App for Mac from the provided link

  3. Unzip the downloaded file

  4. Move the app to your Applications folder

If macOS blocks the installation:

  1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences)

  2. Go to Privacy & Security

  3. Scroll down to Security

  4. Click "Allow" next to the blocked WhatSnap app message

  5. Alternatively, click "Open Anyway" if prompted

Security Note: The WhatSnap app is safe to install. macOS blocks apps from unidentified developers by default. You may need to explicitly allow the app in your security settings.

3

Launch and Authenticate

  1. Open the WhatSnap Gateway app from your Applications folder

  2. Read and agree to the Terms of Use

  3. Copy the authentication token from your WhatSnap dashboard

  4. Paste the token into the Mac app

  5. Click "Connect" or "Log In"

Important Usage Agreement:

  • iMessage should not be used for bulk messaging

  • Recommended maximum: 50 unique contacts per day

  • Violating Apple's terms may result in account restrictions

Keep Running: The WhatSnap Gateway app must remain open and running on your Mac for messages to send and receive. We recommend keeping your Mac on 24/7 or using power settings to prevent sleep.

4

Verify Connection

Once authenticated, verify your device appears in WhatSnap:

  1. Return to your WhatSnap Dashboard in GoHighLevel

  2. Refresh the page or devices list

  3. You should see your Mac listed as a connected iMessage device

  4. Status should show as "Connected" or "Active"

Device Connected! Your Mac is now bridging your iMessage to GoHighLevel through WhatSnap.

Part 3: Configure WhatSnap Settings

After connecting your device, configure how WhatSnap integrates with GoHighLevel.

1

Assign Device to Sub-Account

If you have multiple GoHighLevel sub-accounts:

  1. In your WhatSnap Dashboard, locate your newly connected Mac device

  2. Click on the device settings or menu (⋮)

  3. Select "Assign to Sub-Account"

  4. Choose the GoHighLevel sub-account where you want to use this iMessage account

  5. Click "Assign" or "Save"

Multi-Location Users: If you manage multiple locations, you can assign the same device to different sub-accounts, or connect multiple Mac devices for different locations.

2

Configure Channel Integration

Choose how iMessage integrates with your GoHighLevel conversations:

Option 1: SMS Channel Override (Recommended)

  • WhatSnap replaces your existing SMS channel

  • iMessages appear in the SMS conversation tab

  • Works seamlessly with existing SMS workflows

  • All SMS workflow actions automatically use iMessage (when messaging iPhones)

Option 2: Separate iMessage Channel

  • WhatSnap appears as a separate tab in conversations

  • Maintains existing SMS functionality

  • Requires specific channel selection when messaging

Recommendation: Use SMS Channel Override for the smoothest experience. Your existing workflows will automatically work with iMessage, and you can still send regular SMS as fallback to Android devices.

3

Set Up Account Tag

WhatSnap automatically creates a unique tag for your iMessage account:

  1. Note your account tag (e.g., whatsnap-account-imessage)

  2. This tag will be automatically applied to contacts who message this iMessage account

  3. Use this tag in workflows and filters to target iMessage contacts

Tag Usage:

  • Messages to contacts with this tag will route through your Mac iMessage

  • You can manually add/remove this tag to control which account contacts use

  • Use the tag in GHL workflows for iMessage-specific automation

Part 4: Sending Your First iMessage

Test your setup by sending messages through GoHighLevel.

1

Manual Message Test

  1. In GoHighLevel, open or create a contact

  2. Navigate to the Conversations tab

  3. Add the iMessage account tag to the contact (e.g., whatsnap-account-imessage)

  4. Click on SMS (if using override) or WhatSnap (if using separate channel)

  5. Type a test message

  6. Click Send

What to Expect:

  • To an iPhone: Message sends as iMessage (blue bubble on recipient's phone)

  • To an Android: Message sends as SMS (green bubble) using your iPhone's cellular plan

  • Message appears in your Mac's Messages app

  • Replies sync to both your Mac and GoHighLevel

2

Verify Delivery

Check that the message was delivered:

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac

  2. Find the conversation you just sent

  3. Verify the message appears

  4. Check for "Delivered" status on iPhone recipients

  5. For Android, message sends as regular SMS

Delivery Status: iMessages show "Delivered" and "Read" receipts (if enabled by recipient). SMS messages show "Delivered" when successfully sent to the carrier.

3

Test Receiving Messages

  1. Have someone reply to your test message

  2. The reply should appear in:

    • Your Mac Messages app

    • Your iPhone Messages app

    • GoHighLevel conversations tab

  3. All devices should stay in sync

Bidirectional Sync! Replies work in both directions, and you can respond from either GoHighLevel or your Mac Messages app.

Understanding Message Routing

How WhatSnap Routes Messages

Message Behavior

Recipient Type
Delivery Method
Requirements
Appearance

iPhone User

iMessage

Mac online, iMessage enabled

Blue bubble, "Delivered" status

Android User

SMS (via iPhone)

iPhone online, cellular active

Green bubble, SMS charges may apply

Unknown/No Number

Fails

-

Error message in GHL

SMS Fallback Limitations: When sending to Android devices, your iPhone must be online and have cellular service. SMS messages use your carrier plan and may incur charges.

Workflow Automation with iMessage

Using iMessage in GHL Workflows

When using SMS Channel Override, your workflows work automatically:

Example Workflow - iMessage Follow-up:

Trigger: Tag added → "whatsnap-account-imessage"
Wait: 5 minutes
Action: Send SMS (automatically sends via iMessage)
Message: "Hi {{first_name}}, thanks for reaching out! How can I help you today?"

Key Points:

  • Use standard "Send SMS" actions in workflows

  • Messages automatically route through iMessage for tagged contacts

  • To iPhone: Sends as iMessage

  • To Android: Sends as SMS fallback via your iPhone

Advanced: Using #switch Commands

Switch between messaging accounts using WhatSnap commands:

Permanently switch to iMessage:

#switch|whatsnap-account-imessage Hi {{first_name}}, I'm following up personally via iMessage...

Send one message via iMessage, then return to original account:

#switch_unique|whatsnap-account-imessage This is a personal check-in from our team...

Command Benefits: Use commands to dynamically route messages between different accounts (WhatsApp, SMS, iMessage, Twilio) based on conversation context or contact preferences.

Best Practices

Daily Usage Guidelines

Apple's Unspoken Rules

While Apple doesn't publish official limits, staying within these guidelines keeps your account healthy:

  • 50 unique contacts per day (maximum recommended)

  • Space out messages throughout the day

  • Avoid identical messages to multiple recipients

  • Engage naturally - don't just broadcast

Why These Limits Matter:

  • Apple monitors for spam-like behavior

  • Exceeding limits may trigger temporary restrictions

  • Multiple violations could lead to permanent iMessage blocks

  • Personal accounts are not designed for mass messaging

Ideal Use Cases

Perfect For:

  • Sales Follow-ups: Personal touch after initial contact via WhatsApp or other channels

  • Customer Success: High-touch support for VIP customers

  • Appointment Reminders: Personal reminders with high open rates

  • Relationship Building: One-on-one conversations at scale

  • Internal Team Communication: Coordinate with team members who use iPhones

Not Ideal For:

  • ❌ Cold outreach campaigns (use WhatsApp or Twilio instead)

  • ❌ High-volume promotional blasts (use Twilio SMS)

  • ❌ International messaging (use WhatsApp)

  • ❌ Conversations requiring 99.9% uptime (use Twilio)

Multi-Platform Strategy

Combining iMessage with Other Channels

WhatSnap allows you to use multiple messaging platforms together:

Example Strategy:

Platform Selection Guide:

Scenario
Best Platform
Reason

Initial cold outreach

WhatsApp

Higher volume, international reach

Qualified leads

iMessage

Personal touch, higher engagement

Enterprise clients

Twilio SMS

Reliability, compliance, SLA

International customers

WhatsApp

Global adoption, no SMS charges

VIP relationships

iMessage

Personal device, authentic feel

Mass notifications

Twilio SMS

Scale, reliability, uptime

Troubleshooting

Need Help? For comprehensive troubleshooting, see our detailed iMessage Troubleshooting Guide with step-by-step solutions for all common issues.

Quick Solutions for Common Issues

Messages Not Sending

Possible Causes:

  • WhatSnap Gateway app not running on Mac

  • Mac is asleep or offline

  • iMessage not properly synced

  • Contact doesn't have iMessage account tag

Solutions:

  1. Check that WhatSnap Gateway app is open and running on your Mac

  2. Verify your Mac is powered on and connected to internet

  3. Check Messages app on Mac - ensure you're signed in

  4. Verify contact has the correct account tag in GHL

  5. Test by sending a message directly from Mac Messages app

  6. Restart the WhatSnap Gateway app

  7. Re-authenticate if necessary

Still having issues? See the complete iMessage Troubleshooting Guide.

Mac Keeps Going to Sleep

Possible Causes:

  • Energy Saver settings configured for sleep

  • Display sleep triggering system sleep

  • Power settings override

Solutions:

  1. Open System Settings → Energy (or Battery)

  2. Set "Prevent automatic sleeping" when plugged in

  3. Adjust "Turn display off after" (display can sleep, Mac stays awake)

  4. Disable Power Nap (can interfere with gateway)

  5. Alternative: Install Amphetamine app to force Mac awake

  6. For Mac mini: Disconnect display, use screen sharing for access

SMS Fallback Not Working

Possible Causes:

  • iPhone not online or not connected to cellular

  • iPhone not properly linked to Mac

  • SMS forwarding not configured

Solutions:

  1. Ensure iPhone is online with active cellular connection

  2. Check Messages app on Mac → Preferences → iMessage

  3. Verify phone number is visible and checked

  4. On iPhone: Settings → Messages → Text Message Forwarding → Enable for your Mac

  5. Test by sending an SMS directly from your Mac to an Android number

  6. Restart both iPhone and Mac if sync issues persist

Replies Not Syncing to GHL

Possible Causes:

  • Gateway app disconnected

  • Authentication token expired

  • Network connectivity issues

Solutions:

  1. Check WhatSnap Gateway app status icon (should be connected)

  2. Re-authenticate the app with a fresh token from WhatSnap dashboard

  3. Check internet connection on Mac

  4. Verify firewall settings aren't blocking the app

  5. Restart the Gateway app

  6. Check WhatSnap dashboard to see if device shows as "Connected"

Apple ID Restrictions or Warnings

Possible Causes:

  • Exceeded daily volume limits

  • Sent too many identical messages

  • Flagged as spam-like behavior

Solutions:

  1. Immediately reduce volume - stop all automated messaging

  2. Wait 24-48 hours before resuming

  3. Stay under 50 unique contacts per day going forward

  4. Vary your messages - don't send identical content

  5. Space out messages throughout the day

  6. Focus on quality conversations over quantity

  7. If severe: Contact Apple Support for account review

Security and Privacy

Data Protection

Your Data, Your Control: The WhatSnap Gateway app on your Mac creates a secure bridge between your local iMessage and WhatSnap cloud. Messages are encrypted in transit and processed according to our privacy policy.

Security Features:

  • End-to-end encryption for iMessages (Apple's native encryption)

  • Secure authentication token system

  • Local processing on your Mac before cloud sync

  • No message storage on WhatSnap servers beyond delivery

  • Compliance with Apple's terms of service

Your Responsibilities:

  • Keep your Mac secure with password protection

  • Don't share your authentication token

  • Log out from WhatSnap Gateway app when not in use

  • Use strong passwords for your Apple ID

  • Enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID

Next Steps

After successfully connecting your iMessage account:

  1. iMessage Device Specifications - Review hardware requirements and multi-device setup

  2. Multiple iMessage Accounts - Connect multiple iMessage numbers for team collaboration and increased volume

  3. iMessage Troubleshooting - Comprehensive guide for resolving issues

  4. iMessage Account Blocked - Recover from iMessage deactivation by Apple

  5. Account Settings - Configure typing simulation and other iMessage-specific settings

  6. Tag Management - Master using tags to route messages between different platforms

  7. User Assignments - Set up automatic assignment for iMessage conversations

  8. Conversations - Start messaging contacts through iMessage

  9. Workflow Integration - Automate iMessage communications

Ready to Message! Your iMessage account is now connected to WhatSnap. Remember to keep your Mac running and stay within Apple's usage guidelines for best results.

Questions or Issues? Contact WhatSnap support at support@whatsnap.ai or check our troubleshooting guides for additional help.

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