Need help with Messages app

[etmarcr]

How can I remove the unread messages that are listed when I control-click on the Messages icon in the dock? Those messages appear to be ones that would be considered 'junk' and for some reason do not show up in the messages app.
If I click on one of the messages on that list it just displays "1 conversation selected" but does not show the actual message.

Here is what I see, and the list keeps getting longer:



This is on a Macbook Pro running Sonoma.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[pm-r]

Here is what I see, and the list keeps getting longer:

Try Apple's support page and hopefully they include a solution you can use:
Delete messages and conversations in Messages on Mac

Delete messages and conversations in Messages on Mac

In Messages on your Mac, conversations are automatically saved, so you can delete conversations or messages you choose.

support.apple.com

If they don't include a solution for you there, try some of the Google search hits:

Google Search

www.google.com

- Patrick
=======

 

[Rod]

I managed to get Messages on my MBP, also running Sonoma, to do what you have pictured once but for the life of me I cannot get it to do it again. Nor can I see any real purpose for that view. I played around with it for a few minutes, it does not seem to enable me to do anything other than view the numbers.

 

[etmarcr]

Well, here's a kicker for you ... I just updated Sonoma to v14.1.2 and that list from the Messages icon is now empty. I'll wait until tomorrow to start getting more political junk messages and see if they start another list there again.

Thanks for the suggestions, though (I'll keep them handy)!

 

[etmarcr]

Update - This morning the issue started appearing again the following resolved the problem:

After turning off all notifications settings for Messages and closing the app and reopening, the 'New messages' that were listed on the dock icon had been removed.

Maybe this can benefit anyone else that may have had the same problem that I did.

 

[pm-r]

Maybe this can benefit anyone else that may have had the same problem that I did.

It's nice that you were able to find a solution and your feedback should be appreciated by those members who could use it.
Did you also perhaps change the expiry date for when you want some of the messages to expire, maybe that's what prompts some to disappear when you restart the application, their expiry date may then be in effect.



- Patrick
=======

 

[etmarcr]

No, I did not make a change to the expiration time of the messages. I'm pretty sure it was the notification settings since the list was cleared immediately after they were disabled.

 

[etmarcr]

Boy, just when I thought it was over, once again I was wrong! The list started filling up again and I don't know how those numbers are getting there or why.

Guess I'll have to keep searching...but I'll accept any suggestions!

 

[pm-r]

Guess I'll have to keep searching...but I'll accept any suggestions!

When did you notice that this problem started happening?

Did it start happening just after a recent macOS upgrade or update?



- Patrick
=======

 

[etmarcr]

I noticed this after purchasing a new MacBook Pro running Sonoma.

My old MacBook Pro was from early 2015 with Monterey. I never noticed the issue on this one.

 

[pm-r]

I noticed this after purchasing a new MacBook Pro running Sonoma.

I guess it's a feature that Apple thinks you should be using and would appreciate with Sonoma, but I don't as I cannot use it but maybe they supply the Setting somewhere that you can change how it works. I don't know sorry.

I can barely tolerate using Apple's Messages.app as there is so much wrong with it, but maybe it actually got improved somewhat, at least for some, maybe?

I guess Restart of your Mac didn't fix the problem?



- Patrick
=======

 

[etmarcr]

Restarting my MacBook seemed to remove current items from the list but the list just starts adding up again after the reboot.

 

[ferrarr]

In Messages, go to the View menu, then select Unknown Senders. Or maybe Unread Messages would be a better choice? Since those are the ones you are trying to remove, I think?

 

[etmarcr]

I accessed the View menu when first noticing the list in the Messages icon and there were no messages listed for either Unknown Senders or Unread Messages. That's one reason why I couldn't figure out where those items were taken from.

 

[ferrarr]

Have you checked your Blocked contacts?

In. Messages, open Settings, select the iMessage tab, then select Blocked.

 

[etmarcr]

There are many items in the blocked contacts list and I'm sure most have been there for a long time.

But if a number is on the Blocked list, why would it be listed as unread in the dock icon? After all, the Blocked list items do not appear on the Unread list when selecting Unread Messages from the view menu.

 

[Rod]

Given that this list is only visible when you Ctrl-Click the iMessages app why not simply not do that?
I know, I know, you'll say, what is it for then? Why does it do this? Is it a fault? It would bother me too, but I can't get my M1 MBP running macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 to show this list again which makes me wonder if it's some kind of glitch, although it's odd that it did work for me once.
Add to this the fact that despite multiple searches I cannot find anything on the web that refers to this function/option.
I did find several others that I did not know, eg. Ctrl-Click on Launchpad icon gives you an actionable list of all your apps. 15 Control-Clicking Hints To Make You More Productive On Your Mac
I think that I would elect to ignore it in the hope it will go away in future updates.

PS. I found this list of keyboard shortcuts for the Messages app from Apple;

Keyboard shortcuts in Messages on Mac

In Messages on your Mac, use keyboard shortcuts to quickly accomplish many common tasks.

support.apple.com

And here is the full, current list of all Mac Keyboard Shortcuts:

Mac keyboard shortcuts – Apple Support (UK)

By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad or other input device.

support.apple.com

 

[etmarcr]

Thanks, Rod. At this point I had a feeling that ignoring it might be worthwhile since I also couldn't find anything helpful online about this issue and it doesn't seem to affect anything else.

And thanks for the links, too!

 

[ferrarr]

Did you try these

Messages > Settings > iMessage > Sync Now?
Messages > Settings > iMessage > Sign Out?

Also, did you look on your iPhone to see if they are stored in iOS?

 

[etmarcr]

The iMessage > Sync Now button is grayed out...HOWEVER, your suggestion to check in iOS led me to look at the Recently Deleted and I selected to permanently delete all 500+ messages there (darn those political requests!).

That also cleared the unread count from the dock icon. And the next time one appeared in the dock icon the same one was also listed in Recently Deleted. It seems the mystery has been solved!

Thanks to all!