imsg

You can send an iMessage or SMS from the macOS terminal by running a command-line instruction that specifies the recipient's phone number, message text, and optional file paths for attachments. This process routes the delivery directly through the Messages app.

Listing iMessage chats via a command-line interface enumerates your active Messages conversations, allowing you to locate the specific chat identifiers or recipient phone numbers needed for message history retrieval and sending texts.

Retrieving iMessage chat history on macOS involves pulling recent conversation context for a selected chat identifier. This process can also extract and display optional attachment metadata associated with the messages in that specific conversation.

Yes, the iMessage CLI workflow requires a macOS environment with the Messages application actively signed in. Terminal access is also necessary to control the Messages app for executing chat discovery, live updates, and delivery actions.

Watching incoming iMessage texts live in the terminal streams new messages from a high-signal chat directly to your command-line interface. This allows continuous monitoring of conversations without needing to switch back to the Messages app.

Automating messaging through a macOS CLI is limited by its dependency on the local macOS environment and an actively signed-in Messages app. It cannot execute delivery actions or access chat histories if the native Messages application is disconnected or offline.