Enable iMessage (Messages) Subject Field in macOS Big Sur through Sonoma

macos-messages-subject-field.md

Want the Subject field (for bold iMessages) in macOS’ Messages app?

1. Quit Messages
2. Open Terminal
3. Run defaults write com.apple.MobileSMS MMSShowSubject 1
4. Start Messages

This worked for me on a fresh install of macOS 14.1.1 (23B81) (new Mac mini).

Note: On modern versions of macOS, you must enable Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access for your Terminal app in System Settings.

this does not work anymore :/

@gasiegbu it's still working for me on a Mac that's been upgraded from Big Sur to macOS Ventura 13.4.1 (22F82); which version are you on?

I no longer see it under com.apple.MobileSMS:

$ defaults read com.apple.MobileSMS
{
    conversationListFocusFilterActionEnabled = 0;
}

So it may have been automatically migrated elsewhere.

I'm on Ventura 13.3.1. Do I need to update the system?

Also, can you give a step-by-step on how to run this on the terminal? Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I keep Messages open while running it, then restart it. But it doesn't take.

I'm on Ventura 13.3.1. Do I need to update the system?

Also, can you give a step-by-step on how to run this on the terminal? Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I keep Messages open while running it, then restart it. But it doesn't take.

It sounds like you’re skipping step 1 in the instructions, maybe that’s the reason? I’m not totally sure, just a guess.

I tried it that way (quitting Messages) first, but it didn't work. Then, I googled and a different person said to keep it running. So I tried that, but it also wasn't working... So I'm not sure

I just tried again, following the steps, and it's not working still.

…

On Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 1:51 PM Aaron Brager ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ I'm on Ventura 13.3.1. Do I need to update the system? Also, can you give a step-by-step on how to run this on the terminal? Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I keep Messages open while running it, then restart it. But it doesn't take. It sounds like you’re skipping step 1 in the instructions, maybe that’s the reason? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/getaaron/a9dc64b6ea2fa8299af6b7077f4386ae#gistcomment-4633112> or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BBFEMQW6R6U27LYE7ZSOLWDXQ3EJVBFKMF2HI4TJMJ2XIZLTSKBKK5TBNR2WLJDHNFZXJJDOMFWWLK3UNBZGKYLEL52HS4DFQKSXMYLMOVS2I5DSOVS2I3TBNVS3W5DIOJSWCZC7OBQXE5DJMNUXAYLOORPWCY3UNF3GS5DZVRZXKYTKMVRXIX3UPFYGLK2HNFZXIQ3PNVWWK3TUUZ2G64DJMNZZDAVEOR4XAZNEM5UXG5FFOZQWY5LFVEYTANBXHE2DCOBSU52HE2LHM5SXFJTDOJSWC5DF> . You are receiving this email because you commented on the thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub> .

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Not working for me on Sonoma Dev. Beta 2 either Messages running or not and I tried sudo also - no avail.

This worked for me on a fresh install of macOS 14.1.1 (23B81) (new Mac mini).

No longer works in MacOS 15, know where this moved and how to enable it now?

No longer works in MacOS 15, know where this moved and how to enable it now?

You can edit the ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.MobileSMS.plist directly. Quit Messages and add this right inside the first <dict>, after the opening tag:

<key>MMSShowSubject</key>
<true/>

defaults should normally edit this file too.

Thanks @2xsaiko, I tried this and it killed Messages. Had to revert the preference .plist to get it to work again.

Hmm, really? It worked for me. Though tbh I put it at the very bottom before the , but that shouldn't make a difference.

Very weird @2xsaiko, could you post / DM me your plist so I can copy that in and see if that works?

https://gist.github.com/2xsaiko/3604038825dc1118b81eda7c8f0ba1b3

@jbburf @2xsaiko can either of you identify the different between your two plists? It might be helpful for others and I can update the instructions if needed.

I mean that's really it, I just added it to the top level dict as I said. To the end that is, after I ran Messages again it rewrote the file and placed it somewhere in the middle, that's why it's no longer at the end in the paste.

It's probably safer to tell people to edit it with Xcode instead, there's no risk of messing up the file that way...

@jbburf I just figured out that on modern versions of macOS, you must enable Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access for your Terminal app in System Settings and then it will work. I am not sure if that is what you were running into, but worth a shot if you never got it working.