Overview
This node acts as a trigger that emits new Apple Messages received on a macOS system. It runs a helper binary that listens for incoming messages and outputs them in real-time. The node is useful for workflows that need to react immediately when an Apple Message or SMS arrives, such as logging messages, sending notifications, or integrating with other systems.
Practical examples include:
- Automatically saving incoming SMS or iMessages to a database.
- Triggering alerts or notifications based on message content.
- Forwarding messages to other communication platforms.
Properties
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Activation Key | A required activation key to authorize the helper binary. |
| Poll Interval (seconds) | The interval in seconds at which the helper polls for new messages. |
| Only Incoming | If enabled, only incoming messages are emitted; disables receiving messages sent by self. |
| Only SMS | If enabled, only SMS messages are emitted, filtering out iMessages. |
Output
The node outputs JSON objects representing individual Apple Messages or SMS messages as they arrive. Each output item contains the parsed message data as provided by the helper binary. The exact structure depends on the helper's output but typically includes message metadata such as sender, content, timestamp, and message type.
No binary data output is produced by this node.
Dependencies
- Requires a helper binary named
sms_forwarder_maclocated in ahelpersdirectory relative to the node's code. - The helper binary must be present on the host machine running n8n; otherwise, the node throws an error.
- No external API keys or services beyond the activation key property are needed.
- Runs on macOS due to dependency on Apple Messages infrastructure.
Troubleshooting
- Helper binary not found: If the helper binary is missing or incorrectly placed, the node will throw an error indicating the path was not found. Ensure the binary exists at the expected location.
- Activation key issues: Providing an invalid or empty activation key may cause the helper to fail silently or not emit messages.
- Parsing errors: If the helper outputs malformed JSON, the node logs parsing errors but continues running.
- Permission issues: The helper binary may require appropriate permissions to access Apple Messages data.
- Platform compatibility: This node only works on macOS systems where Apple Messages is available.
Links and References
- Apple Messages
- n8n Documentation on Creating Custom Nodes
- Node.js Child Process module: https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html