topic Re: iMessage Problems in Get Support

iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 20:57:33 GMT

for the past few days, i haven't been able to use my iMessage (& Facetime). when i toggle the iMessage button to turn it on it would state "waiting for activation" before immediately turning itself off and saying "Activation unsuccessful. Turn on iMessage to try again". I've tried every possible fix available but none seems to be working. I haven't switched from anything and have had the same sim and phone, i have no updates to do- it just happened randomly, i really don't understand why it doesn't work. If anyone has any suggestions or has had this issue and got it fixed I would greatly appreciate it.

Re: iMessage Problems

will13am — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:05:13 GMT

@Jamal01 , some suggestions from Apple.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201422

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:10:15 GMT

I've tried those suggestions already and none of them seems to work. It's very strange. I've never had any problems like this before.

Re: iMessage Problems

popping — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:15:07 GMT

@Jamal01

Restart your iPhone. You may already done this.

Connect your iPhone to your computer running iTune to determine whether any update is waiting.

Re: iMessage Problems

Jb456 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:24:52 GMT

You could try deregistering your iPhone from your Apple ID. Then registering it back.

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:23:49 GMT

I've restarted my phone many times but I haven't tried that second suggestion you gave me.

I'll give it a try and see if it works!

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:27:11 GMT

That's the funny thing. I did try that and I got the code sent to my phone but after inputting the code to deregister my number it tells me that my iMessage isn't even registered even though I'm fairly certain it is.

Re: iMessage Problems

will13am — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:29:05 GMT

@Jamal01 wrote:
That's the funny thing. I did try that and I got the code sent to my phone but after inputting the code to deregister my number it tells me that my iMessage isn't even registered even though I'm fairly certain it is.

Maybe that is the problem. Need to find out why the account was deregistered.

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:36:25 GMT

I'm not sure if this is relevant at all but before my iMessage stopped working I had an update to my phone I had to make but I waited a few days before finally doing it. I made the update to my phone recently, could there be something there?

Re: iMessage Problems

Jb456 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:38:49 GMT

@Jamal01 it could be possible that the update affected thing.

Can you register the phone back to your Apple ID? And add iMessage back?

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:38:53 GMT

@Jamal01 wrote:
for the past few days, i haven't been able to use my iMessage (& Facetime). when i toggle the iMessage button to turn it on it would state "waiting for activation" before immediately turning itself off and saying "Activation unsuccessful. Turn on iMessage to try again". I've tried every possible fix available but none seems to be working. I haven't switched from anything and have had the same sim and phone, i have no updates to do- it just happened randomly, i really don't understand why it doesn't work. If anyone has any suggestions or has had this issue and got it fixed I would greatly appreciate it.

That has happened to me a few times. What a PITA. Did you add any ID's in FaceTime or iMessage? Try rebooting.

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:40:20 GMT

Try logging off of iCloud and back on.

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:44:54 GMT

It's definitely a pain. And if you're talking about a new Apple ID, I did make one not too long ago but I'm not sure if I added it to iMessage or Facetime.

You wouldn't happen to have the steps available to reboot, I'd like to give it a try. Is that what worked for you?

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:46:09 GMT

I tried that, did not work, unfortunately.

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:55:52 GMT

Hold your on/off button down til you see the apple then let it do its thing. Also a DFU might work.

Just keep trying....I did so many things...but eventually the wheels stopped turning and it fixed.

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:57:42 GMT

I meant did you add any ID's to immesage or facetime ..... like YOUR phone number or any one of YOUR emails. If you go into settings facetime or iMessage you may see what ID has the wheel churning away.

Re: iMessage Problems

Luddite — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 23:59:41 GMT

@Jamal01

In case you haven't already done so, turn off iMessage and Facetime. After 5 minutes, turn on again.
Be sure your messaging setup is: Settings >> Messages >> iMessage ON, Send as SMS ON, MMS ON >> Send & Receive: should show your phone number and Apple id email.
You also must have cellular turned on.
Away from wifi, you must have data left in your plan for iMessages to work.

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:01:16 GMT

@Luddite wrote:
@Jamal01
In case you haven't already done so, turn off iMessage and Facetime. After 5 minutes, turn on again.
Be sure your messaging setup is: Settings >> Messages >> iMessage ON, Send as SMS ON, MMS ON >> Send & Receive: should show your phone number and Apple id email.
You also must have cellular turned on.
Away from wifi, you must have data left in your plan for iMessages to work.

Perfect...that is now what I recall that I did.

Re: iMessage Problems

Jamal01 — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 02:59:14 GMT

this method doesn't work either, unfortunately.

Re: iMessage Problems

LurganIeUk — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 03:03:12 GMT

This is a TRY only. Back up phone to iTunes, do a full reset, restore phone.