09-19-2020 07:00 PM - edited 01-05-2022 03:57 PM
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.
09-25-2020 12:50 AM - edited 09-26-2020 04:00 AM
Hi @Jamal01
Make sue your data is is working can you use Safari and successfully go to a website?
if not try to reset network settings under General then Reset then reset network settings
09-24-2020 12:27 PM
Had the exact same problem. After wiping out my settings five times did nothing, I finally had to call apple support. They took my appleid and number to reset something on their side and the activation worked!
09-20-2020 05:46 PM
a) What model do you have?
b) What iOS is installed?
c) Have you tried a factory reset?
d) Except for iMessages, do calling, SMS/MMS, and data work?
09-20-2020 05:20 PM
just tried this method, it did not work either.
09-20-2020 10:21 AM - edited 09-20-2020 10:01 PM
09-20-2020 09:47 AM
Unfortunately, none of these suggestions did the trick.
09-19-2020 11:43 PM
09-19-2020 11:29 PM
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Select your Apple ID and tap Sign Out. Then go to Settings > FaceTime, select your Apple ID and tap Sign Out.
If the phone number that you want to remove belongs to an iPhone that you can't access, change your Apple ID password. This removes all phone numbers from your iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. Calls or messages for the removed numbers won't appear on those devices anymore
Sign out of every Apple service and device that uses your Apple ID, except the one you're using to change your Apple ID.
Go to Settings > [your name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email.
Next to Reachable At, tap Edit > Delete.
Tap Continue and follow the instructions.
After you enter the mobile phone number that you want to use as your Apple ID, a verification code is sent to you at that number. Enter the verification code from the text into the fields provided.
09-19-2020 11:03 PM
This is a TRY only. Back up phone to iTunes, do a full reset, restore phone.
09-19-2020 10:59 PM
this method doesn't work either, unfortunately.
09-19-2020 08:01 PM
@Luddite wrote:
- 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.
09-19-2020 07:59 PM
09-19-2020 07:57 PM
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.
09-19-2020 07:55 PM
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.
09-19-2020 07:46 PM
I tried that, did not work, unfortunately.
09-19-2020 07:44 PM
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?
09-19-2020 07:40 PM
Try logging off of iCloud and back on.
09-19-2020 07:38 PM
@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.
09-19-2020 07:38 PM
@Jamal01 it could be possible that the update affected thing.
Can you register the phone back to your Apple ID? And add iMessage back?
09-19-2020 07:36 PM
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?
09-19-2020 07:29 PM
@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.
09-19-2020 07:27 PM
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.
09-19-2020 07:23 PM
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!
09-19-2020 07:23 PM - edited 09-19-2020 07:24 PM
You could try deregistering your iPhone from your Apple ID. Then registering it back.
09-19-2020 07:15 PM
Restart your iPhone. You may already done this.
Connect your iPhone to your computer running iTune to determine whether any update is waiting.
09-19-2020 07:10 PM
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.
09-19-2020 07:05 PM