When connecting imessage gives an error. iMessage not working: possible causes and solutions. Activation issues

Quite often, iPhone users face a problem with iMessage activation. The smartphone may report waiting for iMessage activation, write that it is not possible to connect to the iMessage server, or simply not send messages, even if all the settings seem to be done correctly. What to do if iMessage is not activated is described in this guide.

Note: in the instructions, we have listed various ways to fix the error with the inability to activate iMessage, starting with simple methods and ending with rather non-standard ones. If you have already tried one or more of these methods, just move further down the list - something will definitely help!

Updated May 18, 2018!Due to blocking by Roskomnadzor for many Beeline subscribers iMessage stopped working. The problem in this case is solved in only one way - using a VPN, for example, here this free application or verified application HideMy.name. It is expected that the problem with iMessage for Beeline subscribers will be temporary.

Restart your iPhone

Let's start with the simplest - a way to solve the problem with a forced reboot, which helps to reset iOS software errors. Press the buttons Nutrition and Home(volume down button on iPhone 7/7 Plus) and hold until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Top up your account

iMessage activation occurs after sending a service message, costing a few rubles. Make sure you have funds on your phone and top up if necessary, then try activating iMessage again.

Very often, users are faced with the fact that iMessage arbitrarily "falls off", which is why there are multiple debits from the mobile phone account. If you stumbled upon this guide in order to find a solution to this particular problem, then try the methods listed below - they can help get rid of the problem.

Reset network settings

Go to menu " Settings» → « Main» → « Reset" and press " Reset network settings". This operation is often a lifesaver in case of various iMessage related issues. Please note that when you reset the network settings, the saved passwords for Wi-Fi points will be deleted.

Enter your details in settings

Not everyone knows, but the lack of specified data about the owner of the iPhone in the smartphone settings may interfere with the correct operation of iMessage. For this:

Step 1. Fill out your contact in the iPhone contact book to the maximum.

Step 2. In the menu " Settings» → « Mail, addresses, calendars» → « My details» select your contact.

Activate automatic time setting

And one more simple, but extremely effective way to solve iMessage activation problems. Go to menu " Settings» → « Main» → « date and time" and switch the switch " Automatically» to the active position. Also make sure " Timezone” in the same menu is correct.

Activate iMessage from another SIM

If none of the above methods solved the problem, try activating iMessage from a different SIM card. According to reviews on our forum, after successful activation, iMessage starts working smoothly even after installing the iPhone owner's SIM card.

Wait a few days

And one more addition from forum visitors. In most cases, the problem with activating iMessage by phone number occurs after installing a new version of iOS or changing your Apple ID password. And very often it resolves itself after a few days.

Link iMessage to mail

If nothing helps, and it is vital to send iMessage, linking the messenger to the email box, which will begin to act as your number, will help out. For this:

Step 1. Go to the menu " Settings» → « Messages» and turn off iMessage.

From time to time, many iOS users find Message/iMessage not working on iPhone, especially the new iPhone X/8/7/7 Plus. The reasons are many, such as the latest iOS 12/iOS 11 update.

Common iMessage issues include: Can't send or receive messages, no iMessage effects, iMessage won't activate, can't connect to the iMessage server, iPhone iMessage games don't work, or others. When you come across this, you won't be too worried after reading this post. Here we will provide you with 5 effective ways to fix iMessage errors on iPhone and iPad.

What to do if iMessage is not activated?

Method 1: Reboot devices

On iPhone 6 and earlier: Hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

For iPhone 7 users, press the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button to do so.

For iPhone8/X users: press and quickly release the "Volume Up" button, then press and quickly release the "Volume Down" button, finally press and hold the Side (Sleep/Wake) button until the Apple logo appears.

Method 2: Turn off iMessage and turn it back on

iMessage doesn't send messages. When requesting iMessage from an iPhone 7 pending activation, you can use a simple trick to restart the iMessage service.

1. Open Settings > Messages > iMessage. Turn off iMessage on your iPhone if it's already turned on.

2. Switch to "On" mode And wait a while. Send iMessage to iPhone/iPad/Mac user on active network to check if iMessage can work normally now.

3. If iMessage is still not working, you may need to display your Apple ID in iMessage. Go to "Send and Receive" below and log out of your account, then try to log in again.

Method 3: Check your Internet connection

iMessage not working after iOS 11 update. iMessage only works over Wi-Fi or cellular data, so it's important to have a stable internet connection.

If the attempt fails, resetting the network settings will be helpful. Go to Settings > General > Reset and select Reset Network Settings from the menu.

Method 4: Activate automatic time setting

Effects do not work in iMessage on iOS 11/12. Go to the menu "Settings" → "General" → "Date and time" and move the switch "Automatic" to the active position. Also make sure that the "Time Zone" in the same menu is correct.

Method 5. iMessage stopped working on iPhone, fix the problem through Tenorshare ReiBoot

After trying these methods above, if you still can't fix this issue with iOS 11/12 message, then you can give a free trial that is capable of 1-click to fix all sorts of iPhone problems effortlessly and for free!

Step 1: Download the program and connect your device to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 2: The program will access the device, then the "Enter Recovery Mode" button is displayed. Click this button and start entering recovery mode.

Step 3: After entering recovery mode successfully, you can click "Exit Recovery Mode" to save your iPhone from the need to restore and restart it successfully.

If the above methods did not solve the problem, click the "Resolve All Hangs" button, and then you will get to the recovery page, click "Fix Now".

Now you will "Download firmware package" interface, click the "Download" button to download the firmware package online.

After the firmware package is downloaded successfully, click the "Start Repair" button to start system recovery.

When the restore completes, your iOS device turns on. The data and settings are saved and the problem is fixed.

Hope these ways would be helpful to solve the problem of iMessage/Message not working after iOS 11/12 update. If you have other questions, please share with us in the comments section below.

Restart your iPhone

Top up your account

iMessage activation occurs after sending a service message, costing a few rubles. Make sure you have funds on your phone and top up if necessary, then try activating iMessage again.

Reset network settings

Enter your details in settings

Not everyone knows, but the lack of specified data about the owner of the iPhone in the smartphone settings may interfere with the correct operation of iMessage. For this:

Step 1. Fill out your contact in the iPhone contact book to the maximum.

Step 2. In the menu " Settings» → « Mail, addresses, calendars» → « My details» select your contact.

Activate automatic time setting

Activate iMessage from another SIM

Wait a few days

Link iMessage to mail

If nothing helps, and it is vital to send iMessage, linking the messenger to the email box, which will begin to act as your number, will help out. For this:

Step 1. Go to the menu " Settings» → « Messages» and turn off iMessage.

FaceTime is an extremely convenient service for iPhone, iPad and PC on Mac OS, with the help of which users make voice and video calls, and completely free of charge. To use the service, you must link it to your Apple ID. And this is where the difficulties arise. Let's look at the reasons why is it not activatedface time, and troubleshooting options.

Causes of failure

To begin with, we will indicate that the further narration will deal specifically with errors when the application is first launched. If you have any difficulties with its further use, for example, the inability to make calls, then check out the following material.

There are three main reasons for the error to occur when the service is first started:

SIM card problem.
Incorrect operation of the mobile device.
Crashes on Apple servers.

Each case has its own solution. Let's go through each of them sequentially.

Case 1: SIM card problem

Failed to pending activation in FaceTime can occur precisely because of this. Check if you can make calls. The balance of the personal account must be positive, and in the terms of service - sending SMS abroad is connected. Sometimes it is worth contacting the service provider directly and asking a question about network operation.

Case 2: Incorrect operation of the mobile device

The first step when encountering any problems on iOS is to restart the device. Quite often the solution of this or that problem also is limited to it. If that still doesn't help, then try the following:

Case 3: Crashes on Apple servers

In rare cases, FaceTime stops working due to a problem with the server. This happens very rarely, but it does happen. What is left for the user to do? Unfortunately, the only option is to wait for the problems to be fixed. There is no way to influence it. But we note that, as a rule, the elimination of such problems takes the company no more than one hour.

Activation freezes in standby mode and then falls out with a message about the impossibility of its execution. At the same time, if you add your mail associated with your Apple ID to the Send / Receive address section, the correspondence is resumed even if there is an error, but not to the phone number. A search request revealed the depth of the problem. It turns out that I am not at all alone, and lines from the song of the City 312 group immediately came to mind: “There are millions of us ...”. Jokes are jokes, but the salt of the problem is that he withdraws money for each. It turns out that we parted with our hard-earned people, but we didn’t get what we wanted. Since I'm not one to give up, it didn't take long to figure out what was going on.

The first step was to check all the settings on the phone and follow all the recommendations of Apple support. Since my phone number is determined correctly, the time zone corresponds to reality, resetting the network settings and resetting all settings and content, followed by setting up the device as new, did not lead to positive results, then the spirit of the experimenter prevailed. For good purposes, a SIM card was donated from another operator, because replacing it now is not difficult. The scissors quickly gave the desired form factor and lo and behold, the activation was quick and successful. Returning the native card to the tray again returned the picture from the header to its place. The culprit is found - Operator!

A letter was written describing the current situation, supported by screenshots, with a call to help sort out the problem. But the quite expected answer was followed by a carbon copy from a certain template. It's not my fault, it's all of them! Reading a lot of forums, in an attempt to understand what was going on, I met answers of this kind from the technical support of operators at every step, and their text is approximately the same.

Answers of this nature can lead to apathy to continue the struggle. But such a dull excuse had a directly proportional effect, because it reminded me that not so long ago it was possible to break through this wall in the fight against the avalanche of SMS spam that swept our phones. A number of services were connected, which once and for all closed the issue with spam from short numbers. And here I remembered the process that occurs during activation: the phone sends a message to the British number 447786205094, after which it waits for a response. The problem is that the response message for some reason does not come! Studying the list of connected services on my tariff allowed me to find the right solution.

And here is the reason. I turned it off for a while in my personal account, waited for confirmation of completion and moved the treasured toggle switch to. Activation went "no hitch" in a matter of seconds, just like in the FaceTime settings section. The work of both applications returned to the previous steady track. After that, the service to prevent subscriber fatigue with advertising was turned back on and did not affect the activation performed in any way.

Check all your settings carefully and, if they are absolutely correct, ask your operator for an explanation why the response to the activation request and a refund for unsuccessful attempts are not received. I can assure you that most of these cases are related to certain services of your operator. It is beneficial for them to block a third-party free messaging service, bypassing their own and not at all free. We do not take jailbreak into account, because there is direct interference in iOS that can affect the operation of some functions.

Most often, the activation problem occurs after replacing the SIM card. The summer period implies its possible replacement on vacation. Be sure to turn off iMessage and FaceTime on your iPhone before returning your permanent card. This will help save you from unnecessary inconvenience, as it is often one of the reasons for the failure to activate the free opportunity to chat with friends.