iMessage Activation Error – What to Do

by

iMessage is one of the key “features” of the iPhone. It is a free alternative to standard SMS for owners of Apple smartphones. How to activate such messages, and what to do if they do not work? We tell you in this article.

Content
  1. 1.Activate iMessage 
  2. 2.iMessage Activation Error – What to Do
  3. 3.AppleID verification
  4. 4.Selecting the desired time zone
  5. 5.Reset network settings
  6. 6.Reset iPhone to Factory Settings

Activate iMessage 

If you are using an iPhone for the first time, you will need to register an AppleID account to enable iMessage. Make sure you do so. 

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. Select the category “Messages”
  3. Activate the toggle switch opposite the “iMessage” item.
  4. The system will ask you to enter your AppleID account name and password.

However, to activate iMessage, you may need to send a regular SMS, for which the operator may charge funds according to the tariff. 

iMessage Activation Error – What to Do

iPhone automatically scans the system for iMessage activation as soon as you insert a SIM card into the slot, as well as when resetting the gadget to factory settings. In both cases, you are not insured – you may encounter two types of messages.

  • “Waiting for activation.”
  • “Your network operator may charge you for SMS messages used to activate Facetime and iMessage.”

There may be several reasons. The first is incorrect settings of your iPhone’s cellular network. This happens, and one of the solutions is to manually reset the network settings on your smartphone. The second is a weak cellular network signal. Sending an iMessage requires an Internet connection, and if it is poor, you will not be able to send the message. The third is delays on Apple’s part. In some cases, activating iMessage may take up to a day. 

AppleID verification

Without a working account, you will not be able to use the service. To access iMessage, you need an AppleID account. Sometimes you need to confirm its existence manually. To check the “account”, do the following:

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. Select the “Messages” tab.
  3. Activate the “Send and Receive” option.
  4. The system will ask you to sign in with your AppleID account. Enter the required parameters.

Selecting the desired time zone

It may seem strange, but iMessages that don’t work may be related to an incorrect time zone. This is because the app checks the time between sending and delivering a message to another contact. If the iPhone’s time zone is incorrect, the system may fail to send the message. To fix the problem:

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. Select the category “Basic”.
  3. Find the menu “Date and Time”.
  4. Activate the toggle switch opposite the “Automatic” parameter.

To be on the safe side, it’s best to additionally check your geolocation settings—this setting can also disorient iMessage.

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. Find the “Privacy” tab.
  3. Select the “Location Services” menu.
  4. Find “System Services”.
  5. Set the toggle switch opposite “Set time zone” to on.

Reset network settings

Before we get to radical methods like a full reset of the iPhone to factory settings, let’s try resetting the network settings. To do this:

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. Find the item “Cellular communication”.
  3. Select the category “Cellular data network”.
  4. At the bottom of the window, find “Reset settings” and confirm.

Before resetting, the device will ask you to enter a passcode to confirm the operation.

Reset iPhone to Factory Settings

Rolling back the smartphone firmware will reactivate iMessage. If the previous methods did not help, do the following.

  1. Go to “Settings”.
  2. We find the tab “Main”.
  3. In the pop-up menu, select “Reset”.
  4. The system will offer one of several ways to reset the settings. Select “Reset all settings”.

Did any of the above methods help you? Write in the comments.

Related Posts: