How to Fix iMessage Activation Error on iPhone and iPad

Penny Warren Published on October 22, 2024Unlock iOS3-min reading

“I have an iPhone 13 Pro, and for the past week I have not been able to activate iMessage on my phone, how to fix it?” When you get an iOS device, you have to create an Apple ID account. Moreover, you can get free access to iMessage, too. It lets you text-chat with others without a cellphone plan. Nevertheless, you need to activate it before using the service. This guide intends to help you fix iMessage activation error quickly.

In this article:

Part 1. Why is My iMessage Not Working
Part 2. How to Enable iMessage
Part 3. How to Fix iMessage Activation Error

Part 1. Why is My iMessage Not Working

1. Your iPhone gets stuck in a specific mode.

2. Your internet connection is poor and cannot communicate with Apple at all.

3. Apple servers are down and cannot receive your request.

4. Something is wrong with your Apple ID. For example, you have reset the password but not update it on your iPhone.

5. Incorrect or conflicted settings. Some apps may modify the time and date settings. That can lead to an iMessage activation error, too.

6. Outdated software. Apple releases updates frequently to fix bugs. That may be responsible for the activation error.

Part 2. How to Enable iMessage

As mentioned previously, iMessage is a built-in messaging service on iPhones and iPad. However, you need to enable and activate the service before sending and receiving messages. Here is the process to activate iMessage.

Step 1

Make sure that your iPhone is connecting to a Wi-Fi network or cellular data. Run the Settings app from your home screen.

Step 2

Choose Messages, locate the iMessage option, and toggle on the switch. If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password to activate iMessage.

Step 3

Then tap Send & Receive to go to the iMessage settings that affect which emails and phone numbers you can send and receive messages to/from.

Step 4

Tap an email or phone number to enable iMessage. After iMessage activation, you can send and receive iMessages on your iPhone.

Note: It usually takes 24 hours to activate iMessage since Apple needs to verify your Apple ID credentials.

Part 3. How to Fix iMessage Activation Error

Solution 1: Restart Your iPhone

When iMessage activation is unsuccessful, the first thing you can do is to restart your iOS device. Although it is easy, this solution is working in some cases. Moreover, it doesn’t require any extra software.

Press and hold the Power button until you see the power-off screen. Move the slider to the right side. Wait for a while after your screen turns black. Then hold down the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

Or tap the AssistiveTouch button, if you have enabled Accessibility on iOS 12 and above. Press Device, hit More, and choose Restart.

Solution 2: Check Apple Server Status

When the iMessage activation error occurs, you’d better check the status of Apple servers. You can visit the website of Apple System Status in a browser and learn the status of Apple servers. If any servers are down, you have to wait for them to work again and try activating iMessage on your iPhone.

Solution 3: Check Your Internet Connection

You need a good internet connection when activating iMessage on your iPhone. If you are using cellular data, switch to a Wi-Fi network or vice versa. If the error still happens, reset the network settings.

Step 1

Run the Settings app.

Step 2

Navigate to General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, and choose Reset Network Settings.

Step 3

When it is done, connect to an internet connection and activate iMessage.

Solution 4: Re-enable iMessage

Sometimes, the poor connection can lead to the iMessage activation error on an iPhone or iPad. The easy solution is to re-enable iMessage and refresh the connection to Apple servers on your iPhone.

Step 1

Choose Messages in the Settings app.

Step 2

Toggle off the iMessage option.

Step 3

Then turn on iMessage again.

Solution 5: Re-sign in Your Apple ID

iMessage works through your Apple ID account. You have to update any change of your Apple account on your iPhone when iMessage activation is unsuccessful. For instance, you have reset the Apple ID password.

Step 1

Tap on your profile on the top of the Settings app.

Step 2

Scroll down to the bottom, and press the Sign Out button. If prompted, enter your password.

Step 3

Then go to the Settings app, tap Sign in to your iPhone at the top, and enter your Apple ID and password again.

Solution 6: Set Send and Receive Settings

Although iMessage allows you to send and receive messages without a SIM card, it requires an available email address and/or phone number. Therefore, you need to set the Send & Receive settings when iMessage activation is unsuccessful.

Step 1

Run your Settings app.

Step 2

Go to Messages, and Send & Receive.

Step 3

Select all available email addresses and phone numbers.

Solution 7: Correct Date and Time

If the date and time on your iPhone are wrong, it cannot communicate with Apple servers smoothly. As a result, the iMessage activation error may happen. Therefore, you’d better set the date and time correctly.

Step 1

Navigate to General in your Settings app.

Step 2

Tap Date & Time, and toggle on Set Automatically.

Step 3

Connect your iPhone to the internet and iOS will correct date and time automatically.

Solution 8: Update Software

The last but not least solution to fix iMessage activation error is updating the software on your iOS device. It is well known that outdated software can lead to a variety of issues and errors. You’d better keep your iOS up to date.

Step 1

Head to General in your Settings app.

Step 2

Tap Software Update to check for the new update.

Step 3

If there is an available one, tap the Install Now button.

Bonus Tip: Best iCloud Unlocker for iOS Devices

Confirm iCloud Activation Lock Bypassing

If you want to remove iCloud Lock from your iOS device but forgot the password, you will need a powerful iCloud unlocking service. iPassBye, for example, is one of the best iCloud Activation lock removal.

Main Features of the Best iCloud Unlock Software

1. Remove iCloud Activation Lock without the password.

2. Bypass iCloud lock with one click.

3. Provide on-screen instructions.

4. Support a wide range of iPhones and iPad.

5. Compatible with the latest versions of iOS.

Conclusion

This article has explained why iMessage is not working and how to fix the iMessage activation error on an iPhone or iPad. You can perform our solutions one by one to resolve the problem effectively. Plus, we also recommended an efficient iCloud Activation lock removal, iPassBye. If you have other questions about this topic, feel free to leave a message below this post.

Penny Warren

Penny Warren, a senior editor from imyPass, is specialized in MS Office software. You can find professional tutorials and solutions of MS Office software from her posts.