iMessage Not Working? 8 Common Issues and Fixes

iMessage is fantastic when it works and infuriating when it doesn't. Here are the most common iMessage problems clients ask me about, and the fixes for each.

1. "Waiting for activation" error

You just set up your iPhone or just turned on iMessage and it's stuck on "Waiting for activation." This drives people nuts because it can sometimes take 24 hours.

Fixes in order:

1. Make sure date and time are set to automatic: Settings > General > Date & Time > Set Automatically on
2. Verify your phone number: Settings > Phone > My Number. Should be correct.
3. Make sure you have signal AND Wi-Fi when activating. iMessage needs cellular for the initial verification text.
4. Sign out and back in: Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > Apple Account > Sign Out, then sign back in
5. Restart your iPhone
6. If still stuck after 24 hours, contact your cell carrier. Some pre-paid plans block iMessage activation.

2. Messages sending as green (SMS) instead of blue (iMessage)

Green bubbles mean the message went via cellular SMS, not iMessage. Common reasons:

• Recipient isn't on iPhone. Nothing you can do.
• You have no internet. iMessage needs Wi-Fi or cellular data. Check if you're in airplane mode or have data turned off.
• Recipient turned off iMessage (or switched to Android without deregistering)
• Your own iMessage is off. Settings > Messages > iMessage should be on.

3. iMessage says "Not Delivered"

You sent a message and got the red exclamation mark.

1. Tap the red exclamation, then Try Again
2. If it still fails, tap again and pick Send as Text Message. Falls back to SMS.
3. If even SMS fails, you have no service. Move to better signal or check airplane mode.

4. iMessage works but not from your Mac or iPad

If iMessage works on your iPhone but not on your Mac or iPad, you need to enable Messages in iCloud on all devices.

On iPhone: Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Messages > Use on this iPhone on.

On Mac: Messages app > Settings > iMessage tab > Enable Messages in iCloud.

On iPad: Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Messages on.

All devices need to be signed in to the same Apple Account.

5. iMessage taking forever to load or send photos

Usually a Wi-Fi or data issue, not iMessage itself. But also:

• Messages app is full. Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages > review what's taking up space
• Old conversation with lots of media can lag. Sometimes deleting and starting a new thread with that person helps.
• Force-quit the Messages app. Swipe up from the bottom (or double-tap home), swipe Messages away.

6. Group iMessage chat keeps splitting

A group chat where everyone is on iPhone should be one iMessage thread. If it keeps splitting into individual SMS threads, one person in the group either:

• Lost iMessage temporarily (poor signal)
• Has iMessage turned off
• Switched to Android without deregistering their phone number

You can sometimes fix this by starting a fresh group iMessage from scratch instead of using the existing thread.

7. Read receipts not working (or working when you don't want them to)

You can turn read receipts on globally or per-conversation.

• Globally: Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts
• Per person: Open the conversation, tap their name at the top, toggle Send Read Receipts

This setting is independent for each person. Useful if you want to use read receipts with family but not coworkers.

8. After switching from iPhone to Android, you stopped getting texts from iPhone users

This is the classic iMessage trap. Apple kept your phone number registered with iMessage. Other iPhone users send to your number thinking it's iMessage, but you never get it on Android.

Deregister at selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage. Enter your phone number, get a code, and Apple removes you from iMessage. Should fix the problem within 24 hours.

Video walkthrough

Video by Tech Insider on YouTube