Simple solutions to end your iMessage problems
iMessage is certainly a fantastic communication platform. Apple users depend on it to communicate with one another. With the improvements it has received over the last few years, it keeps improving.
However, no matter how many steps iMessage has come however, it’s not been able to overcome a basic issue that users have faced frequently since its beginning. iMessage is constantly shutting off without a rhyme or reason and it can be an issue for users. If you’ve ever noticed green bubbles instead of blue in the iMessage chat, then you are aware of the issue.
If iMessage changes to text messages due to the fact that there isn’t an internet connection, it’s normal. It usually changes back to iMessage when it connects to the Internet. However, if it continues to turn off for no reason, or doesn’t turn back on, it’s annoying to say the least. There are, however, simple solutions to solve this issue. Before we get to the solutions, it’s crucial to know if we are barking the right tree.
Table of Contents
Check Your Internet Connection
Before you embark on a fix routine, ensure that you’re connected to internet, and that’s not the cause of iMessage not working. iMessage is an application that makes use of web-based technology instead of your provider’s messaging service to exchange and send messages. If you don’t have internet access it will switch to text messages.
Try an easy search in Safari to determine whether your internet is functioning.
Check the iMessage Server
Before you attempt to resolve the issue It is essential to determine whether the issue isn’t at the other side, i.e., that iMessage itself isn’t experiencing an outage. If that’s the situation, there’s nothing else you can do other than just wait for it to come back to normal.
To determine whether the server is functioning properly, visit the Apple Systems Status page, which provides all the services it offers as well as whether they’re functioning properly. Look for iMessage on the list, and ensure that the dot in front of the message is in green. If it’s green, you’re able to follow this tutorial since it indicates that the issue is on your side. If it’s not red, that means the server that hosts iMessage has gone down. In this instance you’ll be able to send them a normal text message or even call them.
iMessage Doesn’t Work for One Person?
There are many issues you could face with iMessage. However, if you find that your iMessage is working fine for a couple of users and has been restricted to text messages for those people The issue is not related to the issue we’re discussing here. It usually happens when you encounter the ‘No Signal’ area when you send an iMessage, and it changes to SMS. The conversation with the person is stuck as text messages (green bubbles) while iMessage (blue bubbles) is working fine for all your contacts. One way to test this is to send iMessage to a different person than the person you were messaging at the time you experienced the issue. If iMessage works for other users, you’re in the wrong spot.
While many possible solutions could be similar to both scenarios, the most probable solution to work in this particular case is quite specific. It’s available in our guide.
If iMessage isn’t functioning for you, you’re in the right spot. Move onto the solutions to the issue being discussed here.
Turn iMessage On
If you’re iMessage is not working for an explanation, then the initial and most straightforward solution is to try turning it back on. Perhaps you’re among those lucky people and this is a single issue.
Start your Settings application on your iPhone and scroll down to “Messages”.
Turn on the toggle that says ‘iMessage’.
If you’re lucky, iMessage will turn on without issue It will not shut off in the future. It’s not necessary to follow this entire guide in this case, and you’ll go about your business as usual. However, there’s a possibility that it won’t be as simple.
It could be stuck in or get stuck on the “iMessage Activation Unsuccessful” error, just as it did for numerous other users. Follow this guide to resolve that problem.
The iMessage toggle may be turned off In that case you can continue following the other solutions listed here.
Turn FaceTime On
If iMessage is constantly turning on One of the causes to this could be that your FaceTime is off. Although both functions should be independent of one another. Even even if FaceTime was turned off prior to when iMessage was functioning perfectly for a lot of users switching FaceTime on will fix the issue and allows them to turn iMessage on.
Start the Settings app, and scroll down to “FaceTime”.
Turn on the toggle for “FaceTime’.
After FaceTime is on Go back to Messages and turn it off as well.
Restart your iPhone
This is among the solutions you can find for all kinds of issues. Why would you not when it can be as easy as this and can solve many problems?
To start your device on the force Follow these steps:
- for iPhone X and higher models: Press and hold one or both of the Volume buttons or the side button till the power slider is displayed. Slide the slider to turn off the iPhone. When the iPhone is powered off after several seconds, and then hold and press the button on the side till the Apple logo is displayed on screen.
- for iPhone SE, 8, and earlier models Hold and press the home button as well as the lock/sleep-awake button (on the side for certain models, and on the top for other models). A power slider should show. Release the buttons and then drag the slider. Press then hold down the button to lock to turn on the device once more.
After your phone has restarted Try switching iMessage off again.
Sign Out of iMessage and FaceTime
The next step to take to solve this issue is to sign off from the Apple ID on both iMessage and FaceTime , and then sign again.
Start the Settings app, and scroll down to messages. After that, tap the option’Send and Receive’ in iMessage.
Click the blue link to enter the Apple ID at the end.
Then, tap ‘Sign Out’.
Go back to the settings menu and then open the settings for FaceTime. After that, click the blue link to the Apple ID under the Caller ID choices.
Select ‘Sign Out in the overlay options.
Close any open applications on your iPhone using the switcher for apps. If you have an iPhone with no home button, swipe upwards from the lower part of the screen, and hold it for a few seconds until you can see the open apps. Then, lift your finger to access your app switcher. If you have an iPhone that has the Home button, tap it twice. After that, swipe upwards on all apps open to shut them down.
After you’ve closed all your open applications, you can restart your iPhone.
When your iPhone is restarted you can sign in again to the Apple ID for iMessage and FaceTime.
Open Messages first and then tap “Send and Receive” again. After that, tap the option’Use your Apple ID for iMessage’ to sign in again.
Go to FaceTime and select the option to ‘Use the Apple ID for FaceTime’ to sign in to FaceTime.
Ask Another iMessage User to Text You
It’s a nebulous solution, but you should check us out before you decide to dismiss it as silly. The name is fairly obvious If you’re having issues with iMessage Ask an iMessage users to write you an email. Since sometimes, even if iMessage isn’t working properly on your side it’s possible that the other user can still see your contact in the form of an iMessage contacts, i.e., in blue. This means they’re still capable of sending your iMessage. Try replying on their iMessage.
We are a trusted source. For certain users it was as easy as responding to a fellow iMessage user sparked the service, and there was no turning back.
Change your Wi-Fi Network
Even if you’ve got an internet connection that is working Try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network , and check if you are able to switch on iMessage without issue. Sometimes, even something as basic as this can solve the iMessage issues.
Update your Software
If you have an update to your software that is pending and you want to install it, do so. Updates to software often include fixes for bugs of various kinds. There’s a good chance that the issue you’re experiencing in iMessage may be related to an issue that was fixed in the latest update.
To upgrade your software, simply open the Settings app and select General.
After that, select the option for ‘Software Update’..
If an update needs to install, it will be displayed. Click the Download and Install’ button to continue. Once the program is installed, verify that the issue has been resolved.
Delete Media from iMessage
If you’ve got a chats that are cluttered with photos and videos, it may cause problems for iMessage. Eliminating this content can aid in solving the issue. However, before you begin eliminating any images or videos, remember that any content received through iMessage cannot be stored in your gallery. Therefore, you must either save the images or videos you wish to keep accessible prior to deletion or you can skip the deletion of the photos.
Start the chat with the videos or photos you wish to erase. After that, tap “Contact Name/Photo” on the right.
Click the option ‘See All’ to the right of the Photos tab to display the entire media that was received during the chat.
Select the ‘Select’ button located in the upper-right corner the screen. Select the images you wish to erase.
If you wish to save the photos to your gallery first, click the Save option in the lower left corner. After that, select Delete in the lower-right corner to erase the photos you’ve selected in one swift swipe.
Check Time Zone Settings
If iMessage isn’t functioning properly Sometimes, the cause is that is so insignificant, you would not have thought of investigating it. It’s the date and Time settings on the iPhone is one of the unlikely culprit.
Go to the General settings in the Settings app on your iPhone.
After that, select the option for “Date & Time’.
Check that the switch for ‘Set Automatically is turned set to. If it’s already switched on, perform an instant reset by switching off the toggle, and then enable it.
Reset Network Settings
If you’ve tried everything else until now, you can try resetting the network setting. Resetting your network settings won’t erase any data from your iPhone. However, it resets any Wi-Fi networks that you have saved, as well as passwords, cell settings, VPN connections, and Bluetooth devices.
To change your network settings, start your Settings app and then go to the General settings.
Scroll down, then tap “Transfer Or Reset iPhone’.
Select the option “Reset”.
After that, select Reset Network Settings from the menu options that pop up.
Enter the passcode for your iPhone to proceed.
Reset iPhone
If you’ve tried everything else until now, the only solution you have is the nuclear option – resetting your iPhone.
Before you reset your iPhone, ensure you have the most recent backup. Go to the ‘General Settings’ and then tap the option ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’ option.
Select ‘Erase all content and settings to reset your iPhone.
Click ‘Continue’ on the erase This iPhone screen . This will allow you to continue and follow the steps on the next screen to finish it.
After it resets, you can make sure to restore the data from an iCloud backup to restore your data when you set up.
Here you go. With the fixes above, iMessage should stop posing problems and should be functioning as normal. However, if iMessage isn’t working after reseting your iPhone it is possible to reach out to Apple support to resolve the problem.