Are you having problems sending or receiving text messages using your iPhone, iPad or Mac? Take your usually blue spoken language bubbles turned green? Are messages not showing up in the correct order? Is iMessage telling you that your text hasn't been delivered? Are you wondering why iMessage is not working?

In this feature we wait at causes of iMessage failure and offer straightforward troubleshooting tips to aid you fix the messages app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Find out how to tell if iMessage is downwards, what to exercise if iMessage stops working on your iPhone, and what to do if iMessage is non working in your Mac. We will aid you fix all your iMessage problems.

If y'all simply want to gear up the service, see How to prepare up iMessage on iPhone.

Why is iMessage not working?

In that location are lots of reasons why iMessage tin can terminate working: it could exist an effect with Apple's iMessage server, a problem with the Messages app, or your settings could demand adjusting.

Before we move on to specific difficulties, let'due south work through nine uncomplicated troubleshooting steps that will solve the well-nigh common issues with iMessage.

1. Check if iMessage is down

The starting time possibility is that the server that iMessage is run from is downwardly - which could mean that iMessage isn't working for anyone. This is rare, only information technology does happen occasionally.

You tin can check if any of Apple's online services are experiencing outages by checking the System Status page.

How to fix iMessage not working on iPhone, iPad & Mac: System Status

On this web page Apple gives you a heads-upwards about any services with planned maintenance work, forth with a report of any recently resolved problems in any of its services. However, if your issue has simply just appeared, bear in mind that the website's update frequency tends to be measured in minutes, not seconds - mayhap as many as 30 on occasion - and then the problem may non have been spotted however.

Even if Apple tree's System Condition site suggests all is well, there could be an outage that'southward local to you. Equally an alternative to Apple'southward page, you could effort Down Detector, which provides a graph detailing outage reports from the past 24 hours, and fifty-fifty an outage map to see whether you're in an affected area.

Yous could as well search for the word iMessage and related terms on Twitter; if lots of people are talking about the problem then information technology'due south clearly not just yous.

The fix

The expert news is that even if iMessage is downwardly, yous should withal be able to communicate with your friends via normal texts.

If iMessage is failing, your message should automatically exist pushed into green-bubble texts instead of blue-chimera iMessages. Green indicates that the message is being sent as a text, rather than an iMessage). (Here'southward how to tell an iMessage from a standard SMS text.)

If this isn't working for you, read our guide to sending texts when the recipient isn't getting your iMessages. If an iMessage isn't sending if you hard press on the message you should see an selection to "Send as Text".

iphone text

2. Make sure you've got a connectedness (and enough data)

iMessage needs a data connection to work, so you demand to make certain yous've got 3G or 4G (or 5G) available, or a skilful WiFi signal. Without WiFi or a cellular data connection your iMessage won't send.

Check you can access the web by performing a quick search in Safari. If you see no results yous've identified the root of your problem.

If you don't have a proficient cellular connection you lot could effort turning Airplane Manner on and off to run into if y'all can improve your reception. Depending on your iPhone either swipe in from the top right or swipe upwardly from the bottom of your iPhone or iPad screen, and select and deselect Airplane Mode - the plane icon.

Even if the cellular connectedness is great, you might not have plenty data. Is at that place a chance you've used up all your information for the month? Are you lot fifty-fifty sure that data is included in your contract? Contact your network provider to check. (Read about how to save information on your iPhone here.)

The ready

If you are out of data, or the 3G/4G connection is poor, try one of the following:

  • In add-on to switching the aerials on and off using Airplane Mode, turning your iPhone on and off again may also help it detect a stronger bespeak.
  • Log onto a nearby Wi-Fi network to send your iMessage. To find a nearby network, get to Settings > Wi-Fi and accept a look to see if at that place is a free Wi-Fi network nearby.
  • If your Wi-Fi connexion is the trouble and then plough off Wi-Fi and use 3G/4G.
  • If none of those tips works you may need to reset your network settings. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and see if this fixes the problem.
  • If you nonetheless don't get a data connection, and there is no WiFi available, you should be able to press and concur on the undelivered message and choose to 'Send as text message' from the options that come up up. A text message should get through even over a GPRS connection.

How to fix iMessage not working on iPhone, iPad & Mac: Send as text message

3. Brand sure iMessage is on and set upwardly correctly

Check you're set to ship and receive iMessages by going to Settings > Messages and checking that iMessage is turned on.

If when you get to this page you meet a message suggesting that iMessage is "Waiting for activation" or "Activation unsuccessful", then read this article: What to do when iMessage won't activate on your iPhone.

If iMessage is switched on and there is no message well-nigh activation, check that your phone is set up correctly to receive iMessages: Get to Settings > Messages and cheque the addresses and mobile number you have listed in Transport & Receive.

The fix

Assuming it'south non an activation outcome, run through the following:

  1. Plow off your mobile number or email address in the list of places where you can Transport & Receive from. We suggest trying a procedure of elimination to see if iMessage works with simply your mobile number or just an email accost.
  2. Check at that place is a tick beside your phone number in the Start New Conversations From department if you lot're using an iPhone.

How to fix iMessage not working on iPhone, iPad & Mac: iOS Settings

4. Turn information technology off and on again and restart Letters

As in all skilful troubleshooting articles one essential piece of advice is to turn it off and on again. Yous could kickoff off by double-pressing the Dwelling button and swiping up on the Messages app, earlier relaunching it. If the app was hanging this may well set the problem.

The prepare

If things still aren't working you could try the post-obit:

  1. Reboot iMessage by going to Settings > Messages and turning off iMessage, then plough off your iPhone past pressing and property the on/off switch, slide to power off, and and then wait for your iPhone to start up again.
  2. In one case y'all've rebooted, return to Settings > Messages and turn iMessage back on.
  3. Sign out of your Apple ID and then sign in over again. You tin can exercise this from Settings > Letters then tap on Ship & Receive and at the peak of the page tap on your Apple ID and choose Sign Out.
  4. Then sign in once more and see if this has fixed the trouble.

For related advice y'all may besides like to read How to send and receive text letters on Mac and How to use Letters on the iPhone.

5. Delete some letters

If your Letters app has a lot of photos and videos it might tedious down a chip. Deleting some of your iMessages - particularly the ones with lots of photos might solve the trouble (merely note that images sent via iMessage won't automatically appear in your Photos app).

The fix

There are a few means to reduce the size of your iMessage library.

  • To delete messages you tin can swipe from correct to left on a message in the Messages list and cull Delete.
  • Or you can tap the Edit button in the peak left-hand corner of Messages and delete messages that way.
  • There is also a 'Keep Messages' option in Settings > Letters. Wait for Bulletin History and tap Proceed Messages - yous can select Forever, 1 yr or 30 days. Before you decide to delete messages after 30 days, be sure yous aren't about to lose some important messages! (For related advice, we accept a characteristic about how to call back deleted text messages.)
  • While you lot're here, you tin also change your settings so that you send depression-res images, which take up less space. Get to Settings > Messages and toggle Low-Quality Image Way on. (It'due south the last pick, correct at the lesser of the page.)

iPhone

6. Check iOS is upward to date

If your software isn't up to date there may exist a problems stopping information technology from working properly.

The fix

To check if an updated version of iOS is available (and download and install it if so), go to Settings > General > Software Update.

For more item on the updating process and the problems it may entail, see How to update iOS.

7. Bank check Network settings

Make sure it'southward not a problem with your Network settings.

The fix

Here's how to reset your Network settings if Messages aren't sending.

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Y'all'll have to enter your passwords once again afterwards you do this.
  2. You could also try turning off Wi-Fi Aid. Wi-Fi Assist will switch to a cellular point when it is stronger than your local WiFi network. Turning it off has worked for some people. Go to Settings > Mobile Data and scroll down to WiFi Aid and switch it off if it'southward on.

8. Check Time Zone settings

Some users have found that they had problems sending Messages when the time zone wasn't set to update automatically. Information technology'south not clear what was causing the trouble, perhaps it'due south to practise with the carrier settings.

The fix

Here'due south how to change your time zone settings:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make certain your time zone is set automatically.
  2. Set Automatically to ON.

9. Reset all Settings

As a last resort, you could practise a full Reset…

In Settings go to General > Reset.

x. Ask Apple tree

If you are still having issues then information technology's probably fourth dimension to get an appointment with a genius at the Apple tree Store, here's how.

Specific problems with iMessage

Below we look at some specific problems with iMessages - let the states know if you feel any issues with the service, or if y'all notice a gear up of your own.

iMessage activation unsuccessful

Setting upwardly iMessage on an iPhone or iPad should be a uncomplicated procedure, but information technology tin sometimes be problematic. In some case people are seeing an mistake message when they try to actuate iMessage (or FaceTime) on their iPhone.

You may run into one of the following error messages:

  • Activation unsuccessful.
  • An mistake occurred during activation.
  • Waiting for activation.
  • Could not sign in, please check your network connection.
  • Unable to contact the iMessage server.

The fix:

We offer lots of communication about how to gear up this issue hither: What to do when iMessage won't actuate on your iPhone.

In summary:

  • Check if iMessage has been deactivated in Settings > Messages.
  • Turn Letters off and on once more in Settings > Messages. Practice the same with FaceTime. Then turn your iPhone off and on once again. Once your iPhone is on once again go back to Letters and plough it back on.
  • Contact your mobile network about the problem.
  • You may but take to wait - it can accept 24 hours to be activated.

Why isn't my friend receiving iMessages?

If you know your friend has an iPhone, iPad or Mac, they should be able to receive iMessages - just they may not have the iMessage feature activated, or not exist registered for it.

Information technology's besides possible that they have recently changed networks and need to activate iMessage.

Alternatively, it'south possible that your friend has switched to using an Android or Windows device? They may even so be able to receive iMessages on their iPad and Mac, merely they won't receive them on their new handset. If they no longer desire to receive iMessages they need to deregister from iMessage.

The Fix

If you lot know your friend has an iPhone, it may merely be that they need to turn on the service. In which case, tell them:

  • Get to Settings > Letters.
  • Turn on iMessage.

Notwithstanding, it may non be that simple, and then we have a divide tutorial nearly the steps they need to take to brand certain iMessages will go through.

If your friend no longer has an iPhone information technology's still possible that you can send iMessages - but they won't be delivered to their new handset. If they would prefer to turn off iMessage to avoid missing out on texts, they tin do the following:

  1. If they still take the old iPhone they can go to Settings > Messages.
  2. Switch off iMessage.
  3. It'due south also possible to conciliate iMessage using a spider web tool here.

Later turning off iMessage, the text messages you ship on an iPhone volition be green rather than blue.

iPhone Messages

iMessage visual effects aren't working

Dorsum in iOS x Apple introduced some fun blithe effects that you lot can employ to heighten your iMessages.

For example, you can printing and hold on a speech chimera to add together a thumbs upwards or a heart, you tin ship sketches, and if you press and hold the arrow that you usually tap to send a message you will go access to fun effects like Send with Echo, Spotlight, Balloons, Confetti, Love, Lasers, Fireworks, Shooting Stars, and Celebration.

The fix

If the problem is that some of these visual effects aren't beingness received by your recipient, try the following:

  1. Check that your recipient has installed iOS 10 or iOS xi.
  2. Some effects also won't piece of work if your friend has Reduced Motion activated on their iPhone (they may have changed the setting to save battery ability equally per the communication in this feature). In that case, they demand to Go to General > Accessibility > Reduce Move > Off.

Note, your furnishings won't work if they're not sent equally an iMessage; if your friend doesn't have an iPhone iPad or Mac they won't come across them.

Can't send a group iMessage

If you're having trouble sending letters to groups of people, one reason could be that one of your contacts no longer has an iPhone.

How to fix iMessage not working on iPhone, iPad & Mac: Group message

When y'all send a group message in iMessage all your contacts will prove upwards as blue, until you add someone who doesn't accept iMessage, then they volition all turn dark-green as the iMessage group will non be supported.

If yous had a grouping iMessage and i of your contacts stopped using their iPhone this would break the group iMessage. To find out if this is the instance, offset a new grouping message rather than standing with the former one.

It's likewise possible that yous can't send a grouping message to an existing thread because you lot left the conversation.

The set up

If you call back you lot've shut yourself out of a group message, as we described higher up, you lot will demand to do the post-obit:

  1. Open the Messages app and tap the grouping message you're trying to reply to.
  2. If y'all've left the conversation a message will tell you so.
  3. Y'all can't unilaterally rejoin a chat: you lot'll need to have one of the remaining participants add you once more.
  4. Alternatively, you could just starting time a new conversation with all the aforementioned participants and go from there.

What if you are intent on group messaging your friends and non all of them accept iPhones? In that instance, your all-time option is to utilise Whatsapp. Nosotros have this tutorial most using Whatsapp here.

Lost or accidentally deleted Letters

If you've accidentally deleted important messages, or if you've updated your iPhone and realised that some messages have disappeared, don't worry: you may be able to get them back.

The prepare

There are five principal means of getting back lost or deleted iMessages:

  • Retrieve from an iCloud backup.
  • Retrieve from the iCloud website.
  • Contact your phone provider.
  • Retrieve from an iTunes fill-in.
  • Retrieve using a 3rd-party app.

We encompass all of these in a divide article: How to retrieve deleted text messages.

Letters on iPhone non appearing (or out of order) on Mac/iPad

The matching Messages apps on iOS and Mac should permit you to easily and conveniently conduct on iMessage conversations across the 2 platforms. But sometimes the 2 apps fail to sync properly, and iMessages sent from (or received on) the iPhone neglect to appear on the Mac, or vice versa.

The fix

Do not worry. This is such a mutual complaint that Apple has made it possible to store all your in iCloud - which means that they will ever be in sync on all your devices. For more than data, we have this tutorial about using iMessages in iCloud.

If you aren't corking on turning on iMessages in iCloud (information technology may impact your available storage) you could try the following:

  1. Go to Settings > Messages > Ship & Receive. Make sure all the e-mail addresses (not but phone numbers) that you want to acquaintance with that iMessage business relationship take been ticked. (You may need to tap 'Use your Apple ID for iMessage' at the height to make the addresses appear.)
  2. Now open the Messages app on your Mac. Click Messages in the peak carte du jour bar, then Preferences. Click Accounts, then tick the appropriate email addresses again. You may need to enter more details for some of them.
  3. Finally, restart Messages on each device and (hopefully) you'll observe that the issue is solved.

For more than detail, run into How to sync iMessage conversations on iPhone, iPad and Mac.