iMessage Not Working on iPhone? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• No Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, which iMessage needs to send
• iMessage turned off or temporarily unavailable on your iPhone or the other person’s device
• Messages settings that need updating after you set up a new iPhone or add an eSIM later
• A phone number that your carrier hasn’t finished verifying for iMessage, which can take up to 24 hours
• Send & Receive set to your Apple Account email address instead of your phone number
• An Apple Account blocked from iMessage because of reported spam

Step-by-Step Solutions

If your message says Not Delivered, start at the top. If iMessage won’t activate, go to the activation steps, then work down the list.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your connection and resend

   Start here if a message shows a red exclamation point with an alert that says Not Delivered.

   iMessage needs a cellular data or Wi-Fi connection. Check that your iPhone is connected, then tap the red exclamation point next to the message and tap Try Again.

   If it still won’t send, tap the red exclamation point and tap Send as Text Message. Messaging rates may apply.

   Good to know

   To have Messages try SMS automatically when iMessage isn’t available, open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, and turn on Send as Text Message. Text messages need a text-messaging plan.

2. 2

   Step 2: Make sure iMessage is turned on

   A message goes as RCS or SMS/MMS instead of iMessage when iMessage is off on your iPhone or the other person’s device.

   Open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, and turn on iMessage.

   Also check that you entered the correct phone number or email address for the contact. If iMessage is off or temporarily unavailable on their device, your message is sent as RCS or SMS/MMS instead.

   Good to know

   Messages sent with iMessage appear in blue bubbles. Green bubbles mean the message was sent as RCS or SMS/MMS.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check your Send & Receive number and email

   Messages can use your phone number, your Apple Account email address, or both.

   Open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, then Send & Receive. In the “You can receive iMessages to and Reply From” section, make sure your phone number and Apple Account are selected. If you see “Use your Apple Account for iMessage,” tap it and sign in with the same Apple Account you use on your Mac or iPad.

   If messages arrive on your iPad but not your iPhone, or the other way around, your iMessage settings might be set to receive and start messages from your Apple Account email address instead of your phone number. Choose the phone number or email address you want to use.

   Good to know

   Using both your phone number and your email address can create separate conversation threads with the same contact. Set one of them as the primary way to start and receive messages. A phone number also needs an active SIM or eSIM to be used with Messages.

4. 4

   Step 4: Update settings after setting up a new iPhone

   After a new iPhone, separate threads or green bubbles can mean Messages needs its settings updated.

   Update to the latest version of iOS if needed: open Settings, tap General, then Software Update, and tap Download and Install if an update is available. Back up your iPhone first, and connect to power and Wi-Fi.

   Open Settings and tap Cellular. Make sure your phone line is turned on. If you use more than one SIM, make sure the number you want to use is selected and turned on.

   Then open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, and turn iMessage off and then back on. Tap Send & Receive and tap the phone number you want to use with Messages.

   Good to know

   On a new iPhone with iOS 26, iMessage doesn’t activate automatically if you set up an eSIM in Settings later. Your messages might show Not Delivered, appear in green bubbles, or come from your email address. Turn iMessage off and back on to activate it.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check what activation needs

   You need to activate iMessage on your iPhone before you can use it, and a few things must be in place first.

   While activating, you might see “Waiting for activation,” “Activation unsuccessful,” “An error occurred during activation” or “Unable to contact the iMessage server. Try again.” Before you try again, check these:

   • You’re connected to a cellular data or Wi-Fi network.
   • Your iPhone has the latest version of iOS.
   • Your time zone is set correctly. Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time.
   • You can use SMS messaging. Your iPhone needs it to activate your phone number with iMessage, and depending on your carrier, you might be charged for this SMS.

   Good to know

   If a prompt says “Your network provider may charge for SMS messages used to activate iMessage and FaceTime,” tap Turn On to allow possible SMS charges.

6. 6

   Step 6: Turn iMessage and FaceTime off, then restart

   Apple’s next step is to turn both services off, restart, and turn them back on.

   Open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, and turn off iMessage. Go back to Settings, tap Apps, then FaceTime, and turn off FaceTime.

   Restart your iPhone, then turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.

7. 7

   Step 7: Give your carrier up to 24 hours

   Your carrier verifies your phone number with Apple, and that can take a while.

   If iMessage is on and a spinning gear appears next to your phone number, your iPhone is already trying to verify it. There’s no need to keep turning iMessage off and on.

   It might take up to 24 hours for your carrier to verify your phone number with Apple. If your number still doesn’t have a check next to it after that, contact your carrier to make sure you can send and receive international SMS messages, then wait up to 24 hours after the steps above.

8. 8

   Step 8: Use your email address or activate online

   If your phone number won’t activate, you can use iMessage with your email address or send Apple an activation request.

   To use your email address, open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, tap Send & Receive, and choose your email address.

   Apple’s article on turning on iMessage and FaceTime, listed in the sources below, also links to an online activation page. Under Enable Apple Account, tap Get Started, sign in to your Apple Account and follow the onscreen instructions. If you use a phone number with iMessage, enter that number. You’ll receive an email if your account is ready for iMessage.

9. 9

   Step 9: If your number is unchecked, sign out and back in

   Apple’s fix for a phone number you can’t select is to sign out of Messages and FaceTime and sign back in.

   Use this only if your phone number is unchecked in Send & Receive and you can’t select it. On your iPhone and iPad, open Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, then Send & Receive. Tap your Apple Account, then tap Sign Out. Do the same in Settings, Apps, then FaceTime.

   Then on your iPhone, go back to Settings, tap Apps, then Messages, and make sure iMessage is on. Tap Send & Receive, choose “Use your Apple Account for iMessage” and sign in.

   Good to know

   Signing out of Send & Receive is also how Apple removes your phone number from your iPad and Mac, so calls and messages for your iPhone stop appearing there. Using the same Apple Account, sign back in to Messages and FaceTime on your other devices.

10. 10

    Step 10: If your account is blocked

    Apple can limit iMessage for accounts reported for spam or misuse.

    You might see “iMessage or FaceTime Activation Failed. This account is blocked due to reported spam.” or “An error occurred while activating iMessage or FaceTime” with a Get Help button. If you also didn’t receive an email after the online activation request, your account is likely blocked from iMessage and a request to remove the block wasn’t approved.

    You might still be able to send SMS, MMS or RCS messages if you turn off iMessage on an iPhone with a cellular plan. You might also be able to use iMessage with your email address instead of your phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

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