Q: My iMessage still says "Waiting for activation..."

i tried testing imessage with a friend & it said that it was sent. but when i went to my settings menu, it said that it was waiting for activation, along with facetime. I tried to test facetime but it can't connect as well. i even tried connecting facetime on the ipad, it said that it needs an internet connection to work, but was online at that time. what gives?

I have tried selecting "Cancel". It then showed imessage activated. But still it only show my email id, not my phone number at "recieve at"  field. Any idea why?

If you select Cancel you are just not agreeing to use your phone number as a iMessage ID - you can just receive iMessages on your e-mail addresses. iMessage is activated BUT NOT for your phone number.

Got the same problem. So far nothing helped...

For some of you it might help:

Go to Settings > Phone > My number and check is it correct. Facetime and iMessage is using this setting.

If I try the "erase all content and settings" and setup my phone as fresh one.

Then will it activate successfully?

Even if it activates, will I be able to restore my apps/settings etc form itunes backup? (after imessage activation)

if you will be able to activate using clean install you should be able to keep the activation after restoring from backup. Activation is something that you do only one time for one phone number, so next time you will have to set up your phone you won't need to activate.

I tried erase all content and reset and also tried a DFU restore.

Both didnt work. Still it says "waiting for activation"

I guess I will have to wait for apple to do something

Since I tried about everything (and believe me that I did) it has to be activation server issue. Those who activated iMessage with phone number were just lucky enough to do it while server was orking correctly.

Nothing left to do but waiting for official info or it start working on it's own...

I have a solution to all of you who faced this problem of waiting for activations for both FaceTime and iMessage.

Here's how I did mine;

For "FaceTime"

1) Launch "Settings" app

2) Select "FaceTime"

3) Select "Apple ID: (your ID)"

4) Select "Change Location" (to where "Country" your phone number is registered)

5) Select the "Country" you are in

6) Back to "Settings"

Do the same for "iMessage"

1) Launch "Settings" app

2) Select "Messages"

3) Select "Receive At"

4) Select "Apple ID: (your ID)"

5) Select "Change Location" (to where "Country" your phone number is registered)

6) Select the "Country" you are in

7) Exit

After you've done all the settings as aboves; Now hold down the "Home" and "Power" button until you see the "Apple" logo to reboot your iPhone. Let go you fingers after seeing the "Apple" logo appears.

Go back to the "Settings" app.

For "Facetime"

1) Select "FaceTime"

2) You'll notice your "FaceTime" has been activated

3) Go to the bottom and Select "Caller ID"

4) You should have your "Phone Number" selected

5) Back to "Settings"

For "iMessage"

1) Select "Messages"

2) You'll notice your "iMessage" has been activated

3) Select "Receive At" (now you'll see "2 Addresses >)

4) Go to the bottom and Select "Caller ID"

5) You should have your "Phone Number" selected

6) Exit and enjoy your iOS5

Hope that helps. Cheers!

This isn't working for me. Tried it a few times. Any other ideas??

hi good day!

i recently downloaded IOS5 to my iphone 3GS, it's working fine except that of my imessage, when ever i send sms using the imessage to my friend, then shifted to network to send sms to the same person, my sms is not integrated to that sms of the imessage. According to my friend whom i send a sms using imessage and network, the message is separated but under both my name. In short, my sms send to him using imessage is not integrated with the sms with that using the network. When I check my setting, then go to imessage , "Receive At my email only and my phone is not indicated compared to some of my friend using IOS5, their both have email add and phone number. Is it related?  Please Help me>>>>>

Regarding my iMessage to my iPhone 3GS, How come when you go to :

Settings then Messages, the details are the following only:

          iMessage                          on/off

          Send Read Receipts          on/off   

          Send As SMS                   on/off

          Receive At                         email

                                                   no cellphone number

How come "Receive At" bears my email only and no cellphone number compared to my friends which bears both email and cellphone number?????

Please advise. Thank you

hey same scenario with my imessage! "Receive At" email only no contact number. How come????

Try checking your restrictions.  Toggle both on and off.

Hard reset your phone.

Worked for me.

my iMessage says" Waiting for Activation" and also message setting of iMessage "Receive At" email only no contact number. Why is this???? Please help.