duncan.alan

Q: Messages.app - unable to sign in with Apple ID/OS X 10.8

I'm unable to sign in to iMessage with my Apple ID/password on Mac.

 

Hardware:

2 x 2.26 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon Mac Pro

32 GB RAM

Network connection via wired Ethernet - confirmed operational

 

OS:

OS X 10.8

 

Procedure:

(1) Launch Messages.app under OS X 10.8

(2) Select Preferences > Accounts

(3) Note iMessage (Inactive) in accounts list

(4) Enter Apple ID and password.

(5) Click Sign In

(6) Note indeterminate activity indicator (spinner) followed by alert sheet:  "Could not sign in to iMessage.  Could not sign in.  Please check your network connection and try again."

 

Attempted already:

(1) Changed router DNS settings to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for primary and secondary respectively.

(2) Deleted every plist remotely related to Messages, IMAgent, iChat.

(3) Verified iMessage works with same Apple ID on iPhone 4 and iPad gen 3.

(4) Restarted computer after (2)

Messages, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 25, 2012 2:00 PM

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Q: Messages.app - unable to sign in with Apple ID/OS X 10.8

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 26, 2012 1:35 PM in response to mikzee
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 26, 2012 1:35 PM in response to mikzee

    Hi,

     

    Having joined this thread which of the ten thing duncan.alan says he did have you tried ?

     

     


    9:35 PM      Thursday; July 26, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 26, 2012 1:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2012 1:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    - Changed router DNS settings to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

    - Verified iMessage works with same Apple ID on iPhone

    - Restarted computer after (2)

    - Kill process IMAgent -> restart Messages.app

    - reinstalled OS 10.8

     

    Additionally I just checked whether I could login to iCloud with the same ID, which did not work either. Although for iCloud it doesnt say that my password is incorrect but rather something like 'login not possible'. As already mentioned, though, on my iPhone the same ID works for iMessage, and on my Macbook it works for iTunes and App Store.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 26, 2012 2:02 PM in response to mikzee
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 26, 2012 2:02 PM in response to mikzee

    HI,

     

    iCloud IDs can be different from Apple IDs  or rather it can be a different ID.

     

    iCloud IDs can be be linked to a previous Apple ID and they become one account with two names (one password)

     

    You don't have to use an iCloud ID as the iMessages ID  (Although Apple would like you to have and use just one)

     

    The one possible issue is the item 6 above which might be related to trying to use a second Computer to "register" the same ID (I see no way Messages can tell that the ID is used on another computer and that it is in fact like a different device).

     

     


    10:02 PM      Thursday; July 26, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 26, 2012 2:14 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2012 2:14 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hey,

     

    I have to admit that I couldn't completely follow you there, sorry... I don't really get all this ID stuff from Apple. I don't think I ever had another ID. Always used just the one for everything.

     

    The thing is that with the SAME Apple ID, I can signin to iCloud, iMessage, iTunes, and whatnot on my iPhone. On my Mac, however, this Apple ID only works for iTunes and App Store. Before I re(!)installed OS 10.8, though, this ID also worked for iCloud right after the initial installation of 10.8. Now it does not anymore.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 26, 2012 2:38 PM in response to mikzee
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 26, 2012 2:38 PM in response to mikzee

    HI,

     

    My main Apple ID is based on a email form a Dial-up account I once had. (although I can still fetch mail)

    I linked this to an iCloud ID which gives me an @me.com ID as well

     

    I can in fact sign into some places with either name (App Store, iTunes, iCloud itself and Apple Support Dicussions)

     

    However the @me.com name works in Messages as a Valid AIM screen name where as the original email ID does not depsite both being Linked at Apple as the "Same" ID.

     

    Both work as independent emails.

    I had an issue when I first did this as Apple Support Communities reverted to the Dial-Up email and I could not change it my Preferences here (I had to use a non Discussions "third party portal" as it were, even though it was still an Apple page to sort that).

     

    Over the years I have created other Apple IDs for various things - mostly ichat testing.

    Most of these are @mac.com names as you can still register for these.

     

    I run a web site about iChat and this gave me yet another email and I have used this as my FaceTime ID on Snow Leopard in the FaceTime trial on my MacBook Pro.

     

    My iMac uses the Original Apple ID for both FaceTime and iMessages  where as the iCloud part of System Preferences > iCloud uses the iCloud @me.com name to the account.

     

    To say this another way.

    At one time you could enter the Apple Site and "register" a Name and that became your ID and did not have to be linked to an email

    Later it did need and email and that is what most people use.

    Then Apple Launched the .Mac service which issued @mac.com names

    This was later replaced by MobileMe and then iCloud.

     

    At the change from @mac.com to MobileMe you could link for email purposes the @mac.com name and the MobileMe @me.com name.

    The same has happened with iCloud although you can link this to any type of Apple ID.

     

    This then create two main type of ID:-

    Those external emails linked to an account at Apple.

    Accounts paid for at Apple giving you one of their endings (@mac.com and @me.com)

     

    If you are not getting anywhere it is most likely that the iMessages server are confused about your account and I would suggest following the link in thr item 6 above.

     

     

     

     

     


    10:38 PM      Thursday; July 26, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 27, 2012 4:32 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 4:32 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi again,

     

    thanks for the elaborate explanation. I had also checked the link from point 6 before, but this does not fit my case. The error message does not say that my Apple ID cannot be used to set up iMessage, and it also does not give the option to contact support. The error simply says that my Login name or password are incorrect. Which they definitely aren't.

     

    1.png

    2.png

  • by tobasa,

    tobasa tobasa Jul 27, 2012 5:25 AM in response to duncan.alan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 5:25 AM in response to duncan.alan

    Hello! Have you tried if your ports from 3000 to 4000 are open??

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2012 5:30 AM in response to mikzee
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2012 5:30 AM in response to mikzee

    Hi,

     

    I have seen one post that says click the Enter key on the keyboard rather then using the Add button on the pane


    1:30 PM      Friday; July 27, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 27, 2012 5:37 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 5:37 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I've tried it with the Enter key instead of the button. Does not change anything.

     

    How do I check whether these ports are open? I just used Network Utility -> Portscan, typed in localhost and ran the scan. Does that make sense? What it shows is that in total only 5 ports are listed as open TCP Ports.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2012 5:38 AM in response to tobasa
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2012 5:38 AM in response to tobasa

    Hi tobasa,

     

    What evidence do you have that Messages uses Ports that high ?

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-27 at 13.31.22
    Uploaded with Skitch!

     

    And Messages itself

    Screen Shot 2012-07-27 at 13.34.33
    Uploaded with Skitch!

     

    And the Push Service

    Push services
    Uploaded with Skitch!

     


    1:38 PM      Friday; July 27, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2012 5:46 AM in response to mikzee
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2012 5:46 AM in response to mikzee

    Hi,

     

    In the Mac Firewall the ports are Open if the Mac Firewall is ON and then in the options button > Allow Signed Software and Messages is in the list.  IMAgent should get added to the list on a computer restart if Messages is added.

     

    In Messages  >Preferences > Accounts > Server Settings tab you can see the login ports used for AIM and Jabber accounts  use.

     

    The Network Utility can only scan TCP ports

    I get 5 ports below 1024 (the scan has not yet finished) for Printing (631), linking to windows computers (445)

    Web Browsing (80) Apple File Sharing (548)

     

    AS it progressed I got 5900 (Back to my Mac or Apple Remote Desktop)

     

     

     

     

     


    1:46 PM      Friday; July 27, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 27, 2012 6:03 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 6:03 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I added Messages to the list in LittleSnitch and allowed all connections. IMAgent is also in the list (allowing all connections as well). Not helping either, though. Still the same problem that Messages claims my password to be invalid.

  • by tobasa,

    tobasa tobasa Jul 27, 2012 6:06 AM in response to duncan.alan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 6:06 AM in response to duncan.alan

    Hello guys! I called the Apple Care Center and they told me that iMessage uses the port 3992,

     

    How to do:

    1. Serach your ip

    2. enter your ip to the port scan

    3. Scan

  • by mikzee,

    mikzee mikzee Jul 27, 2012 6:15 AM in response to tobasa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 6:15 AM in response to tobasa

    It doesnt show anything in the list when scanning for ports between 3990 and 4000

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2012 6:18 AM in response to tobasa
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2012 6:18 AM in response to tobasa

    As you an see from my Pics I am running Little Snitch

     

    It is not listing that port  in any of the Apps that are involved in the Messages, IMAgent and Push parts of any of the connections.

     

    On the basis that in the past I have had Geniuses at Store test iChat on customers machines with me I would take the info with a large pinch of salt.

     

     

     

     

     


    2:18 PM      Friday; July 27, 2012


    Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),

    "Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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