Q: imessage and Facetime sign in activation error iPad ios8.1.2

I just tried this approach, and it didn't work.

The first time, I signed out of iMessage, then attempted to sign in with a bogus AppleID.  Once that had completely failed, I tried again with my real one.  But the result was "Waiting for activation..."

The second time, I signed out of iMessage, Facetime and iCloud, then went back to Messages and tried again with a bogus AppleID for iMessage. After it failed, I tried the real one, but still was stuck at "Waiting for Activation..."

The third time, I signed out of everything, and then tried logging in with a bogus Apple ID.  Once it had "forgotten" my own AppleID, I restarted the phone, then tried logging in with my proper AppleID.  Nope, still "Waiting for Activation..."

I suspect the symptoms are the same for several related problems.  For example, I'm having this problem on an iPhone, but I don't have the equivalent problem on my iPad at all.

OH MAN! I cant believe the dummy address thing worked! Nothing else had and I've been trying to get it to work since Jan 15th!

Hi, I have had the same problem on my iPad for two weeks. I have done nothing major just kept checking daily if it was working. Today to my delight I have both back working, hopefully it will stay that way. Think Apple must have done something. I hope everyone else has the same result. I will be reluctant to update in future though, this has been very frustrating   . Best wishes to everyone Karen xxx

VInce, you need a reward!! I have been fighting this  iMessage activation problem for weeks!  Your method resolved it for me!   Thanks!,

Thank you!

what a simple solution to a problem that has been driving me mad

GLad I've been watching this thread for info! The fake id & password thing worked! However, now I have a new problem. When I try to send a new imessage from my ipad & enter a contact to send to, the contact name is red & when I tapped on it, it said the number isn't registered with imessage. Even though I know it is as I was messaging to that number before the huge imessage issue & it works on my iphone. Plus it's only some iphone numbers in my contact list, not all. Never been so frustrated with Apple products since I started using them years ago!

The bogus Apply ID didnt work for me, but my error code is the "check your network connection" error, so maybe that is why.

Try this. Check Settings>General>Date & Time>Set Automatically>On. Make sure that the time zone setting is also set correctly.

MMine the same problem. I strongly suspect a firewall issue on our modem

now my login was accepted, after  activation location and adjusting the proper time

Well Demo, that worked for me!!!  I'm in!!  Not sure how those settings got changed, but I'm good now.  Thank you!!!!!

I'm glad that it worked for you.

I Have waited a month now For a solution to be posted. Could not find one that worked. So the solution that workEd for me and it was unfortunate. I reset my iPad as a new one. iMessage works fine now. Backed everything up to iCloud first. During the rest when asked to restore from iCloud answer no and set up like the first day you purchased it. Once you get past the new set up sign into your iCloud account and recover your data that way. Mine works fine now. Hope this helps.

Yep absolutely worked on 2 different iPads pre Air models

After dummy ID entered and fails, exit settings and go back in enter your real Apple ID and BINGO. Then go launch the app iMessage or FT and verify then all is GOOD

Thanks, Vince!  This worked for me as soon as I tried!  I was at the Apple Store yesterday and they had me wipe my iPad and then restore it from backup and I still had the activation error.  I tried your idea and it worked! Thanks!