Q: iMessage verification loop
My iPod Touch (4th gen) was logged out of imessage some time ago . I tried logging back in using my apple ID and password and it took me to a page which asked for the email address and said "verifying"... then it takes me back to the login page and not logging me in. This is an endless loop. Help!?
iPod touch, iOS 6.1.6
Posted on Jul 17, 2016 4:22 AM
Community Specialists
Hello @u_w_i_n,
Thanks for checking out the Apple Support Communities. I understand how important it is to stay connected with Messages. Here are some things to try.
The first thing we want to ensure is that all your data is safe. You can make a backup in iCloud or iTunes. Use this article for help with that: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Then, to be sure there is no issue with your Apple ID, we want to use Safari or another internet browser and log in to this link: Apple ID: Manage your Apple account. Some issues with an Apple ID can not be displayed on an iPod, so all we see is the endless loop or the device not logging in. But using an internet browser, it will show you if there is an alert, error message, secondary question like the necessity to change your password, or if the Apple ID is locked. If you can log in through Safari or your other internet browser and do not see any of those situations, then we can check some other areas.
The first thing I want to recommend you try is to turn the iPod off, then back on again. Sometimes, that is all that is necessary to get all the connections reset, and everything working properly again. This help article from Apple will assist you to do that: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If that does not help, then please check the steps in this article: If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime.
If you still have issues, do this reset next: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network. Use the section titled 'Still can't connect?' and follow the steps to Reset Network Settings. This brings network settings back to the factory defaults. Then, you can try signing in to Messages again. If the issue remains after all this, you will want to try connecting to another Wi-Fi network, and signing in. Just to help clarify the type of network you need to be on, please ensure you are using an open wireless network like your home network. If you are connecting to a free wireless network like a school, work, or other business, the airport, a military base, or a hotspot type of a network, this will not work because these types of networks have high security and high traffic. They do not allow the necessary data back and forth causing issues exactly like the one you are currently experiencing. Also, third party virus protection, firewalls, or proxies that hide your identity from the internet can cause issues like this. These do not have to be set up on the computer or iPad either, they can be set up on the router. Some security apps also do this, but are only called Security or VPN. There are literally hundreds of such apps you could install on your iPod that block incoming ports which will not allow this feature to work.
The last thing I recommend to try is to format your iPod, set it up new using iTunes, and then trying to sign in. This option will erase all the data on your iPod. Please ensure you have your backup completed prior to doing this step. The reason we need to use iTunes to do this step is because we need iTunes to help install a fresh version of the iOS operating system to the iPod. This help article from Apple will help you to do this: Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings.
Once the phone is set up as new, you will test to see if the Messages sign in issues are happening without your personal data on the device. If not, we know the issue was with some data on the device or in the iOS version, which will be in you backups. You can manually bring data back using iCloud or iTunes, but do not restore from the backup as you will bring the problem right back in. Depending on the iTunes version you have, and whether you have a Mac or PC, one of these 4 help articles will assist you in getting your music and other data back from iTunes:
1. iTunes 11 for Mac: Connect or disconnect your iPod, iPhone, or iPad
2. iTunes 11 for Windows: Set up syncing for iPod, iPhone, or iPad
3. iTunes 12 for Mac: Sync iPod, iPhone, or iPad
4. iTunes 12 for Windows: Sync iPod, iPhone, or iPad
Thanks again, and have a great day.
Posted on Jul 18, 2016 3:51 PM