FantaziusMallare

Q: Can no longer login to Messages or FaceTime on MacMini

I've been using my Messages account on an iPhone, iPad Pro, and mid-2011 Mac Mini. Recently, I think after updating to El Capitan, Messages & FaceTime stopped working on the Mac Mini, but still work fine on the other two devices.

 

There is an older thread here of people having the same problem, largely unresolved: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5510570

 

I’ve tried everything suggested in that thread to no avail. This same Apple ID works fine elsewhere on this computer, in iTunes, App Store, iCloud, it just no longer works for Messages or FaceTime. I try to log in to the same ID that is working successfully on the iPhone and iPad, but on the Mini it says "Could not sign in to iMessage. An error occurred during activation. Try again."

 

I'm running 10.11.6.

 

I'm surprised to see that this has been an issue for so long, judging by how long that thread has been going… Very frustrating.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), null

Posted on Jul 24, 2016 1:05 PM

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Q: Can no longer login to Messages or FaceTime on MacMini

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 24, 2016 1:49 PM in response to FantaziusMallare
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Jul 24, 2016 1:49 PM in response to FantaziusMallare

    This could be a complicated problem to solve, as there are many possible causes for it. Please test after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Back up all data before making any changes.

    Before proceeding, test on another network, if possible. That could be a public Wi-Fi hotspot, if your computer is portable, or a cellular network if you have a mobile device that can share its Internet connection. If you find that iMessage works on the other network, the problem is in your network or at your ISP, not in your computer.

    Step 1

    Check the status of the service. If the service is down, wait for it to come back up. There may be a localized outage, even if the status indicator is green.

    Step 2

    From the menu bar, select

               System Preferences... Date & Time Time Zone

    The nearest city to where you are should be selected on the map.

    Step 3

    Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime on all your Apple devices. Log out and log back in. Try again to sign in.

    Step 4

    Restart your router and your broadband device, if they're separate. You may have to skip this step if you don't control those devices.

    Step 5

    Follow these instructions to display the machine's serial number. If the number is missing or invalid according to this web form, take the machine to an Apple Store or other authorized service center to have the problem corrected.

    Step 6

    Take the steps suggested in this support article. If you don't understand some of the steps or can't carry them out, ask for guidance. Note especially that the email address associated with your Apple ID must be verified. If the address is in the obsolete domain mac.com, you'll have to change it.

    Step 7

    From the menu bar, select

               System Preferences... Network

    If the preference pane is locked, click the lock icon in the lower left corner and enter your password to unlock it. Then click the Advanced button and select the Proxies tab. If the box marked SOCKS Proxy is checked, uncheck it. You don’t need to change any other settings in the window. Click OK and then Apply. Test.

    The result may be that you can't connect to the Internet at all. Revert the change if that happens, or if iMessage still doesn't work. Remember that you must Apply any changes you make in the preference pane before they take effect.

    Step 8

    Select from the menu bar

               ▹ System Preferences… ▹ Flash Player Storage

    and click

              Block all sites from storing information on this computer

    Close the preference pane.

    Step 9

    Make sure you know the ID and password you use with iMessage. Launch the Keychain Access application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    Use the search box in the toolbar of the Keychain Access window to find and delete all items with "iMessage" or "com.apple.idms" in the name. Log out and log back in.

    Step 10

    Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”

    While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

    Test while logged in as Guest. After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

    *Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

    If iMessage worked in the guest account, stop here and post your results.

    Step 11

    Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem.

    Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound outputand Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

    Test while in safe mode. After testing, restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and test again.

    If iMessage worked in safe mode, but still doesn't work when you restart in "normal" mode, stop here and post your results.

    Step 12

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.apsd.plist

    Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

              Services Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)

    from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C. In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    Step 13

    Reset the NVRAM.

    Step 14

    Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).

    Step 15

    Reinstall OS X.

    Step 16

    If none of the above steps resolves the issue, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or contact Apple Support. When you set up a support call, select "Apple ID" as the product you need help with, not the hardware model. That way, if you're not under AppleCare, you may be able to talk your way out of being charged for the call.

  • by FantaziusMallare,

    FantaziusMallare FantaziusMallare Jul 24, 2016 1:50 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 24, 2016 1:50 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Wow, thank you for all of those suggestions, I really appreciate it! I will work my way through those and report back here. Thanks again, very much!

  • by dboltiam14,Helpful

    dboltiam14 dboltiam14 Jul 24, 2016 4:07 PM in response to FantaziusMallare
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Jul 24, 2016 4:07 PM in response to FantaziusMallare

    i had that problem and i turned off all my devices except lap and signed out of iCloud changed my password and then signed back in ...hope that works for u

  • by FantaziusMallare,

    FantaziusMallare FantaziusMallare Jul 24, 2016 4:07 PM in response to dboltiam14
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 24, 2016 4:07 PM in response to dboltiam14

    Thank you for the suggestion, but unfortunately that didn't fix it for me.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 26, 2016 2:06 PM in response to FantaziusMallare
    Level 9 (73,166 points)
    Applications
    Jul 26, 2016 2:06 PM in response to FantaziusMallare

    Hi,

     

    Linc's 16 point list is everything that has worked for some at some stage in the past.

     

    1-4 are basic set up things.

     

    Item 5 is important.

    If the Serial Number is not shown then iMessages will not login to the Server.

    It can be missing is the Logic/Motherboard has been replaced.  It has a chip on it that can hold the Serial number if someone remembers to put it there during the Repair.

    If it is Missing a trip to the Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) is needed to correct the issue.

     

    Step 10 can be useful.

    I have a Mac User account called Test already set up on my computer.

    I can set up Messages with the iMessages ID there.

    If it works there I know my regular account (mostly the .plists) are likely to be the places to look.

    If it does not work then it is more likely the ID (Apple Server end) is the issue.

     

    I tend to do 11 and then 13. (Safe Boot and NVRAM reset)

    The Apple Push Services item could be useful if other apps that also use Push show issues as well.

     

    I then tend to suggest Linc's item 16

    Apple Support is the same as Apple Care.

    The Level 1 responders are Script led looking to solve Apple Care Hardware and Software issues.

    You have an Apple ID issue (if 5, 11,13 and 10 don't suggest it is your Mac User account).

    This is free to fix and will tend to get you set up with a Level 2 person.

     

    You are likely to still be asked to try everything in Linc's List

    Updating, Upgrading or Reinstalling will not help. If you do it Linc's way you will have found this out.

    Apple are aware that this issue of blocking a Mac's use of the iMessages Apple ID can arise for some people.

    However judging by what other people post back they are not sure of the triggers.

    They may ask you to do some data gathering.

     

    At some point they will involve the Engineers  who seem to be the only ones now you can reset your Apple ID on the servers to let your Mac use the ID again.

    Posts back  from other report anything from 24 hours to 5 days as being quoted to them.

     

    To a certain extent the call to Apple Support and what you agree to do is up to you and has to be balanced between helping everyone/Apple solve the issue and resolving the issue so things can move on for you.

     

    A reminder that this post highlights the things that "prove" it is the iMessages Server blocking your Mac's Use of the Apple ID for iMessages.

    Linc's list takes into account that the issue could be related to other things.

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:06 pm      Tuesday; July 26, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)
  • by FantaziusMallare,

    FantaziusMallare FantaziusMallare Jul 26, 2016 10:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 26, 2016 10:47 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thank you very much, I really appreciate your taking the time to help. I will try all of these things! Thank you!

  • by foxvidpro,

    foxvidpro foxvidpro Jul 26, 2016 11:46 PM in response to FantaziusMallare
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Jul 26, 2016 11:46 PM in response to FantaziusMallare

    FWIW, I use Messages constantly from a desktop Mac, over the past 3 years I've lost the use of Messages and Facetime after around every 3-4 months, I spent hours and even days troubleshooting it when it first occurred, eventually a PRAM reset solved it. It is still happening around every 12 weeks or so (last time was last week) a PRAM reset solved it again.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jul 27, 2016 12:36 PM in response to foxvidpro
    Level 9 (73,166 points)
    Applications
    Jul 27, 2016 12:36 PM in response to foxvidpro

    hi,

     

    Time to investigate what the NVRAM Resets and check those items to see which one is failing regularly.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:35 pm      Wednesday; July 27, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)
  • by FantaziusMallare,

    FantaziusMallare FantaziusMallare Jul 30, 2016 8:45 PM in response to FantaziusMallare
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 30, 2016 8:45 PM in response to FantaziusMallare

    Resetting the PRAM (multiple times) had no effect, and neither did starting up in safe mode. Will be working through the other suggestions made here shortly, thank you all for your help!