miekot13

Q: Can't sign into iMessage on Mac. ID and password correct.

iMessage spontaneously told me to log in, but won't log me in. My ID and password are correct. I even reset my password to see if that would fix it. iCloud and other Apple ID apps/functions work fine. iMessage on my Mac won't work. iMessage on my phone is fine. Not sure what to do...

 

Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 11.27.23 AM.png

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 1, 2016 11:37 AM

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Q: Can't sign into iMessage on Mac. ID and password correct.

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Helpful

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Aug 1, 2016 12:58 PM in response to miekot13
    Level 9 (73,166 points)
    Applications
    Aug 1, 2016 12:58 PM in response to miekot13

    Hi,

     

    Each login to the iMessages servers is device specific using the Serial Number of the device.

     

    In some cases having the Mother/Logic board replaced can cause this as the person effecting the repair is supposed to "flash" back the Serial Number to the New Board.

    In About this Mac (Apple Icon Menu top left) the Serial Number appears in the Overview tab in Yosemite and El Capitan.

     

    Whilst this is supposedly a Security feature a small but significant number of people find that at various Upgrades or Updates there iMessages login stops working.

     

    Test your Apple ID in iMessages in another Mac User  Account (System Preferences > User and Groups). Either create an "test" account or enable th Guest option and log in to that account.

    If it works here then the issue is with your Mac User account.

    If it does not work it is more likely to be at the server end but there are other things you can try.

     

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    Try a Safe Boot

     

    Do these two things separately and test Messages in between.

     

    If at this point iMessages will still not login you will have to contact Apple Support (same and Apple Care)

    Explain you have an Apple ID issue with the Mac's Login to the iMessages server (Apple ID issues are free to fix).

    The chances are the Level 1 responders will not know what you are talking about as they are using Scripts to process the phone calls.

    Ask to speak to someone higher, particularly if they seem insistent and you paying.

     

    Level 2s can vary with some knowing about the issue and others working more blindly)  (there was a post here recently where the Level 2 referred to a code number that only arose in the OS X 10.8.2 update when using the Serial number was introduced).

    Apple are aware that this security feature gets triggered for some but not why.

    The Level 2 may want you to try other things and also do data gathering.

     

    Ask them to check the iMessages server and see whether it is blocking your Mac.

    Ask them to reset this.

    At this point they may involve the Engineers who seem to be the only ones who can reset the server.

    Reinstalling, Upgrading or even a simple Update do not work - it is a server end issue.

     

    Judging by what other people post back about their experiences you may get told anything between 24 hours and 5 days for  "Fix"  (And in some cases a return phone calls to check).

    Most report it seems to "resolve itself" as there is rarely if ever a return phone call.

     

    This issue of not being able to Login (or in some cases looking like you are logged in but then every Contact turning Red so you can't select them - or getting as far as pressing Send only to See "Not Delivered" for every iMessage ) has been going on since Mountain Lion in some shape of or form.

    It is probably fair to say that there have been changes and now it only seems to happen at some form of OS level change.

     

    We who post regularly have not found a fast process to deal with getting through Apple Support.

     

     

     

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    8:26 pm      Monday; August 1, 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 miekot13,

    miekot13 miekot13 Aug 1, 2016 12:58 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 1, 2016 12:58 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thanks, Ralph. Tried all of them, and no luck. I'll try my luck with Apple Support. Thanks for the advice! Appreciate it.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Aug 1, 2016 1:03 PM in response to miekot13
    Level 9 (73,166 points)
    Applications
    Aug 1, 2016 1:03 PM in response to miekot13

    Hi,

     

     

    4thanx.gif for the 1helpful.png   Points

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:03 pm      Monday; August 1, 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)