pcmbates

Q: iMessage only working with phones in our family

My son's iMessage is not working correctly. He has a 6s and we have checked all the regular things (iMessage on etc) He has even reset to factory settings and loaded everything back on his phone.

 

When he sends texts to those on our account in our house/family it goes blue with iMessage but everyone else it forces it green/text messages and his contacts all show up grey.

 

Does this have anything to do with iCloud or anything I may be missing?

 

Thanks!

 

Michelle

iPhone 6s, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 9:27 PM

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Q: iMessage only working with phones in our family

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  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Sep 19, 2016 9:31 PM in response to pcmbates
    Level 7 (33,902 points)
    Sep 19, 2016 9:31 PM in response to pcmbates

    The message you send will be blue if the recipient has Apple devices.

    The message you get is always grey.

  • by pcmbates,

    pcmbates pcmbates Sep 19, 2016 9:33 PM in response to ckuan
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 19, 2016 9:33 PM in response to ckuan

    Sorry maybe I wasn't clear. Yes he is sending texts to friends etc which used to be blue but now are green to his friends. Also his friends that are on iOS are texting him and their iMessages won't go through, it comes in green, as though he doesn't have an iPhone.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Sep 19, 2016 9:40 PM in response to pcmbates
    Level 7 (33,902 points)
    Sep 19, 2016 9:40 PM in response to pcmbates

    Well it needs 2 to tango.

    If it can text you and your family in blue means his iMessages is working.

    As for his friends, they need to make sure they have cellular data enable or on Wi-Fi and also iMessage in settings is not switch off.

    As a sender you cannot do anything about what others are doing.

  • by pcmbates,

    pcmbates pcmbates Sep 19, 2016 9:42 PM in response to ckuan
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 19, 2016 9:42 PM in response to ckuan

    Right. We have had iPhones for years and understand all the basics to iMessage. Many family members and friends that have their iMessage working have texted him to test and it does not come through as an iMessage. It delivers it as a text.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Sep 19, 2016 9:51 PM in response to pcmbates
    Level 7 (33,902 points)
    Sep 19, 2016 9:51 PM in response to pcmbates

    Is it all or some only?

    iMessage will turn to SMS (text) when

    1. Internet connection is low or not available

    2. iMessage use cellular data off or if Wi-Fi to the Internet is not available

    3. International SMS is not configured by the cellular provider.

    iPhone uses an International SMS to connect to Apple server. Most supported providers waived International SMS charges that connects to Apple server.

    4. iMessage is switch off or is not configured correctly.

  • by pcmbates,

    pcmbates pcmbates Sep 19, 2016 9:54 PM in response to ckuan
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 19, 2016 9:54 PM in response to ckuan

    He can send iMessages to anyone in our house but no one outside the home. So I wasn't sure if it had something to do with our ATT account? Or wifi? He has tried different wifi's since we have two in our house. iMessage switch is on. Internet connection is fine.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Sep 19, 2016 10:05 PM in response to pcmbates
    Level 7 (33,902 points)
    Sep 19, 2016 10:05 PM in response to pcmbates

    pcmbates wrote:

     

    He can send iMessages to anyone in our house but no one outside the home. So I wasn't sure if it had something to do with our ATT account? Or wifi? He has tried different wifi's since we have two in our house. iMessage switch is on. Internet connection is fine.

    Test by switching Wi-Fi off on his iPhone, wait  a few second and then send you a message.

    If it doesn't work as iMessage, it may be his cellular data or the International Text plan.

    If that's the case you have to clear it out with AT&T.