COK7878

Q: Cannot use Messages on MacBook Air or Mini

Messages will not function, keeps saying I'm offline and when it asks me to login to my account, won't accept correct password.  This is happening on my MacBook Air and my Mini, but not on my Iphone 6SPlus.  Note I just switched to Chrome on the 2 computers...

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 8, 2016 9:01 AM

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Q: Cannot use Messages on MacBook Air or Mini

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 8, 2016 9:08 AM in response to COK7878
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Mar 8, 2016 9:08 AM in response to COK7878

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    Step 1

    The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.

    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 documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; 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. Same problem?

    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.

    Step 2

    The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

    Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. 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 software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and 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. Same problem?

    After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Solvedanswer

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 8, 2016 5:57 PM in response to COK7878
    Level 9 (73,336 points)
    Applications
    Mar 8, 2016 5:57 PM in response to COK7878

    Hi,

     

    In Messages > Preferences > Accounts it might tell you the iMessages account is inactive if it is not logged in.

    It does not say anywhere else it is Off Line.

     

    The Status item in the Messages menu refers to Buddy List accounts (the default being the Bonjour one which is also Off Line and Inactive as default).

     

    I take it you are not using 2 Step Verification ?

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:27 pm      Tuesday; March 8, 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),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by COK7878,

    COK7878 COK7878 Mar 8, 2016 5:59 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2016 5:59 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    THANK YOU!!!  On one computer it had Google talk activated but not Messages so I activated there.   On other computer, it was "active", but I logged out, then logged back in and BINGO!  It worked.

     

    I hadn't even looked in Accounts.  Thank you so much!!  Glad it was - FOR ONCE IN MY  LIFE -- an easy fix that I could do myself (thanks to you!)! 

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 9, 2016 11:56 AM in response to COK7878
    Level 9 (73,336 points)
    Applications
    Mar 9, 2016 11:56 AM in response to COK7878

    4thanx.gif    for the    2correct.png  Points.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:56 pm      Wednesday; March 9, 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),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by shen1,

    shen1 shen1 Oct 2, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I'm having this same issue but the box for apple ID is ticked as "enabled this account"

    i sign out and sign back in and it says an error occured

    i quit and reopened and still no change. I'm not sure what else to do please help

     

    I'm running El Capitan macbook air 2011 (if that helps)

     

    i should also say i just wiped my disk and reinstalled the OS

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Oct 3, 2016 11:46 AM in response to shen1
    Level 9 (73,336 points)
    Applications
    Oct 3, 2016 11:46 AM in response to shen1

    Hi,

     

    The iMessages account can be ticked as Enabled but not logged in.

    IF, when you try and type any Contact's Name it goes red and says "Not Registered" with iMessages then the account is not logged in.

    Also if you try and send to any Contact (i.e. try several) and when pressing the Send button you get a "Not Delivered" messages and a red circled Exclamation Mark icon then that too indicates it is not logged in.

     

    Try using the same Apple ID in another Mac user account on the same Mac.

    (go to System Preferences > User and Groups and either Enable the Guest account or create an Account for testing).

     

    Check in the Apple Icon Menu > About this Mac that the Serial Number is being shown.

    This is used to create a Device Specific Login to the iMessages servers and needs to be visible.

    If it is missing then you will need to go to an Apple Store to have it put back.

     

    Open System Information (Right Click in the Apple Icon Menu).

    Then Hardware > Network > Locations.

    Check that at least one service least en0 as it's number.

    IF you have Ethernet it is likely to be that one.

    A Laptop without Ethernet is likely to show it for the Wifi card.

     

    If the number is not shown then delete the contents of the folder System Configuration in this location:-

    SystemConfiguration.png

    Restart the computer and try Messages again.

     

    It does seem that for a few that Messages will not work after some Updates or Upgrades through Yosemite, El Capitan and Sierra.

    The one answer to come out of Apple is the en0 numbering issue which seems to apply to only some of those few.

     

    If you have run through these suggestions with no luck then post back with the info and we can tell you what to try next.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:46 pm      Monday; October 3, 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)