iMessage not working on Big Sur

Just updated to Big Sur from Catalina on a 16" MBP, and now my iMessage doesn't work. On launch it prompts me to sign in, and when I do, it displays the iMessage interface with all my chats for about 10-20 seconds before it quits and gives me that same prompt again.

If I try to send a message while the interface is displayed it gives an error message about iMessage not being enabled :/

Weirdly enough, the iMessage preferences windows does not open nor is iMessage or FaceTime listed under the services using my iCloud account.

Does anyone know what exactly is happening here, and if there is a fix?

ps: iMessage works fine on my iPad which uses the same AppleID

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 12, 2020 9:39 PM

Top-ranking reply

zheng181

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 10, 2021 12:12 PM

I had this issue as well after the OS was updated to Big Sur. Now it is finally solved.

I contacted the Apples support online chat, they're helpful but help is quite limited because the issue remained after trying their troubleshooting attempts. They advised me to do the following,

1) Create another admin account on mac.

2) Log into the new account and try to sign in message and facetime.

3) Because the issue persisted, they advised me to reinstall the OS.

4) System reinstall was not successful because it says "The volume can't be downgraded."

Then the online chat group scheduled a session for further assistance.

Apple called me thereafter and they found that my apple ID was reported as Spam and thus not functional on imessage and facetime. They removed me from the spam list and restarted my mac and IT WORKED!

So the solution is simple, reach out to the senior Apple support group and they can fix this. Hopefully, it helps.

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iMessage not working on Big Sur

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