My messages app started crashing about an hour ago, I can't send or receive messages. When I load the app it shows me a black screen. Every once in a while I will receive all of the messages sent to me in the past ten minutes or so but I can't read them on the app. I can't send messages through the pictures app either.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 13, iOS 16
“Restoring” my iPhone to factory via iTunes on a computer (as suggested by multiple Senior Advisors that handled my ticket), was the only thing that fixed the issue for me.
The reason why Apple is telling you to try different troubleshooting methods, is because the solution to this issue is different for every user.
Some users were able to resolve this issue by toggling off and on iMessage in Settings, this method didn’t work for everyone.
Others were able to resolve it by signing out of their Apple ID on the impacted device and signing back in. AGAIN, this method doesn’t work for everyone, and the list goes on and on for different methods that have “worked” for people.
Apple is very aware of this issue and has yet to figure out what is causing the issue and why it’s impacting some users and not all users but in the meantime while they’re investigating, some of us like myself have worked thoroughly with Apple Support running tests and etc to help pinpoint the issue and find which troubleshooting methods worked more permanently.
The only workaround that has worked for me, was restoring my iPhone back to factory using iTunes on a computer.
Resetting your iPhone via Settings on the phone itself, is only resetting the phone using the same corrupted software, while restoring via iTunes, puts new software on the phone.
Restoring the phone to factory via iTunes, is a requirement from the engineers, in order to advance your ticket to the next level with Apple. If restoring via iTunes doesn’t work and the issue comes back, then your Senior Advisor would need to work further with the engineers and you, to find the root cause and a more permanent fix.
“Restoring” my iPhone to factory via iTunes on a computer (as suggested by multiple Senior Advisors that handled my ticket), was the only thing that fixed the issue for me.
The reason why Apple is telling you to try different troubleshooting methods, is because the solution to this issue is different for every user.
Some users were able to resolve this issue by toggling off and on iMessage in Settings, this method didn’t work for everyone.
Others were able to resolve it by signing out of their Apple ID on the impacted device and signing back in. AGAIN, this method doesn’t work for everyone, and the list goes on and on for different methods that have “worked” for people.
Apple is very aware of this issue and has yet to figure out what is causing the issue and why it’s impacting some users and not all users but in the meantime while they’re investigating, some of us like myself have worked thoroughly with Apple Support running tests and etc to help pinpoint the issue and find which troubleshooting methods worked more permanently.
The only workaround that has worked for me, was restoring my iPhone back to factory using iTunes on a computer.
Resetting your iPhone via Settings on the phone itself, is only resetting the phone using the same corrupted software, while restoring via iTunes, puts new software on the phone.
Restoring the phone to factory via iTunes, is a requirement from the engineers, in order to advance your ticket to the next level with Apple. If restoring via iTunes doesn’t work and the issue comes back, then your Senior Advisor would need to work further with the engineers and you, to find the root cause and a more permanent fix.
Try and Force Restart your iPhone EXACTLY as shown below and see whether that resolves the issue:
Axel F.
Update: I contacted support about this issue, they provided a fix for me, and when I asked what was causing the issue…
I was told they’re unsure and that an ongoing investigation is still going on to find the cause of the bug but in the meantime, they suggest users to backup their data and follow these steps.
• Settings
• General
• Transfer or Reset iPhone
• Reset
• Reset All Settings
The steps above, are meant to reset any “Settings” that may have caused this bug to appear, NOT delete user’s data.
Unfortunately, it will reset a majority of your “Settings” back to default. (Accessibility, Bluetooth, Cellular, Control Center, Display & Brightness, FaceTime, Messages, Notifications, Passwords, Phone, Safari, Siri & Search, Sounds & Haptics, Wallet & Apple Pay, WiFi, and etc)
So take screenshots of all your configurations (or the ones important to you) and backup before you proceed.
Yes, this is quite a bit of an annoyance, but at least your Apps, Call Logs, Media, Messages (sent or received), Files, and etc WON’T be deleted.
If resetting “All Settings” doesn’t work, Screen Record the bug, reach out to Support & tell them what troubleshooting steps you’ve already done, and let them know you’ve already captured the issue via a Screen Recording.
Managed to resolve by signing out of iCloud. This means losing all payment cards (need to setup again) but everything else remained intact.
The sign-out process took a while: after an hour iPhone still said it was signing out. By turning off the phone mid-process (maybe give it enough time to do... something first...?) then signing out again after the reboot (second time was immediate) - I was no longer connected to iCloud, but the associated problem was gone.
Messages and Phone works again.
Now signed back into iCloud and so far no problems.
Beef_Boy Said:
"Messages app keeps crashing: My messages app started crashing about an hour ago, I can't send or receive messages. When I load the app it shows me a black screen. Every once in a while I will receive all of the messages sent to me in the past ten minutes or so but I can't read them on the app. I can't send messages through the pictures app either. "
-------
Troubleshooting a Crashing App:
Start with a Restart:
Go Here: Restart your iPhone - Apple Support
Sending and Reeving Messages:
Go Here: If you can't Send or Receive Messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
i had this same issue where messages would freeze and I couldn’t change the settings at all…
I ended up fixing the issue by disabling iMessage and FaceTime (I was able to access settings randomly), restarting my phone, and then re-enabling iMessage and FaceTime with my mobile number. I suspect there was an issue between apple and T-Mobile that caused the issues on my end…
The messages app has been working for me ever since :)
Had this same problem last week. I was so prepared to do a full backup and reset / restore, but thought I would try to sign off from iCloud instead. (Settings --> [Your Name] --> Scroll to bottom & sign out).
That process took ages. In fact I think it got stuck, but I made sure to give it a reasonable amount of time to "do stuff". 1-2 hours. Eventually I just force shutdown the phone, and upon restart I signed off again but it was instantaneous that time.
After sign off from iCloud, all the problems went away (Messages, Phone worked again).
Now signed back on to iCloud and so far no problems. Only annoyance is having to setup all my payment cards again.
People that are still experiencing this issue, Backup & Restore iPhone via iTunes. Simple
Resetting your iPhone via Settings, is not going to be enough. You need to reset your phone via iTunes on a computer.
How you choose to backup your data, is up to you. You either backup using iCloud or backup via iTunes (if you don’t have enough iCloud storage).
There shouldn’t be anymore comments regarding this issue UNLESS you’ve already performed an iPhone Restore via iTunes on a computer, and you’re still experiencing the issue!
After a long research I finally ended up making a full backup of all family iPhones and restore them immediately afterwards. All issues are gone now. And I hope it will be permanent. Do not wait, research and waist time, just do it like me.
Hello Jovontae! Only thing that worked for me was to do a proper back up to my laptop (MacBook), factory, reset the device, and set up from back up. Not only did it clear the issue, it seemed to fix other little issues that have been going on with my device. Hope that helps.
Hello Diana, just block an hour of your time, do a proper backup of your phone to your laptop, and factory reset it. This was the only way to fix mine. And it cleared other issues as well.
aprilmonogram Said:
"My phone also started having the same problem at almost the exact same time. I did an update today, but it didn’t fix it. My email has also been crashing, but the messages app is the worst!"
-------
Clear Space. Too much resources may be taken up.
Troubleshooting iPhone Storage:
Internal storage cannot be upgraded. It is what it is. So, the maximum internal storage capacity never increases, even if you upgraded your iCloud plan. Learn More here: What's the Difference Between Device Storage and iCloud Storage? Apple Support
So, what to do...
Clear Space, Using my User Tips:
I've been having the same problem off and on for a few weeks now. It's on both iPhone and iPad. I contacted support today and after 15 minutes on the phone they finally revealed that this was a known issue. That was it. No, we're working hard to resolve it, no time table or estimate of when the bug might get fixed, no solution in sight whatsoever. Ridiculous that this is going on. The Message app has got to be the most used app there is and Apple knows it has problems but can't offer any solution.
By the way, don't bother with the "Reset All Settings" solution you'll find in these forums. I tried that on my iPad and it failed to resolve the problem. All it did was add to my frustration when I had to fix all the things it reset.
I read somewhere that it's an issue caused by iCloud syncing which Apple knows about.
Apparently if you turn off iCloud it works.
You wonder whether the hundreds of executives working at Apple have the same issue and just allow it to take weeks to fix, if Jobsy was around it would have been fixed in 24hrs!
I’ve been having this same thing happen for 5 weeks now, on two different iPhones (a 12 Pro and a new 15 Promax… because I thought it was a hardware problem). Many, many calls to support, trip to the Apple Store, resetting everything from network settings to all settings to a full reinstall of the operating system (took hours)…. Each fix lasts for a while and then the problem recurs. Even the full reinstall only held the problem at bay for 10 days.
On calls to support today, the upper-level advisors said that they are aware of the problem, working on it, and have no timeline for improvement. They basically suggested that I stop calling and give up until they put out a new update and had no estimate of when that would be!
How do I fix my message app on my iPhone?
