you must have a sim associated with an apple device for to be used for imessage and facetime

Not sure if this will help anyone else, but I was having the same issue with my iPhone 14 Pro that I ported my number to. Would only show the temp number for iMessages and FaceTime, in addition to my Apple ID. I kept getting the SIM card association message in relation to my ported number - that it couldn’t be used as no SIM card in an Apple device associated with that number.

I read everything and tried all solutions. Nothing worked. I reset network settings, hard reset the phone, turned messages on and off. Spoke to support at both my carrier and Apple. Frustrated I got looking around settings and noticed one for Phone.

I looked at that. It listed “my number” and had the temp one there. But it let me edit it to my ported number. I did that and went back to messages, FaceTime, etc and presto, my ported number was showing as being available for iMessage and FaceTime.

Thought I’d share here in case it helps anyone else, as it’s not a step mentioned anywhere else.

I had the same issue and Apple support couldn't provide a solution for over 1 week, for an iPhone SE with standard SIM card.

Then I came across this community discussion by searching for "AppleID imessage SIM block".

Specifically, my issue was that on the [Settings > #YourName# "Apple ID, iCloud, ..." > "Login and Security"] I could see my AppleID and my phone number, but below the phone number the message "This phone number cannot be used in iMessage and FaceTime...you need a SIM card associated with an Apple device" appeared.

Reading through and following approximately the notes of user manishr15, I did the following and the issue was solved for me:

• Turn off iMessage from [Settings > Messages > iMessage]

• Turn off FaceTime from [Settings > FaceTime]

• Turn off wifi and turn on the mobile network (4G or 5G)

• Remove SIM and re-insert SIM. Check that the 4G or 5G mobile network works normally again.

I then did these 3 extra steps just in case, which I thought could be useful - but perhaps not necessary:

•• Went to [Settings > #YourName# "Apple ID, iCloud, ..." > "Login and Security"] and removed my phone number, then added the same phone number again at the same place. (Note: Make sure that you can still receive the security code via SMS or through another trusted device.)

•• Shutdown the iPhone and turn it back on.

•• Checked again that the 4G or 5G mobile network works normally.

So, at this point resumed the notes of user manishr15

• Go to [Settings > Messages] and turn on iMessages.

• Then below on "Send and Receive", I pressed on my AppleID as was shown, and then selected "Use Other AppleID".

This last selection -which seemed rather unreasonable and is not mentioned elsewhere- then restored normal connection to iMessage, OK!

Hope this helps.

I think I figured it out.

Settings > Messages > send & receive

make sure the phone number you have is checked. It may need to verify, but doesn’t take very long at all.

now when you go to

settings > Apple ID, iCloud+, media & purchases > Name, Phone Numbers, Email

the phone number should appear. Without any issues. It may take a bit of time for it to register… but once I texted from another apple device over to the phone… everything was working fine.

hope it works for you too.

Hey I was facing the same issue. I first removed my number from iMessage and signed out from facetime and iMessage. Then i again signed in and added a top-up balance in my carrier/sim card, if you are in an unlimited plan or similar with your carrier it won’t happen i think. You need to top up a small balance and then again try to select your phone number.I think apple will charge a small amount for confirmation using message then it will connect to your number.It worked for me.

I solved this problem this way:

1) Go to settings > mobile service

2) Select your sim

3) Tap "My Number"

4) Erase everything so that the input field is empty

5) Tap "Save"

After that, the SIM card seemed to "reboot" and automatically update its number, after which everything worked and the number appeared everywhere

UPDATE: everything is up and running now. I decided to try to toggle on iMessage after the 48hr mark of me owning the phone. Finally worked and activated with no issues. If you’re porting in your old number to Verizon, try waiting the 48hr if nothing else is working. Cheers

I had the same problem top up on the sim and then deactivate imessage and facetime disconnect on your wifi and then use mobile data (make sure you have recharged to send sms even internationally) then turn on iMessage and FaceTime again

it should work

God bless!

I was struggling with this issue for quite some time now and I decided to follow your advice & add a top-up balance & it worked! 🎉

Turns out, the SMS needed to activate the number (for iMessage/Facetime) was not going out due to the lack of a top-up (even though I had a prepaid plan in place).

Thanks again!

Ok so the ESim thing I did literally worked for two days.

i found a helpful thread on Reddit, that I did. Basically I deleted my old ESIM and downloaded a new one.

I have AT&T but I’m sure Verizon may have something similar as well.

AT&T only

If you recently transferred your iPhone from physical SIM to ESim and are getting the "iMessage activation unsuccessful" error. Here are the steps to get it to work:

1. Go to "settings" > "cellular" > "delete Esim"
2. Log on to your MyATT account and select on your device then find the "options and settings" then select "manage your sim" then tap on "Get new ESim". It will send a notification to your iphone asking to download a new ESim tap yes/approve.
3. Under "cellular" it should say "activating"
4. Restart your iphone (volume up, down then hold the power button).
5. Turn the device back on after 30 seconds.
6. Go to "settings" tap on your profile then tap on "name, phone numbers and email" under "reachable at" either delete the number that is there or hit "edit" and add the number over again.
7. Go to "messages" in the settings and toggle it off and back on. You should be able to then go to "send and received" then tap on your phone number and the blue checkmark should appear.
8. Then go to "facetime" and toggle that on and select your number under "you can be reached by facetime at".

Apple SOLVED this for me after 3 weeks of attempts. She said my number was still "blocked" from being ported in and had to verify who I was by texting me a code and then unblocked it. iMessage instantly started working without turning off my phone or anything.

The full story:

I got the number started on Google Voice in order to have a local area code for my business. Once I was ready to start paying for the additional phone line, I ported it into my provider - Pure Talk who uses AT&T towers. Initially, phone calls worked but no iMessage. It would attempt to send in blue, then fail, then switch to green and send just fine. I thought iMessage was the only issue so I wasn't especially concerned to get it solved right away. Then I started getting phone calls from friends and potential clients asking if I had received any of their texts as I wasn't responding. I then learned that I was not even receiving texts from some people, but they were also unaware that their texts were not getting to me. With this being my work number and having new potential clients trying to contact me and receiving no response I was becoming another contractor who does not respond. I called Pure Talk's tech support every few days for at least a few weeks, tried the whole list of resetting and turning on and off that they always make you go through. I actually ended up losing a bunch of photos from the who process which is still pretty aggravating. At one point I couldn't even send or receive texts from my wife for a couple days. I had been on with Apple support while screen sharing and the first person I got could not figure it out either. Finally I got the right lady who knew exactly what they issue was and fixed it in less than 5 minutes. I'm not on social media and not someone who's always got my phone in my face, but this really shut me down for a few weeks. When you rely on a phone to do business when you're self-employed, no communication eventually means no income. Think twice about porting a number in that was originated from Google Voice or anything else that's a land line I guess.

I faced the same problem few days ago and this is not an issue from apple side. You have to check with your monthly data plan if it is a fixed rate prepaid plan then iMessage and FaceTime will not activate because apple server not able to receive any message from your current plan to activate it. Your operator has blocked the sms service in your current prepaid plan and they never accept this. Even i had many calls with my operator and always they denied and says issue is not from there end.

if you really want to activate your iMessage and FaceTime service on your phone/apple account, you have to change your current data plan and move from prepaid to postpaid connection for some time to activate the service of iMessage and FaceTime. Once FaceTime get activated then again you can move in prepaid plan. I did the same recently and it works for me.

I had this same issue and followed the steps here but it didn't work.

Under settings, phone, my, my number - my number was no longer showing. As soon as I added my number all the issues I was having with iMessage were resolved.

I had this problem on my XR. A friend I was texting was confused because my texts came up on a different number to my phone number.

After searching around for ages I did two things

1. Settings>Apple ID etc>Sign-In & Security>EMAIL & PHONE NUMBERS>Edit>Add email or phone number>added my real phone number as per instructions.
2. Settings>Messages>Send & Receive then clicked on rogue phone number. The phone thought about for a bit then my real phone number came up instead and some pop ups came up to say the number had been updated for iMessage and FaceTime.
3. Went back to EMAIL & PHONE NUMBERS (See Step 1) and rogue number is shown as deactivated.

Probably originally happened after I changed my network provider a few months ago.

@zraineri

Try doing a top of 10-20₹.

It cannot be processed because your current plan cannot send particular SMS.

i was facing same issue and i just figured it out.

I had this exact problem as well. Just purchased a new phone as was setting it up. All it took was to turn the old phone off as of course that was using the same phone number for iMessages.

I struggled with this for half an hour and read through this whole post then it occurred to me that if the old phone is on and connected by wifi then iMessage would want to be sending to that device.