iMessage on iPhone not working after updating to iOS 18.5

I think I found the fix. If you are able to enable it, go to Send and Receive. My number was not check marked and the default send/receive was my iCloud email. I then checked my number and it’s fixed 🙌.

I just wanted to update y’all because this issue sucked!!!! I finally fixed my phone and I hope this helps others. I did the Apple chat support and I asked them to check if my phone number was reported as spam and to my surprise they said my number was “blocked” from iMessage and FaceTime!! It is now working after almost 3 weeks!!!

So I contacted Apple support and since this update, for some reason it triggered that my phone number attached to my iMessage account was reported for spam.

I have reported other numbers as spam, so maybe my number was being spoofed and used for spam.

Anyway Apple unlocked my number and Im back in action. I am concerned that if my account is reported again, then I will be blocked permanently. I have had this number for over 20 years. Not using iMessage is not an option

I contacted Apple for the 4th time after completing all of the turn on/off & reset's ect mentioned in all of the other posts and even having Apple take control of my device and follow along as I did all of the steps once again. All of that was to no avail and they had no idea what was wrong. From several comments here I asked them about the SPAM issue, and lo and behold, that is what was wrong with mine too.

Contact Apple support and ask if your number has been reported as spam. Idk if it is a new scam, but mine was reported as SPAM and that was causing it not to work. As soon as the phone was reset it started working again.

SOLVED!

PROBLEM: Two days ago, My wife's Iphone 16 suddenly not getting messages in group text that included an Android. Then not even group texts that was only Iphones. Then started having trouble texting to single iphone users. Needless to say, the situation was reaching critical mass and my marriage was on the line.

SOLUTION: I went to Settings-Messages: turned off RCS and IMessage. Then I did a hard reset on the iphone (click/release volume up, click/release volume down, then HOLD the power button ONLY until phone shuts off AND keep holding power button until Apple logo reappears. THEN release). Now, turn RCS and IMessage back ON. I am not a techie - I think turning these things off and going through the hard reset clears out any glitches. Then when you turn it back on, the Iphone 16 has to resync everything with your carrier/apple. When it resyncs RCS and Imessage, it starts with a glitch free, clean slate. My wife now thinks I am a genius and my marriage is saved! Hope this helps others!

For those what found out they had been “reported for SPAM”,

I encourage everyone to report their experience Apple for both Hardware: IPhone and IOS: Messages

Product Feedback - Apple

Also consider reporting the seemingly unwarranted blockings to the FCC.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360001201223-Phone-Form-Descriptions-of-Complaint-Issues

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I too had issues being May 12, 2025 right after updating to iOS 18.5

I tried all the steps suggested in this discussion and the ones Apple Support chat had me do, nothing worked.

I keep checking back in on this forum and saw several people here mentioning that updating to 18.5 somehow triggered them being “reported for SPAM” and subsequently having the iMessage issues.

I contacted Apple support again on 7/1/25 and was told I was NOT reported for spam. I did the troubleshooting steps AGAIN. The problem went away momentarily but soon returned.

Today, 7/2/25, I asked Apple support again, and magically I was reported for SPAM. I was unblocked and hope the issue is resolved….for now.

The SCARY part is I was told the unblocking is a “one time exception”. I would hate to lose a number I’ve had for decades!

Again, I encourage everyone to report their experience to “Product Feedback - Apple“, for both Hardware: IPhone and IOS: Messages

Also consider reporting the seemingly unwarranted blockings to the FCC.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360001201223-Phone-Form-Descriptions-of-Complaint-Issues

I'm running into the same issue after updating to iOS 18.5 — iMessage on my iPhone won’t activate, and messages are defaulting to SMS or RCS. Like you, I’ve already tried resetting network settings, restarting the phone, signing out/in to iMessage, and removing/re-adding my number, but no luck.

One thing you could try before a full reset: go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, tap your Apple ID, and choose Sign Out, then turn off iMessage completely, wait a few minutes, and turn it back on. In some cases, this forces reactivation from Apple’s servers.

Also, make sure Date & Time is set to automatic, and you’re connected to Wi-Fi — iMessage activation sometimes fails on mobile data.

Let us know if that helps. Otherwise, since iOS 18.6 was just released with bug fixes, I’d recommend updating to see if it resolves the issue.

References:

If you can’t turn on or sign in to iMessage or FaceTime on your iPhone - Apple Support

https://bit.ly/3TZOjuK

https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/fix-all-ios-messages-issues/

Since you’ve already tried resetting network settings, restarting, and signing in/out of iMessage, one thing to check is if your phone number is properly linked. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, make sure your number is checked, not just your email. Also, toggle iMessage off, wait a minute, then turn it back on. If that doesn’t work, check Apple’s System Status page to see if iMessage servers are down. If they’re good and it’s still not working, try updating to iOS 18.6, as it might have bug fixes. If all else fails, contact Apple Support to see if your number got flagged as spam, which has been an issue for some after this update.

[Edited by Moderator]

I had the same problem. Apple support said it was because my number was on a spam list and they cleared it.

There is a bigger problem at large though. I don't message or call anyone but family. If I ended up on a spam list it could only be because of my number being maliciously spoofed without my knowledge... and if that is the case, Apple should not be automatically blocking users.

This happened with 18.5 and 18.6 for me. Apparently, I was not blocked, but what worked for me was toggling iMessage and FaceTime off. Power off the phone. When back up, toggle iMessage and FaceTime back on. I had to re-select my phone number in both options and it took several hours to sync but eventually all of my iPhone-iPhone conversations turned back to iMessage from RCS/SMS. Insane this is a repeat issue in subsequent updates with this many people flagging the problem.

For what it's worth, changed my Apple ID password from my phone and chose to be signed out of all my other devices (2), then logged back in to them. Text message forwarding has been working from my phone and staying there and enabled as an option, and both my mac computers are getting the texts I'm sent along with my phone. Has continued to work all day.

My phone number also got added to the SPAM list and my iMessage works again on the iPhone after talking to the Apple support. I was still getting iMessages on my iPad in case someone else is wondering about that. It makes me worried now that someone might be using my phone number for spoofing or spamming something like that. Apple really needs to find a better way to deal with this. The tech guy told me that they can only unblock your number once. It just seems also like anyone could just maliciously report someone’s phone number on purpose. I am glad it works again and I had a good conversation with the tech guy at Apple support. Apple support seems pretty good to me overall.

Hi all. Same issue here. Tried everything suggested on this thread and eventually got in contact with Apple as nothing worked. Just off the phone and everything was looking bang on from their end so the guy suggested I delete the message thread. Deleted the message threads from both my wife and son and now imessage is working again on those conversations. Not sure why it happened.

This also worked for me. Mine had a phone number and email address in the Send and Receive tab. I clicked my phone number to create the checkmark. It now works!

I hope that I also help others by posting this. I also experienced the same issues. My phone was fine except iMessages were not working at all. I wasted my time going to the Apple store, Verizon store, on the phone and chat with both companies. I even received a refurbished phone. All to find out my phone number was reported as spam too! Verizon said they were not able to help with this issue. One Apple agent first told me that it was not reported as spam. However, I gave this another try by speaking to a different Apple agent. And yes, my number was reported as spam. I hope this helps others!