iMessage on iPhone not working after updating to iOS 18.5

Yes i am also sharing the same issue after ios 18.5 update, first my iMessages stopped working than my rcs messages stopped working and now my iMessages and rcs both are completely shut down, i have tried every possible solution, resetting, rebooting, deleting e-sim etc etc but still my iMessages are not working. I have lost 100s of dollars just bcuz of this glitch

Omg I’m having the same issue!! I even got a new phone and still the same issue. I’ve spoke with apple senior tech support and I have to call them back because it’s still happening. I’m so frustrated. I’m like do I need to change my phone number, gosh!

Thank you!!! I went to Apple support after seeing your comment and it told me I was blocked as well!!!! Im

the only person I know that has had this issue and I’m so glad to learn I’m not the only one. I’ve been infuriated for days!

I was on SAR duty this past weekend and it was working fine. Then it started going down hill. I've always been able to send and receive messages to my wife's android phone. Then it required I send messages as SMS text (it gave me the option). NOW it doesn't even give me the option. I ran through a bunch of tests with Spectrum and their assertion was that Androids use a Samsung message system. But my wife's phone uses Google message.

Don’t reset your iPhone it will not work. I have even tried using a different iPhone. I’ve narrowed it down to either the software update or the T-mobile carrier. I am going to have apple reverse the most recent update and if that doesn’t work I’m switching from T-mobile.

Same problem. 18.6 did not fix the problem. I can only send Text / SMS and I cannot receive iMessages. In message groups the sender's text field will be labeled with "iMessage" but then when they send it goes out to everybody in the group except me.

I haven’t found the fix. Apple hasn’t been able to help. I’m missing calls, FaceTimes and iMessages. I don’t know what else to do at this point. I was hoping the updated would fix this but it didn’t.

if I send a iMessage to myself meaning my own number, it delivers as iMessage but it’s so confusing because absolutely nothing else is fixed.

it's been well over a month with iPhone 16 Pro. The issue resolved itself, then got bad again, been fine since. iOS 18.6 no difference, still behaving now. Had support remote-in, all known fixes, then just fixed itself... clearly an iCloud/ carrier bug. You'd think 18.6 would've fixed it for others still affected. Would be nice if  copped to it s a known issue between now & .7 or 26...

Every time I say something on here Apple removes my post….

I’ve heard it’s an ICloud issue, on here it’s a block/spam list, I’ve heard it “nothing” to bug issues. Will we 1) get a real answer and 2) ever get this issue resolved without the need of buying a new phone?

Bchaz wrote:

Every time I say something on here Apple removes my post….

I’ve heard it’s an ICloud issue, on here it’s a block/spam list, I’ve heard it “nothing” to bug issues. Will we 1) get a real answer and 2) ever get this issue resolved without the need of buying a new phone?

This is a user-to-user forum. Apple doesn't respond here.

If your account has been put on the spam list, only Apple can remove it. Buying a new phone won't change that.

I hate that I feel tethered to Apple. Because of issues like this. This should be a very simple fix. I have OCD and have been working on this for 48 hours. Now I have to set an appointment with the Apple Store. Absolute bs

Upgrade to a newer model? This is a platform issue. Upgrade to a newer model is the same issue as Apple downgrading their batteries to force you to buy a new model in the first place. I’m about to lose my mind with this.

This was very helpful, thanks. I couldn't fix this issue for months until I read what you posted here about the number being blocked on Apple's end. I think Apple should send an email or other notification if your number has been blocked for whatever reason, and then give you instructions to get it reactivated. Apple dropped the ball here.

When I now send texts, I now get a message that a particular contact isnt on iMessage so I can’t text them. If it’s a group, I’m instructed to remove those. This happens on my iPad, not my iPhone.

Also, iPad now breaks up group texts so I’ll get standalone texts from members of the group. Again, only on my iPad, not my iPhone.

To everyone whom is still having issues with IOS 18.5 and newer. The simple solution is to change your number because Apple is blocking a lot of numbers due to a safety feature update and although it’s making a lot of iPhone users upset there’s no other way around it.