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iMessage stuck on verifying my phone number

iMessage can't seem to verify my number, its the same with Facetime


All it says is verifying number, and as a result it doesn't work


Any help? or someone else getting this?

iPhone 4

Posted on Oct 12, 2011 4:20 PM

Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 18, 2011 1:54 AM

Try # 2 onwards.



To change the defult phone number in iMessage, you need to:


  1. Insert the new sim.
  2. Go to Settings > Messages>Turn off iMessage.
  3. Go to General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
  4. Once the iPhone is open.
  5. Go to Settings > Messages>Turn ON iMessage.
  6. This will recognize the new sim and have it verified.

I hope this helps. I just did it like 5 mins. ago

65 replies

Apr 19, 2017 4:15 PM in response to vintageb3

I followed all of the steps but it didn't work. It will only let me add a new email and won't let me remove the email that's in there for iMessage. I can't even click on my phone number in iMessage settings because it's gray and has a loading symbol next to it. I tried turning iMessage off and on, Facetime, and tried restarting the phone. Nothing's working.

Feb 8, 2012 11:12 PM in response to GrantW01

About 8 hours ago my daughter went and decided to change her Apple ID password unnecessarily, which seemed to freak out iMessage. I've turned it off and on, signed out, reset network settings, rebooted the phone, replaced the SIM, and other things, and the phone number is stuck on Verifying.


My theory is that the iMessage servers have locked her out because the phone tried to log in with the old password too many times.


At http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755, under If you still can't send or receive iMessages, it says this:


iPhone automatically registers your phone number for use with iMessage during activation. If you encounter issues activating or using iMessage with your phone number:

  • Verify that you are connected to a cellular network.
  • Toggle iMessage off and on in Settings > Messages.
  • If you are unable to activate iMessage on a device after remote wiping it, wait at least 24 hours and try again.


So I'm going to take a hint from that third bullet (even though this isn't a remote wipe situation), and just leave iMessage off for many hours to see if Apple's servers decide to play nice tomorrow.

Mar 31, 2012 10:51 PM in response to Smcgie

I am still stuck 😟. I completely reset the phone. I tried the turning off and turning on thing too. Nothing worked. I can use imessage with my apple ID (facetime too) but My old number is stuck in there and it keeps saying "verifying". Also, when I put both facetime and imessage on it says "waiting for activation" and NOTHING happens...I'm starting to regret the switch to apple...blackberry was waaaay easier...


I'll appreciate any help I can get on this.

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iMessage stuck on verifying my phone number

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