My iMessage still says "Waiting for activation..."

I followed SissyRibbons awesome advice, and it worked - except I had to cheat because I can't pick up the 3G network at home so turned my wifi back on. I figured I could start all over again if it didn't work, but it did & I'm over the moon!

How does one get imessage to work when there is no cell service just wifi?

I frequently work in areas with no cell service which renders iMessage useless.

The lack of functionality with iMessage is growing thin. You would think that it could atleast revert to the email address if the phone # cannot be used. Come on Apple.

Not sure I understand the question. iMessage works fine on just WiFi. I use it on WiFi all the time. If your phone number has been activated, then you can be reached on your phone number (even if you are only connected via WiFi), otherwise people will have to use your email address. Activating your phone number (which you normally need only do once) does require cell service, but using iMessage afterward certainly doesn't. And if you cannot activate iMessage with your phone number (as I cannot do with my daughter's iPhone because her carrier does not support it), you can still use iMessage with an email address, without ever having cell service. After all, iMessage works on iPads and iPod Touches without cell service.

Does this trick (manually sending an SMS to the UK activation number) only work in the UK and India? I tried it in Canada and it didn't help. The message seemed to go through, as it charged my account, but it didn't help the activation problem.

mine works but still says waiting for activation??? any help

I am based in Johannesburg South Africa.

I switched my imessage off briefly yesterday.

When I switched it back on it remains stuck in "waiting for activation" mode & will only allow imessage to work via email, not over the cell network.

I am on the Vodacom network, the same appears to be happening on the other 2 networks here, MTN & Cell C.

Tried SissyRibbons fix. no go. tried wipe clean & restore.

Can anyone help/advise. This seems to be a global problem

Like APPLE!?

How do we bring this to their attention?

I am on MTN here in South Africa and also struggling for the last 3 days... Even did the Activation SMS to the UK number, no luck..

Anyone that might be able to help?

I am also on MTN and have had the same issue. I have tried, I think successfully, all of the thread suggestions. Any other help would be appreciated.

Just got it sorted!!!!!

SissyRibbons got it right...

Here is the steps again:

SissyRibbons original post:

Re: iMessage "An error occurred during activation. Try again."

Nov 19, 2012 8:54 PM (in response to MartinF123)

Hey you guys. After several stressful hours,I found a solution (hopefully it will also work for you)

I currently have iOS Version 6.0.1, but this should work for everyone

After hours of trying several methods to fix your iMessages from different forum websites, i mashed all methods together.

This all started when i accidently hit "iMessage" and turned it OFF, then it was not able to turn it back on using my number, but instead it was giving my email address for texting, or just giving regular text. Hopefully this will work for you. Please read throughout all directions in order

At this time, make sure your iMessage and Facetime are BOTH ON ( if you cant find these two options, skip a few steps down and it will tell you how to get to there)

Before we start, BE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID "APPLE ID"

Make sure your Date,Location, and Time are correct according to your time zone and location.

Date/Time:

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "General" Tab

In the General Tab, find and enter the "Date and Time" tab

Turn OFF the "Set Automatically" ---- then. manually change the "Time Zone" to where you are currectly located" OR nearest location (e.g. - I am located in "Richmond CA," but the time zone I am checked in is "Cupertino CA(15 minutre drive away," So no big difference) ----Dont try and find me creepers, im a serial killer who rides a Donkey, serious business.

Turn "Set Automatic" back ON, (If it automatically find the closest city near you, no biggie)

End of Step

Location: iMessages

Go into "Setting"

Find and enter the "Messages" tab

Scroll down and enter "Send & Receive"

Click on your Apple ID:

Click on "Change Location"

Make sure your "Region" is accurate to where you are located"

End of Step

Location: Facetime

Go into "Setting"

Find and enter the "Facetime" tab

Click on your "Apple ID"

Click on "Change Location"

Make sure your Location is accurate

End of Step

Okay, Now for the goodies, not too much though, might cut your tongue. Step one: Sign out of your Apple ID.

Find and enter your "Store" app ( where you download all your apps for your iPhone), select the "Featured" category located at the bottom left of the app.

Scroll down on the page, you should see a tab where it shows your email Apple ID address. - click on it and Sign Out.

If youre already signed out, SIGN IN AND BACK OUT AGAIN

End of Step

Step two: Turn off Wifi.

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "Wi-Fi" tab,

Turn OFF Wi-Fi

End of Step

Step Three: Enable then Disable Restrictions

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "General" tab

Find and enter the "Restrictions" tab

If Restrictions are already disabled-----Enable it.

It will ask you for a "Restrictions Password" (I put the same code i use to log into and unlock my iPhone)

After you Enable it ---- DISABLE IT again, so that every tab is "OFF" and greyed out, unable to be clicked.

End of Step

Step four: Turn off iMessage

Go into Settings

Find and enter the "Messages" tab

Turn OFF iMessages

End of Step

Step Four: Turn off FaceTime

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "Facetime" tab

Turn OFF Face Time

End of Step

Step Five: Reset Network Settings[NOTE: This will NOT erase contacts or any of the naked pictures you take of yourself/ Personal information, ex. Music, Schedules, or your only Girlfriend Siri (Doesnt count if youre a woman, Men, dont deny it, my Siri forced me to be her Husband :'( ]

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "General" Tab

Scroll Down and enter the "Reset" tab

Click on the "Reset Network Settings"

It may or may not ask you for a password, just use the same password again you use to get into your iPhone

::Mr. T Voice:: PRESS THE RED BUTTON FOO!

End of Step

After you pressed "Reset Network Settings" Your phone should have automatically restarted. Now for the Finishing Steps. Now that your phone has restarted, You must do the "Cha Cha Slide" and "Hokey Pokey" to induce a magical spell onto your iPhone. Just kidding, but try it, you'll make a fool of yourself and relieve some stress from all the researching you have been doing to fix this problem. It's Okay if you didnt, im still your friend. =D NOTE: DO NOT SIGN INTO WIFI, From now on until your "iMessages/Facetime" Works, You should be running on "3g or 4g" internet

Step Six: Sign in into your Apple Store

Find and enter your "Store" app ( where you download all your apps for your iPhone),

Select the "Featured" category located at the bottom left of the app.

Scroll down on the page and SIGN IN

End of step

Step Seven: Sign into iMessages (MAKE SURE YOUR WI-FI IS STILL OFF or "Not Connected"!! and running on "3g/4g")

Go into "Settings"

Find and enter the "Messages" Tab

Turn ON "iMessages" (It may or may not ask you to sign into your Apple ID, just sign in whenever they ask you to. OR there might be a tsb where it will say something about "You need to sign into your Apple ID, blah blah blah, something along those lines, Click it and Sign in)

Let it load ( loading times may varry, from five minutes to 1 and a half hours, keep checking in all while you DO NOT SIGN INTO Wi-Fi!)

IMPORTANT! - Now, when i turned ON iMessages, IT FAILED THE FIRST.. or second time(cant remember), KEEP TRYING! It should turn on after three or four tries. Now do not toggle the On&Off button during the proccess of it loading because it will restart the whole loading process. Just wait until it says "unsuccessfull" to Turn off iMessages and on again. HOPEFULLY when your iMessages is turned on, Step Eight: Repeat step: Seven,

For your Facetime. That also failed once for me before it started to work again.

After both iMessages and Facetime are working, you are now free kiss a baby or Pet(Gold Fish, Husband and Wife included) on the cheek out of joy....but put him him/her/it down, youre scary looking and might make the baby/pet cry

You are also free to sign back into Wi-Fi

I hope this works for you. Enjoy your day and help a random stranger out.

If it worked and you feel generous, Copy Paste this into any Forum or Website (Eg. Yahoo Answers) so others can see and be helped.

SissyRibbons OUT!

^Best nickname ever.

Mine working now. I tried the suggestion from someone is this thread that said get someone with iMessage to send to an iMessage and it worked????

Tried this yesterday did 't work. Will try again

Please explain or paste the sution you found. Not sure what you did.

Are you on IOS 6.1.2?

IOS 6.1.2

I asked one of my friends who has iMessage working, to try and text me. He said that it left his device as a text message. I then went to his name and selected a message, to send him a text is response and suddenly it changed to the iMessage mode. The message settings under general still said "waiting for activation" but the messages were going to and fro as iMessages. About 5 minutes later the iMessage setting showed the message indicating it was activated and the phone number was ticked under the send and received option. I have to tell you I did nothing different, so I can't say if it was a coincidence or not.

That was going via your email addrss registered on imessage not your cell number.