How to reinstall iMessage?

Question

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

How to reinstall iMessage?

iMessage is not working and I wanted to reinstall it but I don't know how.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Aug 14, 2012 4:46 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 30, 2017 1:51 PM in response to Laura Holck

Hi,

The last post in this Thread was nearly 5 years ago.

Can you confirm that you are still using Mountain Lion and Messages 7.x.x ?

If the Menu items are greyed out, particularly the Preferences then Open the Font Book app and check AppleGothic is installed and Active.

It is near the bottom of the list.

This applies to nearly all version of Messages.

9:51 pm Friday; June 30, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

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Answer 2

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 4:57 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Welcome to Apple Communities

What error?

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Answer 3

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:00 AM in response to mende1

I had OS X Mountain Lion installed and iMessage wasn't working so I reinstalled the whole software and it's still not working. Says that it is 'inactive' and I cannot activate it.

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Answer 4

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:02 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

It's inactive the app. Is it correct? If it is, do a backup, press Command and R keys in boot, format and reinstall

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Answer 5

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:04 AM in response to mende1

When I open prefrences and sign in to my apple account is says 'inactive' underneath my email. I don't know what is wrong with it.

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Answer 6

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:06 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Go to Messages > Preferences > Accounts, select your email and turn on Enable this account

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Answer 7

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:08 AM in response to mende1

I have already tried that but still have no luck.

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Answer 8

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:09 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Is your Apple ID or is another account (Jabber...)?

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Answer 9

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:11 AM in response to mende1

I use my Apple ID.

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Answer 10

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:13 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Select - button and add it again

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Answer 11

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:17 AM in response to mende1

The - button is not available. I can add an account but can't remove one. I did, although, sign out of my account and sign in again, still no luck.

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Answer 12

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:18 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Backup data, press Command and R keys in boot, erase and reinstall

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Answer 13

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:20 AM in response to mende1

I do not want to format my whole software. I don't have enough space to backup my data.

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Answer 14

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:25 AM in response to BasmaRasheed

Open Finder, press Option key and select Go > Library. Finally, open Preferences folder and delete com.apple.imessage.bag.plist and com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist. Then, add your account

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Answer 15

BasmaRasheed Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 14, 2012 5:31 AM in response to mende1

I cannot find these files. I opened library and prefrences and I found lots of files but can't find these two.

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