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ML 10.8.2 Cannot login to Messages, Facetime, or Game Center

I upgraded to 10.8.2 today and cannot login to Messages, Facetime or Game Center. In Messages I get the error "Could not sign in to iMessage. The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later. " when I enter my Apple ID. It was working this morning prior to the update. In FaceTime i get the error "The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later.". I was able to also use this in the prior version (10.8.1).


Game Center on the other hand; I've never been able to get that to login. I immediately get an error when I try to login: "The requested operation could not be completed due to an error communicatiing with the server." I was hoping today's update would fix this. (I don't use it often. And it is a different Apple ID than I use for messages/facetime.


It looks like an problem on Apple's account side, but I was able to log in to the support community with my Apple ID, and my iPhone/iPad. Hopefully, I'm not the only one, and we can get this fixed.

Posted on Sep 19, 2012 9:43 PM

Reply
274 replies

Oct 9, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Mortenfuge

Hi,


The normal message is "The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later.".


Are you saying you are getting something different ?


Can you explain what steps you have taken and where you have entered your Apple ID you want to use ?



User uploaded file
7:28 PM Tuesday; October 9, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 10, 2012 1:48 PM in response to Dean Mccormick

Hi,


Yes it should be the Apple ID.


The reason I said iMessages is because I use different Apple IDs in different apps.

iCloud uses one ID (well one "Name" lined aith an iCloud ID) and Messages for iMessages uses another.


I have several @mac.com names that I only uses and AIM Screen Names also in Messages.



User uploaded file
9:48 PM Wednesday; October 10, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 10, 2012 1:52 PM in response to mk787

Hi,


Close FaceTime and Messages.

In the Finder use the Go Menu > Hold ALT Key down and then select the Library that appears.

Open the Preferences

Find the com.apple.imagent.plist

Drag this to the Trash

restart the computer (It is used by an App that starts when the computer does)


A new .plist will be created afresh.


Can you log in to iMessages now ?





User uploaded file
9:52 PM Wednesday; October 10, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 11, 2012 1:13 PM in response to mk787

Hi,


The "Fixes" that seem to work are:-


Checking and setting Date and Time in both Computer and Router (including Time Zone)


Using Activity Monitor to Quit IMAgent whilst Messages is closed


An alternative to this is to delete the com.apple.imagent.plist first the restarting the Mac (IMAgent starts when the computer does and Quitting it makes it restart but deleting the .plist should get it rewritten)


If that does not work we are then in to deleting com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist (Holds the Apple ID you are using and any Aliases set up)


Also com.apple.iMessage.bag.plist (holds the server info in use)


If this does not work try creating a test Mac User Account and set that up for Messages.


Try Booting in to Safe Mode and seeing if Messages will launch properly.




User uploaded file
9:13 PM Thursday; October 11, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 14, 2012 1:26 PM in response to mk787

Hi,


In Messages > Preferences > Accounts use the Sign Out Button and close Messages app.

On the iPhone and any other iOS device remove the Apple ID


Turn Messages Off on the iPhone.

Turn the Messages back on again.

Turn On Messages on the Mac.

Add the Apple ID back on the settings.

Do you now get a message/Alert on the Mac to say the iPhone is using the Apple ID ?

Has it been added to Messages as the iMessages account name ?






User uploaded file
9:26 PM Sunday; October 14, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 15, 2012 12:04 PM in response to mk787

Hi,


Yesterday I noticed that my Mac App version was not displaying the iPhone Number as an Alias.

I checked the iPhone and somehow it had lost it "activation"


I went to check the setting today when I was sat at home in front of the computer and found I have left that phone at work.


I have found my Second iPhone has also needed to be reset to Activate

It's own number is greyed out for Send and Receive but it says it cannot verify the other iPhone's Number (not that I want it in there.)

This second phone is still saying "Waiting for Activation" regarding iMessages but has all the other sliders and places now visible.


I can send iMessages back and forth although the Mac is "receiving" them before the iPhone has confirmed it "Sent" them.


I also strangely got an IM from the 23rd of Sept popping up on the Mac in-between the Mac Sending and getting the return Message I set up.


The Messages app on the iPhone is still "Waiting for Activation" and I cannot use the iPhone's Number.


At present the app on th iPhone seems to be working.

It seems to be the server that is "refusing" the iPhone Number.


In a minute I will try removing the Apple ID and seeing if it will activate for iPhone number only.





User uploaded file
8:04 PM Monday; October 15, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Oct 21, 2012 11:51 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Also worth looking into are any installed third party Anti-Virus 'Security', and 'Privicy'.


For me all the mentioned fixes had no relevance. It was the pressence of a notorn security suite installation which, even when disabled, was still disallowing the connection.


Simply loaded through Notron un-installer and messages was functional!


Less norton, less problems. Yay OS X GateKeeper!

Oct 21, 2012 8:51 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I did everything you suggested:


1. changed the host file into nothing more than the default one.


2. deleted all iMessage related things in Keychain


I also deleted AIM account, etc. in System (Mail, Contacts..)


Yet I still can't log onto iMessage on my OS X 10.8.2. And got the message: "Could not sign in. Please check your network connection and try again."


My network connection has no problem at all, not has my password. In fact, I just downloaded an app with the same Apple account in the App Store....


Any advice?

ML 10.8.2 Cannot login to Messages, Facetime, or Game Center

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