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iMessage not working for phone number

I'm currently traveling internationally and have my data turned off and my phone NOT on airplane mode. For the first 2 days I was here and connected to WiFi iMessage was working normally. After- it stopped working all together and after trying a bunch of methods to fix it, I only got it to work for my apple ID and n ot my phone number anymore.

PLEASE HELPP

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 4:23 PM

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Posted on Nov 27, 2017 9:30 AM

HI, have the same issue but my number is not +1 as I am not from USA.

THe only step I can not commit is that when I turn off FaceTime and Imessage, I can not complete step 2 as there is nothing besides the fiel to turn the facetime on.


I used to have imessage with this same phone number for ages on my previous iphone, but as soon as updated to Iphone X, phone number is grey

Please help.

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Question marked as Best reply

Nov 27, 2017 9:30 AM in response to Noahwhite2014

HI, have the same issue but my number is not +1 as I am not from USA.

THe only step I can not commit is that when I turn off FaceTime and Imessage, I can not complete step 2 as there is nothing besides the fiel to turn the facetime on.


I used to have imessage with this same phone number for ages on my previous iphone, but as soon as updated to Iphone X, phone number is grey

Please help.

Jan 28, 2017 8:45 PM in response to Noahwhite2014

No I spent 3 hours in Apple Store today got a new phone new att chip and still iMessage not working. The two geniuses that helped me were boggled and did all they could but nothing they did fixed it we reset my phone did all the steps they new to try to make it work and nothing helped so frustrating. Have to call att to see if it's something in service wrong but the lady couldn't figure it out and was supposed to send resets to phone and call me back but never did! So so annoyig

Sep 8, 2013 2:36 PM in response to gjn6595

I just went ahead and deactivated my iMessage to see if i could replicate what you were at.
From my testing around with activating my phone number for iMessage AND Facetime, I found that you need to 1. Turn off both iMessage and facetime.
2. Go into Facetime settings and select use Apple ID for facetime
3. From there log in and select ONLY your iCloud email to recieve text messages at (If its not there select ONLY the email you originally made your apple ID with) [You can change it after activation so dont worry]
4. Once facetime is activated go to iMessage and turn it on, Log in using the iCloud email as your Apple ID (Or the original Email you made your Apple ID with)
5. Again select only the same email that you used to log in. You should be activated with your email and it should say "waiting for activation" under the imessage on and off switch

6. Go to the PHONE settings pane, and change your number from +1 (123) 456-7890 (the numbers are place holders for your phone numbers digits) to (123) 456-7890. And tap Save
7. Your settings app may crash or it may go back, to the previous screen.

8. From there go back into iMessage and see if your Phone number is now there.

9. If not go to the app switcher and quit the settings app by holding down and pressing the minus button.
10. Re-open settings and go back to phone, and re-add the +1 before your number and go back to iMessage and wait for activation.


I did this 3 times and it worked all 3 times so please follow each step carefully!


NOTE: +1 is the United state country code, make sure you know your country code for this. As far as I know only United States users have the iMessage activation issue.


Good Luck and let me know how it turns out!

Sep 7, 2013 4:44 PM in response to gjn6595

gjn6595, Try this:


Go into your phone settings
Go to Messages

Go down to Send & Receive
Next to it it should say "X Addresses" (1 Address, 2 Addresses, etc)
Go into that setting pane and look at the addresses.
Make sure your Phone number is checked and that "Start New Conversations From" is set to your Phone number (Scroll down in that settings pane if you can't see it)


If that doesnt work, In the same settings pane, tap on your apple ID at the top and sign out and back in and try repeating the process. If that doesnt work, go to the icloud settings pane and log out and back in and let me know how it works out!


Good Luck!
Noahwhite2014

Sep 9, 2013 2:19 AM in response to gjn6595

Try and activate imessage when you are connected to wifi it will just continue to say waiting for activation but I read this on how to use an iphone as an ipod and it may well work even if you do not restore the phone as new. See if you can send imessage from your email address but don't restore your phone as new but just read below


USING AN IPHONE AS AN IPOD

Restore your phone as new. Place a SIM card into the phone and connect it your computer with iTunes open and follow the activation assistant to activate the iphone. Once the iphone have been activated remove the SIM card and turn on imessage in settings/messages. Only your Apple ID should appear in the “You can be reached by imessage at” and “Start new conversation from” fields. Read the following article for help http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3406

iMessage not working for phone number

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