Q: iOS 7 iMessage won't activate

Same problem tried everything. Still not working

      I FOUND THE FIX FOR THIS.     

Really kinda stinks to do all this for an upgrade but not a big deal to be honest.

If you are having the issue after updating to IOS 7 with factime and imessage saying waiting on activating.

If you have tried the reset network settings option and that dien't work and tried signing in over and over and still have an issue.  DO THIS

First thing is BACKUP YOUR IPHONE. Backup to iTunes or iCloud.  And just to be safe.  Backup again one that is done.

You have to restore you phone back to factory.  Let the restore finish.

Then it will prompt on phone to setup

Then go through until you get to restore from iCloud or iTunes.  click which has your most recent backup.

If your going through iTunes click the restore from Backup thats on the screen.

Allow the Restore to go through all the way.  Once it said its restored let it finish to sync your apps and music and anything else.

If using iCloud stay in a location with Wifi until the full restore is completed.

I have done this with Multiple friends and family in the last few days and also myself with ALL being then able to use iMessage and Facetime.  Hope This Helps

I've been in contact with Apple on this issue.  On Friday they said it was a server issue and it should clear itself in two days.  Today (two days later) it hasn't fixed itself so I contacted them again.  They once again told me it was a server issue, however now they'll have an engineer call me on Monday.

The steps I've taken so far:

1. Toggle imessage on and off
2. Toggle facetime on and off
3. reset network settings
4. restore phone from backup
5. downgrade back to iOS 6
6. upgrade back to iOS 7

Apple is adament that it isn't the handsets causing this, and some people are just getting lucky with 'solutions'.  Apparently they're not going to update the service status page because it isn't all users (which is just stupid, IMHO).

My advice - if you've gone through http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4268 it's time to call Apple and request an exception to the service fee on the grounds that you've updated to iOS 7 and it isn't working.

The FIX IS RIGHT ABOVE. IN MY PREVIOUS POST

Please understand people.  This is NOT a bug.  simply a server volume issue.  With the ammount of people signing into the servers with the new updates.  new phones and what not the servers are being over loaded.  Just please be patient with the process.  and if you don't feel like waiting for the activation to go through then you can do the fix i have posted above.  I HAVE DONE THIS ON OVER 10 PHONES WITH THE iMessage ISSUE and ALL HAVE WORKED FOLLOWING RESTORE. 

IF YOU HAVE THE TUGO APP DELETE IT AND USERS WITH THIS APP SHOULD THEN TRY ACTIVATION AGAIN. 

I already tried your fix without success, thebillcarroll.  I suspect there is a geography element.  In Australia your solution doesn't appear to be the fix.

well im 10 for 10 here in USA.  SORRY.

@AustralianGuy, some people are saying resetting the phone and setting it up as a new phone then restoring the data from a backup works.....have you tried that?  I don't particularly want to do it but if it has worked for you it may work for me.  Also are you on Telstra?

Bill There are Multiple Fixes because there are multiple issues causing it, all with different symptoms, telling people yours is the correct fix, is in itself incorrect, I tried multiple fixes until I arrived at what was causing mine, and your fix is the Longest one to do. Trying the little ones first is the best option for everyone, please people, because someone puts smiley faces and bold capitals, doesnt make theirs the correct resolvement.

yes David that is the process im talking about. 

Hi David,

Yes, I am on Telstra.  I've also tried setting it up as a new phone which in my case didn't work.  The path that I'm on is to get Apple involved in fixing it - you can get their input by using the Apple web-chat support team to log your ticket and they'll arrange a call back from an engineer who should be able to fix it.  Both web-chat peeps I've spoken to were absolutely insistant that this isn't a handset issue (in my case at least) and that it would require a server-side fix.

I'm going to try paitence and facetime from my iPad in the meantime.

read it over again.  never said it was the "correct" fix.  just a fix.  And notice my points here in the forum.  notice yours.  I have a good reputation.  whats yours?  nothing.   Yes there are multiple issues.  And yes i did state to try the other in my post.  READ THE WHOLE THING.  I tried all of them before i restored my phone too.  do you think i wanted to do that?  NO.  But that was the process and that was the process that worked for me and 10 others i have told to do so.  If it didn't for you sorry.  But for the ones it did.  GLAD TO HELP.  attacking me.  someone trying to assist is not the best course for help FILEMAKERS.  Gain a Positive rep in the Forum community before you attack others

10 iphones? wow that's unlucky that ten would suffer this issue.  I can only imagine how frustrated you are Bill.

@AustralianGuy, my telephone number refuses to Activate for both iMessage and Facetime, however, fortunately iMessage and Facetime are working on both my iPhone and iPad via my AppleID email address......I know some pepole are not as lucky and both services will not acivate at all....I wouldn't expect Telstra to do anything at the moment since its the weekend here....lol....but I hope they fix the problem Monday.

Yes, iMessage is working but not with phone number.

      I FOUND THE FIX FOR THIS.     

Really kinda stinks to do all this for an upgrade but not a big deal to be honest.

If you are having the issue after updating to IOS 7 with factime and imessage sayingwaiting on activating.

If you have tried the reset network settings option and that dien't work and tried signing in over and over and still have an issue.  DO THIS

First thing is BACKUP YOUR IPHONE. Backup to iTunes or iCloud.  And just to be safe.  Backup again one that is done.

You have to restore you phone back to factory.  Let the restore finish.

Then it will prompt on phone to setup

Then go through until you get to restore from iCloud or iTunes.  click which has your most recent backup.

If your going through iTunes click the restore from Backup thats on the screen.

Allow the Restore to go through all the way.  Once it said its restored let it finish to sync your apps and music and anything else.

If using iCloud stay in a location with Wifi until the full restore is completed.