I can't select my phone number for iMessage (-sigh- Yeah, this problem again)

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Level 1

138 points

I can't select my phone number for iMessage (-sigh- Yeah, this problem again)

Let me explain the whole scenario:

My iMessage and FaceTime worked perfectly fine this morning.
I turned off my iMessage to check if I would be able to get messages from other iPhones.

My observation is that when an iPhone has their iMessage turned off and someone else who sends an imessage to that phone, their message would automatically turn to "text" messages instead of imessages. (Whoa, that sounds a bit confusing).

Anyway, I turned my iMessage back on and what do you know, I can't click my phone number because it's grey

I'm only able to select my emails. So for "send and recieve" it says "No address" (Because i didn't select anything, I'm waiting for my phone number to 'magically' get selected)

I have tried so many things and it's irritating.

My Facetime worked well, I would turn it off and back on and my number would get selected instantly. And I messed around with it, turning it off and back on to see if it'll automatically choose my number and it did. But I turned it off and on again and now It doesn't choose anything, it just says "Waiting for Activation"

But now after so many attempts of trying to turn it off and back on just to fix this iMessage crap, I can't even sign in to my apple id anymore. It says that I can't sign in and that I need to check my network connection. (I'm using wi-fi. And it's working perfectly fine; My network connection is fine)

So now, I'm really screwed. my iMessage and Facetime don't work anymore.

I'm really looking for a solution to this annoying problem.

By the way, it's an iPhone 4s and my carrier is T-Mobile.

Posted on Nov 16, 2013 9:53 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

E.L.A.95 Author

Level 1

138 points

Feb 13, 2014 7:39 PM in response to E.L.A.95

My problem was solved a while ago, but I haven't had the time to sign on and let everyone know.

I called Apple and they simply told me to reset my network settings.

Once I resetted my networking settings, my imessage and facetime worked again.

Hopefully resetting your network settings resolves the problem!

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Answer 2

Dec 23, 2013 7:55 AM in response to E.L.A.95

I had the same issue. I cannot tell you why it happend although it may be tied to me changing my Apple ID passowrd.

Regardless, this was the solution for me:

Go to "Settings" on your device (I used my iPhone 5s).
Scroll down and select "Messages".
Select "Send & Receive".
Touch your "Apple ID: yourid@youremail.com" (top line in blue text).
Touch "Sign Out".
From the Messages window turn iMessage back on and sign back into your Apple ID account.

Your phone number should now be selected by default. Select the email addresses you also want assoaciated with your iMessages account and click "Next". It will verify your info and your DONE!

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Answer 3

Tylegn

Level 1

10 points

Jan 23, 2015 4:32 PM in response to E.L.A.95

In order to get the phone number checked, you must sign out of ALL your apple devices from those services. So if you have more than just the one device you need to sign out of FaceTime and iMessage on all of the device.

Next give your phone a good 2 button reset but pressing and holding the sleep/wake button and the home button until you see the Apple logo. Once it starts back up, sign into FaceTime and iMessage on your phone first. After it's activated and all is good, sign in on the other device.

Good luck

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Answer 4

Aug 12, 2014 8:32 PM in response to E.L.A.95

Hi this is Dr Shabd

The only and easiest way is

1-Go to Setting - Switch off the Face Time

2-Go to Settig - Switch off the iMessage

3-Go to Setting - General Settings- Reset Network Settings

4 - Go to Setting Switch on FaceTime - Sign in with your existing Apple / iCloud ID

You can see the Mobile number is changed now.

For more queries do write me or Whatsapp me.

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Answer 5

Apr 12, 2014 9:59 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Got the same problem...i couldn't tick my phone number for imessage. I simply reset my iphone and the tick is back.

This problem happened after i use hongkong simcard when i travel to that country, and when i return i change back to my local sim card.

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Answer 6

May 1, 2014 12:29 AM in response to le colibri

You can sign out of your apple ID in imessages settings, disable imessages and then re-enable it and your phone number should be the only one that could be selected!

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Answer 7

Dec 7, 2016 8:14 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Settings

iCloud

Click your name at top

Devices

Your iPhone

(Type in security questions)

Should work. I literally just figured this out in my own hahaha!!!

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Answer 8

E.L.A.95 Author

Level 1

138 points

Nov 17, 2013 9:18 AM in response to sberman

I tried that, now it just says "Waiting for activation" for both iMessage and Facetime.

For Facetime, the "You can be reached by Facetime at" my number is still greyed out and can't be selected.

As for iMessage, the "Send & Receive" says "No Address" and I can't select my number either.

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Answer 9

E.L.A.95 Author

Level 1

138 points

Nov 17, 2013 10:01 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Also, when I sign out of my apple id, and log back in.

It asks me which emails or number would i like to use.

My number is greyed out and ticked, but when i click on "Next"
I still don't have any addresses in the "Send & Receive"

Same goes for FaceTime.

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Answer 10

Taliahx

Level 1

21 points

Jan 28, 2014 5:02 AM in response to adamhughey

I just did this method, and it seems to have worked. I noticed I wasn't receiving iMessages from my overseas buddies on my new phone, but they were coming through on my iPad. My number in grey wasn't ticked. I went through this method and now it is ticked. Thank you!

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Answer 11

Apr 10, 2014 12:21 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Tried reset network settings, tried signing out and back in to applie ID in imessage, goes through verification, selected the appropriate phone number, but still shows "No addresses" and the phone number for the phone is greyed out, and unable to be ticked.

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Answer 12

Aug 18, 2014 11:05 AM in response to bestkneesurgeon

Hi Dr. Shabd,

I am so frusturated and still having trouble with my phone. I am new to Iphones, Apple, and Sprint and bought a refurbished phone from Freedompop, which rides on the Sprint network. The phone is perfect and the calls are good, but for some reason when I click on settings then phone, the number next to "my number" is wrong. It shows up when I send messages and get on Facetime but it is faded out, so I can't change it either there or when I click on Facetime in the settings section. In the "you can be reached by facetime at" it lists my correct email but that same number, again faded out. The caller ID section isn't faded, but still won't let me change anything. When I call another phone, my actual number comes up- same with calling it. When I log on to apple's website and look at my information, this strange number doesn't show up anywhere, so I can't imagine where it is coming from or how to get rid of it. If you have any new ideas, I would really appreciate hearing from you. I have searched and searched and followed directions with turning messaging and facetime off, rebooting, turning back on, ect and nothing is working. Nothing let's me click on "my number" to change it. So frusturating!! Please help me. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
Michelle

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Answer 13

Jan 21, 2015 1:23 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Hey guys , I got the same problem too . when I turn off n on my iMessage and sign out my apple id , when I sign in again I have my phone number ticked , but it stays on waiting for activation and my phone number is gone from Send & Receive part !!!

What can I do ?

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Answer 14

Dec 23, 2013 8:14 AM in response to E.L.A.95

Did the most recent update, now I have this issue. Does it count as an update if all it does is mess things up?

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Answer 15

Feb 11, 2014 5:44 PM in response to E.L.A.95

same problem. no solution so far :-(

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