BiOsLaSh

Q: Messages says "XXXXX is not registered with iMessage"

iMac14,2

MacOS 10.9.1

 

All of the sudden I can't send any messages on my iMac. It was working about a week ago. No update to the OS has happened since then. Every email address and phone number now says "XXXXX is not registered with iMessage." Old conversations that are months old suddenly aren't updated and I can't send another message. I can't initiate new conversation because of the error. I can't even send a message to myself from the iMac (works fine from my iPhone). Just to be clear, these contacts are wtihout a doubt registered with iMessage. I'm not trying to send an iMessage to my grandma's 2004 flip phone. Messages/iMessage still works on my iPhone 5S, iPad 3, MacPro at home, and MacBook Pro. I've tried disabling and signing out of the account and signing back in. The best result I got from that is the "To:" field turning blue, as it does when sending to a registered iMessage address, only to then turn red, as it does when it thinks the address is not registered.  Any help would be much appreciated.

Posted on Jan 29, 2014 2:46 PM

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Q: Messages says "XXXXX is not registered with iMessage"

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  • by appexp4u,

    appexp4u appexp4u Sep 14, 2014 3:07 AM in response to Nwachnin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 14, 2014 3:07 AM in response to Nwachnin

    I wish! I'm hoping that the update from Mavericks to Yosemite will resolve the issue. I've been in contact with senior apple support engineers and they ran a full diagnostic of my computer to no avail.

  • by bulldog222,

    bulldog222 bulldog222 Sep 18, 2014 5:35 PM in response to appexp4u
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2014 5:35 PM in response to appexp4u

    Tried the yosemite beta today and iMessage still didn't work. For some reason it would pick up messages that I sent from my iPhone. But it would not pick up messages that others sent me. Nor would it let me message people directly from the laptop.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Sep 19, 2014 12:39 PM in response to bulldog222
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Sep 19, 2014 12:39 PM in response to bulldog222

    Hi,

     

    With your iPhone and your Mac you should be able to test sending from the Apple ID to the iPhone Number (original iMessages)

    This should also show the sync versions (your Mac should show that the iPhone Received an iMessages, which was the one sent to it's number)

     

    Then you can test sending from the iPhone Number as the choice to the Mac Apple ID.

    This will mean the Mac will show a repeat "received" message whilst the iPhone is showing a Sync version of the Apple ID message.

     

    Of course you will also have been able to test replies.

     

    Hopefully this will give you info about what is working.

     

    When I did this I had trouble sending to the iPhone Number.

    Somehow on the iPhone the Number had become deselected (even though it is greyed out and not changeable by the user).

    A reset of the iMessages setting (remove the Apple ID, turn iMessages Off and make sure the Number verifies first before adding the Apple ID back)

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:39 pm      Friday; September 19, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     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
  • by tuliotoffolo,

    tuliotoffolo tuliotoffolo Sep 21, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi Ralph and all others,

     

    I am experiencing the very same problem. I am also a programmer and tried every single thing pointed out in this thread. Everything, literally: checked the font, the serial number, removed keys from the keychain, removed plists, etc... Finally, I did a clean install of OS X (in an extra partition) and got the same error. And the first thing I did after installing OS X was to try Messages out.

     

    I can send and receive messages using my apple ID in my iPhone, iPad and even in my girlfriend's macbook (which I just tested).

    I have a 13" macbook pro retina (late 2013) and really don't know what to do anymore...

     

    Any new ideas? I was thinking about taking the computer to an apple store, but I will really need my computer for the following weeks...

     

    Thanks!

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Sep 21, 2014 12:37 PM in response to tuliotoffolo
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Sep 21, 2014 12:37 PM in response to tuliotoffolo

    Hi,

     

    This thread has been running for some while now and I believe the issue has also changed.

    What worked in January and February  does not seem to work now.

     

    During Messages 7 (Mountain Lion) seem people got an Error messages that gave them a Code Number to use with Apple Support.

    The Account could be logged in with iTunes, iCloud, App Store and even FaceTime  but would not work in Messages for the iMessages account suggesting that it is something that gets flagged about the account only at the iMessages servers.

     

    With this Error message the only fix has to been to contact Apple Support  and being clear it is an Account issue rather than App or Hardware  (despite where the error code comes from and the fact the iMessages accounts works on other Macs or iOS devices)

     

    This particular error where all the contacts say they are not registered seems to be more of the same but without the specific error message.

     

    Without a specific error messages it is going to be difficult to get Apple Support to look at this issue.

    Clean installs, deleting .plists, Repairing Permissions, change DNS settings, Date and Time settings in Mac and Router along with checking Time Zones and Daylight Saving times suggests the issue is not on the Mac.

    Persuading a Support worker that the issue is the same/similar to another issue that does get an error message will be difficult. Getting them to check the account for something we cannot be specific about will be even harder.

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:37 pm      Sunday; September 21, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     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
  • by appexp4u,

    appexp4u appexp4u Sep 21, 2014 2:27 PM in response to tuliotoffolo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2014 2:27 PM in response to tuliotoffolo

    After updating OS X (About the OS X Mavericks v10.9.5 Update) Messages SUDDENLY WORKED for a few hours or so before the same usual *!@$*(*& happened. I would say I've "passively given up".

  • by tuliotoffolo,

    tuliotoffolo tuliotoffolo Sep 22, 2014 4:51 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2014 4:51 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi Ralph, thanks for your answer.

     

    I am, unfortunately, convinced that the problem is with my mac.

    • I can use Messages with my apple ID in another mac.
    • I tried other apple IDs and all of them had the same issue in my mac.

     

    Today I tried a clean install of OS X Yosemite Beta, but I still can't use Messages. In Yosemite, I don't get the same error message. Instead, there is a red exclamation bullet next to the message, indicating that the message was not sent.

     

    I contacted apple support and they will call me tomorrow. I hope they will be able to help me with the issue. Anyhow, I will post any info I get.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Sep 22, 2014 12:00 PM in response to tuliotoffolo
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Sep 22, 2014 12:00 PM in response to tuliotoffolo

    HI,

     

    If a "Clean Install" means that the Drive was brand new in the sense that all previous data had been removed and the problem still exists then the issue is not the Mac.

     

    If you means that your Upgraded what you had to Yosemite then something in the Mac User account could be the issue.

    However some people have tried removing half  all the .plists (well the ones with com.apple at the start) to the Desktop (create a folder there)

    After a Restart and launching Messages to try again, you may find the app works.

    You could then try moving half those in the Desktop folder back and Restarting again.  (move A to M in the first place then put back A to F so you can see where the "join" is).

     

    This can be long winded with the moving 1/2 and restarting all the time but you might be able to pin it down to a specific .plist eventually.

     

    A simpler way is to create a new Mac User account (System Preferences > Users and Groups)

    If you use the same ID there for iMessages when you set it up  then this will tell you if it is the Mac or something about the way the account/ID works with the iMessages servers.

    The only consistent thing then between the Mac User accounts will be the mac's own Serial Number that is used to make the Auth Token  which has been needed since OS X 10.8.2 and the Messages 7.0.1 update.

     

    If the Serial Number worked before  and checks out as Valid then the issue is at Server level and Off the computer.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:00 pm      Monday; September 22, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     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
  • by tuliotoffolo,

    tuliotoffolo tuliotoffolo Sep 22, 2014 12:35 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2014 12:35 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Hi Ralph,

    Yes, by "clean install" I do mean erasing the drive and keeping no files from previous installation. And that's why I agree with you that the problem is probably related to the serial number, and that is actually what I meant when I said that the problem is "with my mac". Reading again, I see that it was a bit confusing.

     

    Thanks for all the replies. I hope apple will be able to sort this out and fix the problem.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Sep 22, 2014 1:15 PM in response to tuliotoffolo
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Sep 22, 2014 1:15 PM in response to tuliotoffolo

    Hi,

     

    The Serial Number you can see in System Info or the About this Mac and the double click on the Current OS version method should be the same one on the back, bottom or battery compartment of your Mac.  (if you kept the box it will be on their as well.)

     

    You should also be able to test it here.

    https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

     

    As so  many are reporting the issue and many have already checked their Serial Number I still feel it's something to do with the way the iMessages servers are dealing with the info (Deleting the IDS: AppleID-Auth Token in the Keychain does not solve it either).

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:15 pm      Monday; September 22, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     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
  • by BiOsLaSh,

    BiOsLaSh BiOsLaSh Sep 22, 2014 1:35 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 22, 2014 1:35 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

    Update from OP. So from what I can tell I think my particular problem might be related to our network here at work. I noticed that when I disconnect my ethernet connection and activate wifi my iMessages on my iMac starts working again. If I then reconnect the ethernet and disconnect wifi iMessages usually keeps working for anything from a few minutes to a couple of days. I don't know what the setting are or why they would be different but for now that seems to be the issue I'm having. I can't say that this is the same problem others are having but I wonder if some people could try this and see if the same "solution" works for them. Try another network.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Sep 22, 2014 1:41 PM in response to BiOsLaSh
    Level 9 (73,279 points)
    Applications
    Sep 22, 2014 1:41 PM in response to BiOsLaSh

    Hi,

     

    I would check the same DNS server info applies to both the Ethernet Connection and the Wifi Connection on the Mac.

     

    In the Ethernet pane all the info appears in various Text boxes.

    In WiFi (Airport) you will need to use the Advanced Button > then DNS tab.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:41 pm      Monday; September 22, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     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
  • by appexp4u,

    appexp4u appexp4u Sep 22, 2014 1:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2014 1:50 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Given my experience with this issue over the past few months, I can safely say that I sympathize with all of you. That being said, I feel obligated to tell you that since my last post, messages has been working spontaneously. I've been casually monitoring it (opening it every so often) and the issue seems to be almost remedying itself (working more consistently). I am presently cautiously optimistic; it would seem that the server engineers over at Apple are doing something on their end to resolve the issue.

  • by rdines,

    rdines rdines Oct 17, 2014 10:11 AM in response to appexp4u
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 10:11 AM in response to appexp4u

    Hi.

    I've been wrestling with this myself the last couple days.

    It all started when I tried to send myself Directions (Like I always had before) from the Maps app. on my MBP. Usually I had had no trouble sending them to myself by message on my phone...but not yesterday...grrrrr.

     

    I couldn't understand why Google talk had suddenly appeared and seemed to be trying to take over. Oh well, I thought and then I couldn't sign in using my normal Gmail/Google password. I never wanted it anyway, so I got rid of it and started to try to figure out iMessage the way it was before.

     

    Nothing helped. I went though a number of the steps above.

     

    Until!!.... I re-added my AIM account into iMessage...Voila. Now its back & working again. No more RED contacts (or "Not Registered" alerts) when I try to message something to myself.

     

    I retested it in Maps also and I'm back!

  • by tuliotoffolo,

    tuliotoffolo tuliotoffolo Oct 17, 2014 10:35 AM in response to BiOsLaSh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2014 10:35 AM in response to BiOsLaSh

    Just like *appexp4u*, I sympathize with all of you since I also struggled a long time with this problem, and so I came back to report good news.


    I followed *appexp4u* steps (contacted Apple support) and the problem was solved. It was not in my computer. I called Apple in the end of September, and after some days Messages just started working again, and has worked well ever since. No doubt the server engineers at Apple did something on their end to resolve the issue.

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