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jkheit Author

Level 1

5 points

Messages.app/Facetime Broken/Not-Working in Yosemite 10.10

Hi all.

I'm wondering if anyone else is having a problem with Messages.app/iMessage/Facetime after upgrading/installing Yosemite (the release version)? My Messages doesn't work.

The Problems

(A) Specifically, when you enter your AppleID in Messages.app->Preferences->Accounts->iMessagesAccount you get the following error:

Quote:

Could not sign in to iMessage.
Could not sign in. Please check your network connection and try again.

Sometimes the error says it cannot activate.

(B) Also, oddly, FaceTime makes me enter my AppleID every time i reboot, but will work for Video FaceTime chats, but not audio? And once I reboot, it again asks me for my AppleID.

My Setup

I have a 2010 Mac Pro.

My Mac Pro is not stock, but nothing that's in there *should* cause a problem, so I wonder if anyone else is having a similar issue. My non stock hardware is:

--MacVidCard 802.11ac and bluetooth 4.0 upgrade card (http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p33...port_Card.html)
--VisionTek 7750 Eyefinity 6 2GB card (https://www.visiontek.com/graphics-c...rd-detail.html)
--OWC Mercury Accelsior E2 SSD (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/P...Accelsior/RAID)
--Inateck 4 port PCI-E to USB 3.0 card (which has requires no drivers and is a pretty compatible card) (http://www.inateck.com/inateck-kt400...er-connection/)
--Upgraded the 12-core 2.66ghz motherboard to 12-core 3.46 west mere x5690 xenon (turnkey OWC upgrade) (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnk...Xeon_Processor)

Here is some of the troubleshooting I've already done:

I tried making a new guest account and tried to login there, and went so far as to install a clean install on a blank external drive with similar results.
The only caveat is when you make the new guest account of fresh install, when you first put in your AppleID it almost kinda succeeds. You initially see the screen where Messages tells you it's associating your phone number and a few email addresses together. But if you try to use Messages, nothing gets through, and when you quit and re-run the app, you get that same 'could not sign in' error.
Went through the stuff here to no avail:
messages "An error occurred while activating. Try again later"
My serial number does show in about this Mac.
Messages/iMessage/Facetime all work(ed) fine under 10.9.x on the Mac Pro, so it should not be a hardware issue, as I didn't change any hardware over after upgrading.
I installed Yosemite on my 2013 13" Macbook Pro and Messages/Facetime all work fine, so it's likely nothing to do with my network.
I have confirmed that others that have done the MacVidCard 802.11ac/bluetooth upgrade are not experiencing this issue.
Same with the USB card.
Since I installed a fresh OS on an external drive, I doubt the OWC Accelsior has anything to do with this.
I called apple support, and they are stumped and getting engineers to figure it out. One support guy at apple said the broken Messages.app problems were his only unresolvable problem he was getting this since Yosemite launched (and that it has been an exceptionally smooth launch), and had 4 calls on the same issue early morning the day after launch (he's one level up from the entry support folks and the only level above him are the actual software engineers).
The video card seems highly unlikely to matter here. Then again, I'm not sure the hardware should matter at all...Which leaves me with...

My Suspicion

I think there may be an interplay between 2 things going on. One, although I haven't changed my motherboard, perhaps changing the processor tray makes something fail with the Messages authentication? And second, perhaps there is some corrupted data up on iCloud that alone or in combination with the processor tray, is tripping up Messages verification? The solution might be to bring my machine in and have them do some magic to make the serial number authorized on their system?

Appreciate any thoughts and thanks for any help. Thanks!

Posted on Oct 18, 2014 2:13 PM

118 replies

Jackve6

Level 1

9 points

Nov 10, 2014 8:49 AM in response to jkheit

jkheit

Thanks for posting this recent update. This thread seems to have taken off in the Google compatibility problem rather than what you originally posted. I am only interested in your challenges and resolution (if and when that is available). One thing, it is good to hear that it is not a 'simple' solution' as I was beginning to wonder what I wasn't doing properly. As I noted in my first email, I even installed a clean download of Yosemite and the problem remained. Again, with my MacAir there is no problem with anything. I'll bet there is something to be changed in the MacPro (older models) firmware. I also bet that the new MacPro (black tube version) works just fine; however, I don't have $4000 sitting around to buy one!

Jack

swalloda

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Jackve6

I have done a clean install (on a completely different disk partition) on my 2009 Mac Pro and Messages still doesn't work. Using my same account on a 2010 Mac Mini and a 2013/4 Macbook Air, Messages works fine.

I went through this process with a Senior Apple Support professional and basically ended up in the same situation where there are no further steps to resolve the problem.

Regards,

Dave

jkheit Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 10, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Jackve6

Jackve, interesting thought that its somehow tied to firmware. It's worse for me. While I could get a new Mac Pro, problem is it doesn't do what I need (more that 6 displays)--worse in the sense that I really have no options but to make this machine work--and having my laptop next to my desktop as a dedicated Messages. 'app' is a tiring 'solution.' Anyway, they need to resolve this, as some of the machines having problems here aren't that old, and there is no good reasons why some machines should just inexplicably not work. Wacky.

glassfet

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2014 12:47 PM in response to jkheit

I have the same problem with a Mac Pro (mid 2010)

Apple support had me do a clean install and run all the diagnostics ( more than once) to send to engineering. That was 2 weeks ago. No update.

arjay67

Level 1

14 points

Nov 10, 2014 2:35 PM in response to jkheit

Yep, in the same boat here. Did the diagnostic uploads and the special Message specific capture. Waiting to hear back from the Engineers. Sure is comforting to know that I'm not the only one. 🙂

Nov 10, 2014 4:16 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, you have been an enormous help ..........but after trying all your brilliant suggestions, plus a few probably less brilliant ones of my own, I remain without Messages. I can live without it, but there are a few other niggling problems which always make me wary of future disasters.

For example ...in System Preferences>Internet Accounts I cannot access preferences for my Gmail and Google account links to Mail, Notes, etc. Instead, I get a window asking for the password associated with the referenced gmail accounts (there is one for Gmail and one for Google). None of my passwords worked. I tried setting up a new Internet Account using yet another of my gmails ....it worked as far as Mail was concerned, but Messages still will not work.

Sounds like Apple is working on the issue ...so I will leave this behind for now and wait for the patch. Thanks for all your good information ...it has given me a lot of insight into these heretofore invisible machinations. Up until now, all my updates have gone smoothly and did not require this level of "fiddling".

Best regards - Toby

jkheit Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 10, 2014 4:46 PM in response to arjay67

What machine do you have Arjay? It seems we have a few 2009/2010 era machines... Wondering if there is a pattern emerging?

arjay67

Level 1

14 points

Nov 11, 2014 2:06 AM in response to jkheit

I have a Mid 2010 Mac Mini.

Nov 11, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Toby DeVoss

Hi,

Just to restate.

In System Preferences > Internet Accounts I have one Google item that is set up for both my GoogleTalk (as it was originally called ) Messages ID and a Mail ID.

At Google Mail web page then clicking my Name and choosing Account there and the Security these are the settings on the left:-

I have grabbed some of the surrounding info to show I am at Google and Security is selected on this page.

I do Not have Two Step Verification On (it has never been On).

I have Enabled "Access for Less Secure App" which is a Google idea based on the verification process they now use themselves.

It seems that possibly Two step verification works with the Mail app (I don't have any experience of this though) but not with the Messages app.

Less Secure App can not be set whilst Two Step Verification is active.

The issues I have seen with Two step Verification seem to centre around which password to use (my understanding is you get told the passwords for the Apps you are using).

I think we will discover either Google moved left when Apple went right or something about Yosemite is just s step too far with the security setting Google use.

It is strange though that not everyone has the issue.

8:17 pm Tuesday; November 11, 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

Nov 11, 2014 1:20 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

No luck .......

I'll stop bugging you, Ralph ...you must be very tired of hearing from me. We'll wait and see what Apple eventually has to say. The old adage about waiting for the first update before installing new software is often good advice. Since my experience with Apple goes back to the old "doorstop" model, I'm staying loyal and hopeful they will address the issue. Meanwhile, I'll just do without Messages and keep my iPhone close at hand.

Warm regards

Toby

Nov 11, 2014 1:26 PM in response to Toby DeVoss

Understood.

It takes me a long time to get bothered about anything in Threads.

It does seem odd though that it is only a few people. (relatively speaking).

9:26 pm Tuesday; November 11, 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

irviner

Level 1

19 points

Nov 17, 2014 11:56 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I have the same problem. Even after upgrading to 10.10.1 but still doesn't work.

This is on my rMBP 15, i7, early 2013, my MP late 2012 worked great.

p.s. regular hand-off text works. in other words, green text works, blue doesn't.

Open iMessage, try to send a iMessage, it shows Not Delivered with an "!"

Opened iMessage->Preference, Sign out of iCloud and sign back in, still no luck

This was working on Maverics. Stopped working after upgrading to Yosemite.

thanks

Henry

Nov 17, 2014 1:46 PM in response to irviner

Hi,

Try deselecting the choice of emails and potentially the iPhone Number so you cab check just the Apple ID.

Green SMS Messages are handled via the iPhone.

The "blue" iMessages one needs it to be logged in correctly and there is not real way of telling except for failed or successful iMessages.

I would test to your own iPhone Number once you have deselected it as a Send option.

9:46 pm Monday; November 17, 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

irviner

Level 1

19 points

Nov 17, 2014 2:31 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph,

Same thing. I unchecked my phone number and send an iMessage to my phone but it said unable to deliver.

Nov 18, 2014 11:24 AM in response to irviner

Ok,

So the App says "Enabled" which would mean it is logged in but none of the functions suggest the account is actually doing so.

Can the iPhone send from it's Number to the Apple ID which should be just the Mac fro the moment ?

Try the Sign Out button then Quit the app.

Then in Applications/Utilities open the Activity Monitor app.

Find imagent in the list (It will be in lower case with no icon but near the Finder)

Highlight the item and then use the X icon top left and confirm Force Quit.

Restart the Messages and Sign back in to the account.

Does this change anything ?

7:24 pm Tuesday; November 18, 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

Messages.app/Facetime Broken/Not-Working in Yosemite 10.10