iMessage and Facetime will not log in

In both Facetime or iMessage, when I type in my username and password and click 'log in', nothing happens. I am able to log in from other computers, and from new users on my computer. Problem occured when I changed my Apple ID password. I have removed my account for the system preferences / internet accounts, no luck.


Thanks

PowerBook 1.5 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.4), 1 gb ram

Posted on Oct 23, 2014 9:26 AM

Reply
16 replies

Oct 23, 2014 1:36 PM in response to Knight240

Hi,


In the Finder use the Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT key.

Select the Library that now appears in the list.

Open the Preferences folder.


Find and Drag to the Trash the com.apple.imessages.bag.plist and the com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist

Restart the app.


These two hold the Apple ID in question for iMessages and the details for the server being used.



User uploaded file

9:36 pm Thursday; October 23, 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

Oct 24, 2014 12:55 PM in response to Knight240

Hi,


It does look like it might be related but still a little too cryptic.


Check that for this User the font AppleGothic.ttf is active and Validates in Font Book (In this app it is lower down the list).

The App tends to fail to start if this font is "missing" as it is needed to Sign in and Register the iMessages Account ID.


User uploaded file

8:55 pm Friday; October 24, 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

Oct 26, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Knight240

Hi,


Can you open the App as far as being able to Select the Preferences ?

Can you access them and then the Account pane and the one for the iMessages account ?

Click on the Details button (It will want you to log in again)


Once you are in this pane check the Country/Region setting.



User uploaded file

8:55 pm Sunday; October 26, 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 1, 2014 2:32 PM in response to djhippo

Hi,


As Eric has linked you to the Trouble Shooting Doc I will point out some other things that might effect it before you even get that far.


The Article/Doc makes it clear your Date An Time (including Time Zone need to be sorted)


Your Contacts App > Card Menu > My Card needs to be showing your details

This has been an issue throughout iChat but is about having your Mac set up properly.


AS has been said higher up the Thread the Country/Region settings in the app and the Address Book need to match.

I have not proved a link between the Language and Text setting about Country/Region but I do like to keep mine the same.

There is no issue about the Keyboard selected.


If the Mac Firewall Is ON then in the Option Button pane needs to show the "Allow Signed Software" is allowed.

Also at least IMAgent needs to appear in the List

Stealth should not be on as it prevents Screen Sharing, Video and Audio Only Chat within the AIM and Jabber accounts in Messages.


In the System Preferences > Network the DNS info needs to be present.

If using Airport/WiFi then click the Advanced Button > DNS tab

This should list the DNS servers of the ISP at least (not just your Router (192.168.x.x) )

If required add a Public DNS server or two. (there was some circumstantial evidence early on that some DNS servers could not find the Apple iMessages Server)


If you are running Little Snitch or other similar Port and IP scanning apps then these need to allow not only Messages and IMAgent but several other support items.


If your Mac User account is subject to Parental Controls then they need to set up the settings for Messages including the iMessages account.


Other than the four errors quoted in the Linked Doc there are some other somewhat common in terms of issue reporting item that also occur.

One is the missing/disabled AppleGothic font issue.

I refer to this as issue 7 as it appeared after the one I list at number 5.


Number 5 Error message

User uploaded file

This issue start in Messages 7 and continues into Mavericks at least.


It is an Account issue that affects only your Mac and the iMessages server.

Something happens to the iMessages server end that will not accept the login form your Mac.

It can only be reset by Apple Support Staff.


There is also number 6

This does not give you the error message above and you looked logged in but each time you try to send an iMessage then it reports the person is "Not Registered with iMessages"


With at least 6 symptoms with very similar outcomes it can be difficult to judge whether you are joining a thread about the same issue.


If when you check the things listed in the Apple Doc that Eric Linked you to then try a PRAM reset next.

Restart the computer holding down the CMD+ALT+P+R keys until you have heard three Start up bongs, then let the computer complete the start up.







User uploaded file

9:32 pm Saturday; November 1, 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

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iMessage and Facetime will not log in

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