imessage and Facetime sign in activation error iPad ios8.1.2

I don't think it is a hardware issue, if it is they have to recall all Ipad airs. Senior tech I talked to did a diagnostic check over internet and it was fine in my case it just started working before update and after still ok.

I'm not saying it's definitely hardware... just saying it could be? I'm actually doubtful it's actual faulty hardware itself. However I do believe it's something to do with the authorization process from your device to Apple and somehow Apple is not allowing authorization from that device to its servers. Not sure what it is the root cause but if both an iPad Air and an iPad Air 2 are on the same iOS 8.1.3 and one device can authorize to iMessage while the other can't.... what else could it be?? I'm really curious now...

Just want to throw out there that many of you have an iPad Air that you are having issues with. I DO NOT have an iPad Air, I just have an iPad Mini. So, it is really rather random which units it seems to be hitting. My husband and son both have iPads (neither of them are an iPad Air) and theirs are working fine. I just tried the new update and still can't get in. I am now getting a new error message, "Could not sign in. Please check your network connection and try again." grrrrrrrrr......

I Called yesterday and today. They had no clue and never mentioned the update that was offered today. They suggested that I go to the Apple Store, after all of the reboot, restart and restore didn't work.

Annie, I have no idea... All I can say is that after trying everything with senior tech today to no avail, I decided to go to my local Apple Store and work with one of their more senior techs there. Going thru all the usual troubleshooting steps... eventually swapping to a new iPad Air did resolve the issue for me. Once again, not to be repetitive but I was able to sign in to iMessage on a demo iPad Air 2 but not my original iPad Air. Both devices had the same iOS version, both were connected to the same "Apple Demo" wifi SSID.

when you guys call be stubborn and ask for further help if the first agent can't help you ask for somebody else, I have all together 5 apple devices and yes it only appeared on my ipad Air. I also would really like to know why did it start working for me again without doing anything except talking to the senior tech.

Picasso, you said the tech did a over the air diagnostic check for you. Did they recover some info that was unique to your device, like the serial number or something? I wonder if they did something to allow your device with that specific serial number to authorize?

Same problem here. Already spent 2 hours on the phone with the assistance. Rebooting, re initializing etc.....They re initiate my iCloud account saying it would work today and no luck.....

I Have to contact them back today.

like some of you iMessage and FaceTime are working well on my macbookpro and iPhone. We have tried to use my husband's account and it didn't work too.... We have downloaded the last ios 8 update which was supposed to solve my problem but nothing happened, still having the same error message.

IT is really frustrating

I Don't know how their database activatin table for FT and iMessage built, but I think they have missing IDs that are tight to the iPad devices. That is why you have issues on one device and perfectly good on another.

I Too had a replacement IPad in November, but mine started working after receiving a phone call from senior advisor on Tuesday & before the update. I had been without FaceTime & IMessage for about 10 days at that point & had had my call logged fr almost same amount of time.

Yup, mine was replaced Nov 3rd! You guys better call support fast. They warranty replacements for 90 days if you're outside your original warranty. The more people that report it, the easier this should be.

Ok guys this is what helped me as some of you guys know I had the same issue Ipad Air and Yap replacement from November iMessage/Facetime stopped working about 10-12 days ago so last Friday I called apple support and after the first agent couldn't help he transferred me to a senior tech that guy run a diagnostic program over the internet to see if there is any hardware issue, so there was nothing he told me that he will contact the engineeringteam ASAP, Monday afternoon my iMessage and FaceTime started to work before the update. I just got a call from the same senior tech telling me that his team specifically took care of my account. So still not sure what caused the problem but I don't think it is hardware ya maybe a new ipad will also solve the problem but for all the other guys here who don't have a Apple store close by I highly recommend to call and ask for senior tech if the other agent is not able to help don't get scared by the machine saying that you have to pay a fee if you out of warranty this is Apples fault and they won't charge you anything. So please take an hour or two and give it a try. I wouldn't wait for another update.

picasso1805 What did it look like when yours started working? Did you just sign in and everything went through? I don't have the green button to give me the option to even turn on my Facertime and iMessage. That option isn't there anymore. I just have the sign in box. so when your sign in was activated did all of that return to normal?

annie1971 it was the same for me I only had the login screen so on Monday after work I just tried it for fun not even knowing it will work after I signed in it just worked and I had the normal screen where you can turn on and off iMessage etc.......but like I said you should call the support if it still doesn't work

I Just called apple again, they dont see to have informed the first level tech support of the issue. A couple of things came to light in my conversation l1. Apple says they didn't know I owned my iPad air, which was replaced in November due to a defective home button. They have me having replaced an iPad 3 over 2 years ago. WTH? when you activate new devices does the info go into a black hole?

DId anyone have any luck with connecting to itunes and restoring the iPad? Did that correct the problem.