Mini iPad 3 Can't sign in to iMessage or FaceTime

HI there I have the exact same problem , got my son ipadmini 3 in Thursday evening set it up on family sharing , set up his id and downloaded lots of his favourite games etc , Then I went to set up iMessage and then FaceTime and it won't let me sign into it to activate so frustrated! we have other iPhones and iPads and these all work fine so it does seem something wrong on apples side!

Hi,

We have the same problem, all worked fine on my son's new iPad mini 3 until updating to 8.3, we only bought it yesterday.

All other I devices working fine, it's very frustrating, obviously an Apple software issue. We are in UK.

There are quite a few of us with this problem. This round seems to have started with the 8.2 update and continues with the 8.3 update. It's a problem on Apple's side. It seems similar to a problem in January with a previous update but I am no expert. I just know a lot of us suddenly can't sign into FaceTime or Message after updating.

If you start at page 18, you can see what we've tried. I also suggest calling AppleCare so they know how widespread this actually is and they can help when they finally fix this. Pretty sure it's a problem with AppleIDs, my AppleID won't work on my iPad Mini 3for FaceTime or Messages, but my friend's AppleID works on my IPad for FaceTime and Messages.

imessage and Facetime sign in activation error iPad ios8.1.2

I am having the same problem.on my new ipad mini3 with ios8.3....spoke to Apple who are saying my ISP is the problem....clearly not.....how do we find out if they are doing anything about it.....do they care ??

They tried telling me that too. It was my ISP or network. I replied with the fact that before calling them I tried at the Apple Store on their network.

Mine started working last night. Did they tweak something? Did I try just as my iPad's internal clock was just close enough to server time to validate? I have no idea!

But I hope you try using it on another network like at the Apple Store and then call them back. Good luck!

Mine still not working

TThat is very interesting...did they give any time scale for the patch or update

Many have had this problem and there is detail discussion in the thread pointed out by 'shana above.

In summary it seems to be a problem with recently created AppleID's and mostly new iPads and especially mini 3.

The best advice to date is:-

1) confirm you have internet connection

2) check date and time - in settings - make sure your device time is not too far adrift. - then try again

3) log it with the Apple support people - and then make sure it gets taken up the chain - they will want you to do lots of resets etc but unlikely to help. Referral to the Apple store is unlikely to solve it (but at least you can prove it's not the wifi connection). Get them to log the problem with 'engineering'. Say it is an Apple ID problem (so if not under AppleCare you won't need to pay).

4) Keep trying (daily) to validate - but don't expect a quick fix

5) Don't expect Apple care to tell you if/when it is fixed as they don't seem to want to advertise that it is a wide problem.

6) Join the discussion about your experience.

Good luck to everyone with the problem!

mini 3 iOS8.0 with iMessage and Facetime now working.

I don't understand how an update or patch will help, but I believe you that that's what they told you.

While my AppleID didn't work on my iPad Mini 3, at the same time it didn't work on anything else. I tried an iPod Touch(4 gen) and an iPod Mini 1.

My friend with the iPod Mini 1 could log in on my iPad Mini3

My husband's AppleID, which works on his iPod Touch *didn't* work on my iPad Mini3.

So, I don't know. All I know is it suddenly started working.

Managed to sign in to the communities page with my Apple ID along with everything else........just not FaceTime or iMessage!!!!

this is obviously a major software issue that needs to be addressed. This is my first Apple purchase since decided to move away from android....one of the main reasons being FaceTime!!! 4 days in...not a great start!!!!!

come on Apple sort it out

Exactly the same thing has happened to me, imessage and FaceTime not working, everything else is fine. I have read loads of posts and comments on how Apple have blamed the wifi connection, but all my other devices are working perfectly.

Think we need a fix soon.

Exactly the same problem with me. I have tried different iCloud logins and they work everywhere else but on imessage and on FaceTime. This is my first Apple iPad and never thought I was going to have this type of primary issue.

They tried to blame my wifi network too till I told them it didn't work at the Apple Store either!

I think there are multiple issues causing this. Or combinatons of issues. An AppleID issue combined with a time issue? I don't know. Solutions that work for some people don't work for others.

Some people can sign into FaceTime/iMessage on all their devices except their iPad Mini 3. (or Air) Other people can't log in to FaceTime/iMessage on any device, and a third group can log into any device, even if others can't.

So it can't be totally a device problem or you wouldn't have some people able to log in.

People are saying it happened to them right after installing 8.2 or 8.3. I had it happen after I installed 8.2 but not instantly so I don''t know. Mine suddenly started working after a month of dealing with AppleCare and they won't respond to me anymore so I don't know if they did anything.

Hi, exactly same problem here. Facetime and Messages in ipad Mini 3 worked for 10 minutes then it stopped working. No way to log in on Facetime. I called AppleCare and they said the would escalate the problem to engineering. Bought the ipad for my brother, who lives abroad, specially to use video calls with facetime. So DISAPPOINTING!.

We need a solution asap, please.