Theatwar
Level 1 (20 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Unable to sign into iMessage after El Capitan upgrade

Hello,

 

I'm running OS X 10.11 on a Mac Pro (Mid 2010, 2x2.66 GHz with 64 GB RAM).

 

I upgraded to El Capitan using Software Update, and ever since I've been unable to sign in with my Apple ID to activate iMessage. All of the folks I used to be able to chat with (and whose chat conversations were synced with my iPhone) now have a "-------(phone number)------- is not registered with iMessage" when I click on their names.

 

When I try to sign in with my Apple ID, I get the following alert:

 

"Could not sign in to iMessage. An error occurred during activation. Try again.". After clicking "OK", a message appears in red underneath the Apple ID sign in page: l"An error occurred during authentication."

 

Things I have already tried, to no avail:

 

1. Quit out of Messages, reset my computer's NVRAM, booted up in Safe Mode, log onto Messages, reboot into Normal Mode -- this was a solution posted in:

 

Can't log in to iMessage on El Capitan

 

...but sadly it did not work for me.

 

2. Quit out of Messages, moved all "com.apple.iChat", "com.apple.imagent", and "com.apple.imservice" preferences to a new folder on desktop, then restarted Messages and tried to log in again -- also failed.

 

Would appreciate any tips to restore my ability to log into iMessage with my Apple ID!

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 12:07 AM

by Pete Collins,Solvedanswer
Pete Collins Pete Collins
Level 1 (10 points)
A:

Strangely, after doing this again today, messaging now works and my login issues are gone.

 

I had actually done this early on to no effect.  Today, magic!

 

Thanks!

Posted on Oct 13, 2015 9:51 AM

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Theatwar

Q: Unable to sign into iMessage after El Capitan upgrade

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  • by mfdamfda,

    mfdamfda mfdamfda Oct 9, 2015 9:14 AM in response to conceptDawg3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 9, 2015 9:14 AM in response to conceptDawg3

    I have the same problem after upgrading to El Captain. iMessage on my macbook with OSX Yosemite and also on iPhone works fine.

  • by JeramiP,

    JeramiP JeramiP Oct 9, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 9, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Theatwar

    Same issue. Was working, restarted with a PRAM reset (to fix my audio problem with El Capitan) and Message stopped working.

  • by Theatwar,

    Theatwar Theatwar Oct 9, 2015 2:25 PM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 9, 2015 2:25 PM in response to Theatwar

    Thanks everyone for writing in. Hate that this is happening to other users, but glad to know I'm not the only one dealing with this problem.

     

    So far I've been unable to find a solution. Re-installing El Capitan does not fix the issue.

     

    I'm not getting "Please sign into iCloud" warnings anymore, but there is an issue I'm having with Keychain Access that may or may not be related to my issue signing into Messages.

     

    When I highlight my unlocked "login" keychain in the upper left hand panel inside Keychain Access and attempt to run "Keychain First Aid", I get a window that has my User Name (editable) and password (but with no box to enter password):

     

    keychainfirstaid_01.jpg

     

    If I run Keychain First Aid, the keychain locks and I get this message: "Keychain can't be unlocked automatically. Please attempt to unlock ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain from Keychain Access.":

     

    keychainfirstaid_02.jpg

     

    But before running Keychain First Aid, the keychain was unlocked -- and once inside Keychain First Aid, there's no way for me to enter a password, as there is no box present for me to type it in.

     

    Just curious if anyone else who's having trouble using iCloud to activate iMessages is also having this problem with their keychains, and, of course, if any power users have tips for fixing whatever is going on with my Keychain (again, no idea if the keychain issue I'm having is related to my iMessage nightmare.)

  • by Che-Wei,

    Che-Wei Che-Wei Oct 10, 2015 12:37 AM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 12:37 AM in response to Theatwar

    I have same problem here. How did u solve the iCloud log-in issue?

  • by Che-Wei,Helpful

    Che-Wei Che-Wei Oct 10, 2015 12:47 AM in response to Che-Wei
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 12:47 AM in response to Che-Wei

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    This solved my problem!

  • by New World Man,

    New World Man New World Man Oct 11, 2015 5:31 PM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 5:31 PM in response to Theatwar

    I have the same problem with one of my Mac Pro machines.  Was running public beta El Capitan on a separate hard drive and all was fine until upgraded to beta GM release.  Booted into Yosemite installed on separate hard drive, which had no issues, and suddenly had the same problem.  Upgraded Yosemite to El Capitan when it was released September 30th and still had same problem.  Upgraded a brand new Mac Mini to El Capitan and lo and behold same problem.  I have another Mac Pro which will NOT be upgraded until Apple figures this out.  Everything on iPhone and iPad works fine as far as Messages and iMessages.  I've tried all these solutions to no avail.

  • by Che-Wei,

    Che-Wei Che-Wei Oct 11, 2015 5:52 PM in response to New World Man
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 5:52 PM in response to New World Man

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

    tried this?

  • by Theatwar,

    Theatwar Theatwar Oct 11, 2015 7:30 PM in response to Che-Wei
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 11, 2015 7:30 PM in response to Che-Wei

    Unfortunately, resetting the NVRAM does not solve the issue. But thanks for the suggestion!

     

    (EDIT: It may have solved my iCloud log in issue -- but not the Keychain or iMessages issue.)

  • by Pete Collins,

    Pete Collins Pete Collins Oct 12, 2015 9:10 AM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 9:10 AM in response to Theatwar

    All:

     

    Same issues as listed here since El Capitan: Works fine on iPhone. Works fine on iPad. Works fine on my Macbook Pro (upgraded to EC).  Bombs on my Mac Pro tower (upgraded to EC).  Same account all four places.

     

    Tried logging out of all and resetting iCloud password.

     

    Tried much of what is listed here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/general-help/110471-how-fix-imessage.html#TOP3.3

     

    Brian damage...

  • by Theatwar,

    Theatwar Theatwar Oct 12, 2015 1:27 PM in response to Pete Collins
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2015 1:27 PM in response to Pete Collins

    Sounds like it might be a Mac Pro-only issue. I have a mid-2010 tower.

     

    Out of curiosity, does your login Keychain function correctly? I'm having trouble entering my password when I run Keychain First Aid and I'm wondering if it is related to the iMessage issue.

  • by Pete Collins,

    Pete Collins Pete Collins Oct 12, 2015 2:01 PM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 2:01 PM in response to Theatwar


    The login keychain does seem to work fine (though it does throw a few errors when trying to repair (can't unlock automatically and unable to change password), but it finds no problems and says Repair Completed.

     

    For giggles, I tried "reset My Default Keychain", but still no joy for Messaging (though icloud and facetime continue to login just fine).

  • by Theatwar,

    Theatwar Theatwar Oct 12, 2015 3:00 PM in response to Pete Collins
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2015 3:00 PM in response to Pete Collins

    Same here. I can't enter a password. When I restart, my login keychain and iCloud Keychain stay unlocked, but I have to unlock my [local username] keychain every time -- it doesn't stay unlocked on restart. I have a feeling messed up keychains are somehow related to the iMessage issue, but admittedly I'm probably just grasping at straws.

  • by shojrenrag,Helpful

    shojrenrag shojrenrag Oct 13, 2015 6:22 AM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 6:22 AM in response to Theatwar

    It sounds like you need to reset your NVRAM.


    Reboot while holding command-option-P-R until you hear a second chime. I was having this same issue after upgrading to El Capitan and this solved my issue.

  • by Kristian 73,Helpful

    Kristian 73 Kristian 73 Oct 13, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Theatwar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Theatwar

    After reset the NVRAM iMessage and find my mac work!

    I have to do this two times.

     

    Reboot while holding command-option-P-R until you hear a second chime.

  • by Pete Collins,Solvedanswer

    Pete Collins Pete Collins Oct 13, 2015 9:51 AM in response to Kristian 73
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 13, 2015 9:51 AM in response to Kristian 73

    Strangely, after doing this again today, messaging now works and my login issues are gone.

     

    I had actually done this early on to no effect.  Today, magic!

     

    Thanks!

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