HT201422: If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime

Learn about If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime
tonkalake

Q: Iphone does not even pick up my phone number to start iMessage activation

iMessage will not activate phone number.

 

Son's Phone

Reset, restored phone....still would not work. Replaced sim...will not work. I know the sms is being sent as my plan credit is being charged for every sms. Bought a new plan/new sim/different number....still did not work. Replaced iPhone 5c to iPhone 5S....still will not work. Opened new apple id....restore phone and still will not work. Did all troubleshooting requested by apple....and others....will not work.  Apple's defense...carrier issue, no carrier support for my country.

 

Wife's Phone

Was working perfectly. Backed up iPhone 5S. Brand New Iphone 6s set with with last back up from iPhone 5s. Imessage stays on waiting for activation....later says activation failed, try again. Number stays greyed out and in search mode. Before setting up iPhone 6S, logged into apple id and on contact information both email and phone number were visible. After setting up iPhone 6S with latest backup from 5S.....logged into apple id and number option was gone

 

My Phone

Iphone 6...working perfectly.....email and phone number option in iMessage.

 

All phones on same carrier, latest iOS 9.2

 

HELP!!!!!

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.2

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 5:20 PM

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Q: Iphone does not even pick up my phone number to start iMessage activation

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  • Helpful answers

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Dec 26, 2015 8:34 AM in response to tonkalake
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 26, 2015 8:34 AM in response to tonkalake

    If you have no problem to attach apple id and the problem is only with the phone number imessage activation, contact your carrier to verify proper forwarding of text message that Apple uses to attach your phone number to your apple id on their activation server.

  • by tonkalake,

    tonkalake tonkalake Dec 26, 2015 1:25 PM in response to fromsouth
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2015 1:25 PM in response to fromsouth

    Thanks for the input, I believed it was carrier issue as well, but I had visited them before and they said all is ok on their end. Guess I'll just have to revisit and see...after the holidays!

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Dec 26, 2015 1:39 PM in response to tonkalake
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 26, 2015 1:39 PM in response to tonkalake

    Call them instead, contact senior level of support and ask them to verify or investigate Apple message routing. They will know. Some of the carriers do not even support proper routing but all major do. Local guys can't check things like that in most cases. What also happens when the phones were on the same account and given down the line after upgrades, carrier may have wrong information for the line in their system, make sure they verify ICCID/IMEI number with your phone's info. If it is a major carrier like ATT and Verizon or Sprint in US and ICCID matches, ask them to reprovision your account. It takes a minute or two. Then try again to activate and allow to stay activating even for few hours. Good luck.