I cannot login to iMessage on my iMac and haven't been able to since November. The message I get is: Could not sign in to iMessage. The user name or password was incorrect. Try again. I have not changed my login details and use my login details to login to my iCloud account all the time without issues. For some reason iMessage on my mac refuses to log me in.
Can anybody please help me fix this as it is really frustrating me. Thanks.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)
Hi erahi,
Thank you for contributing to the Apple Support Communities.
It looks like you can't sign in to iMessage on your Mac. You can find some troubleshooting steps for this situation in the Support article Get help signing in to Messages, FaceTime, and Game Center.
Sincerely.
Hi,
1) Using the Apple Icon Menu > About this Mac > Overview tab can you see the Serial Number listed near the bottom ?
2) In Applications/Utilities open Keychain Access and then set the top left list to "Login" and the bottom left to "Passwords" then on the right can up find the IDS: YourAppleID-Auth Token item ? (YourAppleID should be the email you are using for Messages and the iMessages account)
3) Try a NVRAM reset. How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
Any changes ?
4) Use either the Guest account or create a Mac User Account (System Preferences > Users and Groups) and test messages there using the same details.
Does it work in the other Mac User Account ?
5) Try a Safe Boot
Does Messages work there fro the iMessages account ?
If it does Restart normally.
6) IF 2) is present and 3) and 5) have not helped then delete 2) and restart Messages.
Does the IDS item reappear ?
If none of these work but the Serial Number is present you will need to Contact Apple Support and explain that you have an issue with an Apple ID in relation to your Mac using it in iMessages.
The people who answer the phone are Level 1 responders and tend to be using a script. (they are working to solve Hardware and Software issues for Apple Care users)
Apple ID issues are free to fix.
Ask to speak to someone higher.
Some Level 2 are aware of the problem and may be able to reset the iMessages Server for your ID.
It is the Serial Number that make the use of the Apple ID device specific.
It was added (the use of the Serial Number) as a security feature but it seems in some cases it gets triggered and you then cannot login.
It needs a reset at the iMessages servers.
More commonly recently it has been passed over to the engineers and reset can be as long as 24 hours.
The Engineers are still trying to find out why this happens.
You are likely to be asked to jump through many hoops and data grabbing exercises along the way.
Stop short of doing a Reinstall (or Upgrade/Update to a later version).
Insist, Politely, that the server is reset.
If the Serial Number is missing from your Mac you will need to visit an APple Store and have it put back.
It often gets missed when the Logic Board is replaced.
9:23 pm Tuesday; March 29, 2016
Thank you Ralph! It's been solved.
I had telephoned Apple Support after trying out all your previous suggestions. After some time on the phone, I was asked to sign out of FaceTime and sign back in. When this happened, strangely enough, I was automatically logged into iMessage. The Apple Support rep told me that there were issues with my Keychain Access file (not related to the keychain app in utilities).
Hi,
for the
Points
Odd the App is called Keychain Access in /Applications/Utilities
It can however see several Keychains including the iCloud one which is not on the computer
Good to hear it is fixed though.
7:58 pm Monday; April 4, 2016
I was having the same problem. Very frustrating, but I did find a solution. Just go to the App Store and install WhatsApp Desktop. Much better : )
Can't Login to iMessage
