burmajones

Q: Another iMessage/Facetime activation glitch?

My mid-2010 MacBook on El Capitan has stopped sending and receiving both SMS and iMessages, so I tried logging out and back in to troubleshoot. However, when I try to log back in I get the "an error occurred during activation." FaceTime is having the same issue. I see that this was a common glitch back in March, so I'm wondering if it's the same problem again, or something with my specific device. I (used to) use this feature a lot during the day and it would be nice to have it back again. So far, I've tried:

 

-Resetting PRAM

-Starting in safe mode

-signing out and back in on both my phone and computer

-completely signing out of iCloud on the computer

-Deleting com.apple.apsd.plist

-Using a different WiFi network

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Mid-2010 white body

Posted on Jun 24, 2016 11:35 AM

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Q: Another iMessage/Facetime activation glitch?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Jun 24, 2016 11:41 AM in response to burmajones
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 24, 2016 11:41 AM in response to burmajones

    De link the computer to the phone and then link it up again using Continuity

     

     

    Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

  • by burmajones,

    burmajones burmajones Jun 24, 2016 12:01 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 24, 2016 12:01 PM in response to ManSinha

    Thanks,

     

    I think I still need to be able to log in to iMessage to get the ball rolling. My phone doesn't even see that I have another device registered (I have no option for Message Forwarding in iOS settings)

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jun 24, 2016 12:22 PM in response to burmajones
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Jun 24, 2016 12:22 PM in response to burmajones

    This could be a complicated problem to solve, as there are many possible causes for it. Please test after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Back up all data before making any changes.

    Before proceeding, test on another network, if possible. That could be a public Wi-Fi hotspot, if your computer is portable, or a cellular network if you have a mobile device that can share its Internet connection. If you find that iMessage works on the other network, the problem is in your network or at your ISP, not in your computer.

    Step 1

    Check the status of the service. If the service is down, wait for it to come back up. There may be a localized outage, even if the status indicator is green.

    Step 2

    From the menu bar, select

               System Preferences... Date & Time Time Zone

    The nearest city to where you are should be selected on the map.

    Step 3

    Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime on all your Apple devices. Log out and log back in. Try again to sign in.

    Step 4

    Restart your router and your broadband device, if they're separate. You may have to skip this step if you don't control those devices.

    Step 5

    Follow these instructions to display the machine's serial number. If the number is missing or invalid according to this web form, take the machine to an Apple Store or other authorized service center to have the problem corrected.

    Step 6

    Take the steps suggested in this support article. If you don't understand some of the steps or can't carry them out, ask for guidance. Note especially that the email address associated with your Apple ID must be verified. If the address is in the obsolete domain mac.com, you'll have to change it.

    Step 7

    From the menu bar, select

               System Preferences... Network

    If the preference pane is locked, click the lock icon in the lower left corner and enter your password to unlock it. Then click the Advanced button and select the Proxies tab. If the box marked SOCKS Proxy is checked, uncheck it. You don’t need to change any other settings in the window. Click OK and then Apply. Test.

    The result may be that you can't connect to the Internet at all. Revert the change if that happens, or if iMessage still doesn't work. Remember that you must Apply any changes you make in the preference pane before they take effect.

    Step 8

    Select from the menu bar

               ▹ System Preferences… ▹ Flash Player Storage

    and click

              Block all sites from storing information on this computer

    Close the preference pane.

    Step 9

    Make sure you know the ID and password you use with iMessage. Launch the Keychain Access application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    Use the search box in the toolbar of the Keychain Access window to find and delete all items with "iMessage" or "com.apple.idms" in the name. Log out and log back in.

    Step 10

    Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”

    While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

    Test while logged in as Guest. After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

    *Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

    If iMessage worked in the guest account, stop here and post your results.

    Step 11

    Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem.

    Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

    Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound outputand Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

    Test while in safe mode. After testing, restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and test again.

    If iMessage worked in safe mode, but still doesn't work when you restart in "normal" mode, stop here and post your results.

    Step 12

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.apsd.plist

    Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

              Services Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)

    from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C. In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

    Step 13

    Reset the NVRAM.

    Step 14

    Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).

    Step 15

    Reinstall OS X.

    Step 16

    If none of the above steps resolves the issue, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or contact Apple Support. When you set up a support call, select "Apple ID" as the product you need help with, not the hardware model. That way, if you're not under AppleCare, you may be able to talk your way out of being charged for the call.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 24, 2016 12:24 PM in response to burmajones
    Level 9 (69,991 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 24, 2016 12:24 PM in response to burmajones
  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jun 24, 2016 12:33 PM in response to burmajones
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Jun 24, 2016 12:33 PM in response to burmajones

    Hi,

     

    In System Preferences > User and Groups either enable th Guest User or create a test Account.

     

    Log out of your regular Mac User Account and into Guest or the test Account and set up Messages and the iMessages Account with the Apple ID.

    If it does not work here it is likely the Account (Apple ID for the Mac's use only) has been blocked at the server.

     

    As a Check log back into your regular Mac User Account and use the Apple Icon Menu  > About this Mac.

    The Serial Number should be visible in the Overview tab.

     

    If it is missing you will need to have it put back (At and Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) )

    It can be missing if the logic/Mother board has been replaced.

     

    The following has been developed from replies to suggestions since OS X 10.8.2

    No-one has suggested that there is a faster way.

     

    At OS X 10.8.2 Messages was updated to version 7.0.1 and the Serial Number was used from then on for Device Specific Logins.

    That was when loads of people found their repairs were not completed properly.

     

    Since then there have been odd groups who have been effected at Upgrades and Updates.

    Upgrading to El Capitan and then Updating to 10.11.3 seem to be the triggers most can identify.

     

    There is only one fix.

    You have to Contacts Apple Support and explain you have an Apple ID issue (Free to fix).

    The Level one people are script led and are trying to solve Apple Care issues.

    You are likely to have to ask to speak to someone higher.

     

    Level twos sometimes know about this and sometimes don't.

    They are still likely to want you to jump through hoops and try data gathering (Apple are still trying to find the cause).

     

    ANYTHING to do with reinstalling or changing to OS is not going to work.

    That includes Updates, Upgrades or Reinstalls.

     

    Insist they check the server (Some know how) and see if your Mac's Login with your Apple ID that you use in iMessages is blocked.

    Ask them to reset it.

    Judging by other people's posting back after this you can can have mixed fortunes at this point.

    At some point it may involve the Engineers and a reset that has been claimed in some post backs to take 24 hours to 5 days.

    The more critical to your functioning you can make it sound the more likely an earlier reset is going to take place.

     

     

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    8:33 pm      Friday; June 24, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)