Late '11 Macbook Pro iMessage won't sign in

Question

Level 1

11 points

Late '11 Macbook Pro iMessage won't sign in

As of 2 days ago, iMessage on my Late 2011 Macbook Pro running 10.11.6 won't sign in. I keep getting "An error occurred during activation. Tray again." message. I have signed out of both my iPad and iPhone and messed with making sure the time zone is correct. I have messed around with deleting a couple of supposedly related .plist files that I found in suggestions here on the boards.

My iMessage still remains to work just fine on my iPhone and iPad. I was using iMessage fine on my mac until I noticed my responses to messages were only going out as SMS and not as iMessage. But the responses back from the other person came in as iMessage. I tried signing out thinking that might help and now I can't sign back in. I am getting very frustrated with this. This is also affecting FaceTime on my Mac, I get the same error message but FaceTime still works fine on my iPhone and iPad.

OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Jul 22, 2016 6:19 AM

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Answer 1

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Jul 22, 2016 8:39 AM in response to Ben824

sometimes this helps:

log out of iCloud, wait 1 minute, then login again.

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Answer 2

Ben824 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 22, 2016 4:00 PM in response to Lexiepex

I tried that and it did not change anything, still can't login

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Answer 3

Ben824 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 25, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Ben824

Still haven't had any luck yet

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Answer 4

Jul 25, 2016 3:44 PM in response to Ben824

I have an identical problem. Anyone have any thoughts?

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Answer 5

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Jul 26, 2016 4:18 AM in response to Ben824

Can you make a screen shot of all settings in Messages? or do you want to see mine?

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Answer 6

Ben824 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 27, 2016 10:26 AM in response to Ben824

I tried making a new iCloud account just to see if it would let me sign in from another account and it was a no go. I got the same message.

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Answer 7

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Jul 27, 2016 5:37 PM in response to Ben824

Messages – Can’t log in

Messages - Error Processing Registration

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Answer 8

Jul 28, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Ben824

I have this same exact issue - tried all of the suggestions that I found online. Cleared NVRAM multiple times, tried logging in via safe mode, logged out of all icloud accounts and imessage on both the mac and iphone, I have a serial number assigned to my mac, but nothing works. Same message as yours everytime.

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Answer 9

Jul 28, 2016 12:03 PM in response to Ben824

Have you tried logging in to iCloud on the web, going into settings and telling it to remove that device completely from iCloud as if you lost/sold it?

Then you can re-login and re-activate - I had this happen once when upgrading a MacBook of roughly the same vintage.

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Answer 10

Jul 28, 2016 12:10 PM in response to Ben824

I solved the problem, but the only way is to go through tech support. My computer was somehow "blocked" or blacklisted on the iCloud account. I didn't do anything strange to have this happen - iMessage worked for months, then just stopped. Seems like some sort of back-end problem.

Start with the online chat. They will ask you to do a whole bunch of unhelpful stuff, then they'll escalate you to the second tier (who will call you on the phone), and then the "Engineering team" has to take over behind the scenes and tinker with your account to remove the block.

I don't think any amount of logging out of this or restarting that will help. Hope this helps.

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Answer 11

Jul 28, 2016 12:13 PM in response to Ruprick the Monkey Boy

I just tried this, thanks, but it was a no go for me... I appreciate the idea, though.

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Answer 12

Jul 28, 2016 12:23 PM in response to pawwright

I really think the only way is through tech support to have them remove the server-side block. If that works, I'd love it if you reported back to let me know if yours was the same problem.

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Answer 13

Ben824 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 28, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Ben824

Thanks for all the tips guys! I think I am going to give up attempt to solve this DIY. I was considering just making an Apple Genius Bar appointment for my next off day and letting the Pros sort this one out but may do over the phone too.

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Answer 14

Jul 28, 2016 3:06 PM in response to pistolplc

Well, I called in and was transferred 4 times, I finally had to hang up as I had to run (38 minutes and counting).... the last person I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about, so was being transferred at that time. Will try again tomorrow.

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Answer 15

Jul 28, 2016 3:10 PM in response to pawwright

That's a pain. I would suggest starting out with the chat support. You can do it while Netflixing...

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