iMessage won't turn on. Says I have to connect to Wi-Fi or turn on my cellular data. I have tried both WiFi and data.

iMessages work through Wi-Fi. Try the steps in this Apple article. Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection as that may be your problem. Also try it at another location to eliminate Wi-Fi issues.

If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime - Apple Support

elcpu wrote:

iMessages work through Wi-Fi. Try the steps in this Apple article. Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection as that may be your problem. Also try it at another location to eliminate Wi-Fi issues.

If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime - Apple Support

I don't know if you meant it to sound as if iMessage only works over WiFi but I want to make sure that the OP understands it works over either Wifi or cellular data. 😉

Hi Meg, my bad. Thanks for clarifying. 🙂 I should have clearly remembered that as I have read this article a bunch of times.

Use Messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Unfortunately this brain gets confused from time to time (some would say often). Maybe I should start a new thread but since I "got you", was there a time when iMessages only worked through Wi-Fi? Also, I have a friend that has an iPhone, is on AT&T like me (oh oh) and while most of the time the messages come blue, i.e, iMessages, occasionally I get his messages as green or SMS. Ideas?

Thanks again... 🙂

elcpu wrote:

Unfortunately this brain gets confused from time to time (some would say often). Maybe I should start a new thread but since I "got you", was there a time when iMessages only worked through Wi-Fi? Also, I have a friend that has an iPhone, is on AT&T like me (oh oh) and while most of the time the messages come blue, i.e, iMessages, occasionally I get his messages as green or SMS. Ideas?

Thanks again... 🙂

To the best of my recall (my brain gets confused, too!), iMessage always worked over both WiFi or cellular unless you're using a device without cellular (e.g. iPod, iPad with WiFi only).

There are lots of reasons why a message might get sent over SMS on occasion. I friend of mine, also AT&T (though I'm not sure it matters) likes to text me on his way home from work. He takes public transportation. At points, when underground, he can get a regular voice signal but no data. So, everything goes green until he comes out of the tunnel, then they go back to blue. I turn off iMessage when I go to Canada as I have unlimited texts but very limited data. And, sometimes, just gremlins.

Is your WIFI connected to the internet? Maybe try to restart your phone, then try to reactivate iMessage. If your FaceTime works, I wouldn't mess with that.

Thanks.

elcpu wrote:

Thanks.

My pleasure.