Help! Can no longer access Messages on desktop

Question

Level 1

19 points

Help! Can no longer access Messages on desktop

I can no longer log into Messages app on MacBook Pro - after entering the password for my Apple ID, I get the following error:

Could not sign in to iMessage.

An error occurred during activation. Try again.

When skipping the log in, I can still see my old message threads, but all recipient names are red.

And I cannot even delete the "Apple ID (inactive)" in Preferences, since the delete button is greyed out.

Is there any other place where I should be looking to edit the account?

Messages clearly remembers my Apple ID, just doesn't let me log on any longer ...

[ note: Messages still works on a second MacBook Pro running 10.10.5, using another Apple ID ]

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 12:17 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 15, 2017 11:20 AM in response to J and F__

Hi,

Now this might seems a bizarre place to start but check System Preferences > Date and Time particularly the Time Zone.

This will upset the sync of your Contacts apps and may impinge on Mail and other internet capable apps.

Once the Date and Time are correct check the System Preferences > iCloud options again.

If required turn the Photos Bit Off (Shut down/Restart) then turn in ON again.

7:20 pm Sunday; January 15, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

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Answer 2

Jan 16, 2017 11:41 AM in response to J and F__

Hi,

I would check the Calendars on each device and see if they are saying the same date.

In Photos do you actually get the option to send/Share via iMessages ?

What method do you normally use ?

7:41 pm Monday; January 16, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 16, 2017 12:59 PM in response to J and F__

Humm,

That is a function I have not tried.

Checked Photos.

Found an Album.

Told it to Share to iCloud.

Checked System Preferences > iCloud > Photos was allowing iCloud Sharing.

Couldn't see how to share to an email address within the app.

Went to www.icloud.com and logged in.

Went to Photos.

Album not showing (no hint of uploading)

"app" crashed twice asking me to send details to Apple.

Possibly this is a server issue.

Possibly I have not done something correctly.

If I select some items that do appear I get this:

The Mail bit says it is unavailable and that the size is too big.

Whilst Scrolling I got this for a third time:-

Not sure I am going to be any help on this.

8:59 pm Monday; January 16, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

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Answer 4

Jan 17, 2017 12:54 PM in response to J and F__

Hi,

In Photos is seems to be File Menu > Share (to) > iCloud Sharing.

This does (sometimes) show a panel to add a comment, select a Share name and add an email of someone.

I used a non Apple ID email.

As I had Photos Open I got this (I presume this was the cause)

I closed/Quit Photos but go the same error message.

If I go back to www.icloud.com and then choose Photos (expecting to see uploaded share) I only see my Photo Stream.

The "App" there also reported again it had crashed whilst I was scrolling.

I tried from my iPhone (try a different Device) and it reported the item was no longer shared when I clicked the link.

I opened Photos on the Mac again and checked the album was being shared (i also seem to add the same 27 pics to the same Share)

Initially my iPhone showed the same "Not Shared" message again but then showed my the 54 pic (27 x 2).

I tried again with another Event as they are called in Photos and shared it with my wife.

I have to use this People icon to make changes

If I mouse over the tooltip says "People".

Whilst I feel I am getting the grasp of this it does seem a little quirky at best.

However it does seem to pint to your issue being deeper and t does sound like time to raise that Support ticket again.

8:54 pm Tuesday; January 17, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

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Answer 5

Jan 18, 2017 12:06 PM in response to J and F__

I will pick up any new replies in this thread as I am subscribed to everything I post in.

8:06 pm Wednesday; January 18, 2017

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Sierra)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone 6 iOS 10.x and an iPad (2)

Reply

Answer 6

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 12, 2017 7:28 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, Happy New Year 2017!

I am reaching out on this thread again, since you were beyond supportive & your tips ultimately helped fix my iMessage / Apple ID issue last fall.

I just noticed a strange new behavior and was curious, if it could be related to the Apple ID issue (which started after returning from traveling abroad):

since returning from another trip abroad, I can now no longer share iCloud photos:

the recipients' name is listed with a question mark and the Resend Invitation features doesn't help.

The same issue applies to Calendar events.

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Answer 7

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 15, 2017 10:48 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, thanks for the leads!

Just checked Date & Time on the iPad (didn't travel with laptop):

it was set to Set Automatically & everything looked correct, but with Set Automatically turned off, the time zone switched to Iceland (last stopover on last trip).

Corrected Time Zone (& switched back to Set Automatically).

I already tried the iCloud Photo sign off/in on the laptop a couple of days ago and just did the same on the iPad, but problem persists.

*** one update: a shared photo album invite sent to a recipient's mobile number went out (which is not an option with Calendar events)

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Answer 8

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 16, 2017 12:12 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, thanks of the follow up - so highly appreciated!

I just confirmed correct date on all three devices using this Apple ID (laptop, iPad & iPhone)

And I can confirm that photos can still be shared via iMessage and Email.

The feature that is no longer working is to 'Share' photos via iCloud

- at least not when using the recipient's email address:

recipients will show in the iCloud Album Subscriber section (via OS iPhoto) and in the iCloud Album People tab (via iOS Photos) - but recipients' email addresses have a (?) next to it - and hitting Resend Invitation doesn't help.

iCloud sharing via email address was working up until end of last year

- and previously shared albums from that time can still be accessed by recipients.

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Answer 9

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 16, 2017 4:31 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

There are two ways to get to iCloud Sharing in iPhoto (& I am assuming it's similar in Photos)

Share a new iCloud album

select photos in Library > Share > iCloud > New Photo Stream ( + ) > add recipient's email address in To section of the pop up window

Share existing iCloud album

select iCloud album > Info > add recipient's email address to the Subscribers list OR to the People tab in iOS

(optional: select Subscribers Can Post)

Since the no-sharing problem also applies to Calendar, I am wondering if this may be a new symptom of last year's Apple ID issue?

I got all the way thru to Apple engineer support last time - maybe I should try to re-open the support ticket?

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Answer 10

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Jan 17, 2017 3:08 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Just left a message with the support team member of last year's Apple ID tech support ticket

- and crossing fingers to hear back ... rather than start another support level ordeal ; )

Thanks again for the support so far - I will definitely report back!

PS: just checked my iCloud online, same behavior here:

the platform seems to log only the photo stream, but none of the albums, shared or not.

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Answer 11

Aug 26, 2016 4:43 PM in response to J and F__

Hi,

The Bonjour and iMessages account cannot be deleted.

The iMessages can be Signed Out (or the account disabled by unticking the "Enable this account" box).

The Apple ID last used will sow but the password will be empty.

The Bonjour Account find "Buddies" on your LAN that are also using Messages or iChat with the Bonjour account enabled.

IF you either enable the Guest account or create another Mac User account (System Preferences > Users and Groups) and login to that does the iMessages account work there ?

(this will tell us if it is the computer (or possibly the Server end) or your Mac User Account).

8:43 pm Friday; August 26, 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)

Reply

Answer 12

J and F__ Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 26, 2016 4:50 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, thank you for some rather helpful hints & pointers - highly appreciated!

I logged in with a different Mac user account and also with a guest account

- still the same error message once I try to log into Messages.

I can log-in using another Apple ID though

- so apparently the app is still functioning.

One strange behavior:

switching back from the other Apple ID and putting in my user name and password

- for a split second I can actually see my logged in account window (listing my various email addresses & phone number) ... then it will switch back to the log-in window and the error message pops up again 😟

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