iMessage not accepting new Apple password

Question

Level 1

68 points

iMessage not accepting new Apple password

Today, for unrelated reasons, I reset the password on my Apple account. I made sure that I updated the Apple password on my El Capitan Macbook and on my iPhone 6s.

The next time I opened the Messages app (i.e. iMessage) on the Macbook, it prompted me to enter my Apple username and password. When I entered the username and new password, it grayed out for a moment, then just came back to the same screen with the username/password challenge.

I tried entering the old password, but an error message came up in red warning that the password was incorrect.

I've tried this several times. After I enter the correct new password, why doesn't Messages let me proceed?

Posted on Sep 16, 2016 3:41 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 16, 2016 3:52 PM in response to FrankO23

Do you use Two Step Authorization? If you do, then you have to generate an App-specific password to sign in to Messages.

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 2

FrankO23 Author

Level 1

68 points

Sep 16, 2016 4:30 PM in response to gail from maine

Thanks for the idea. In my case, however, two-factor authentication is not turned on.

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Answer 3

Sep 16, 2016 7:30 PM in response to FrankO23

Bummer 😟

Well, I just went in and signed out of Messages on my Mac, then tried to sign back in (no password change or anything). Because I have Two-Step Verification, I put my App-Specific password in, and it said it was invalid. Then I went into my Apple ID and created a new App-Specific password, cut and pasted it into my password field on Messages, and it still said it was invalid. Restarted the Mac, tried again....no luck.

So, I'd say there is a problem right now with Messages, not us. I'm going to wait until the morning to try again. I'll post back to let you know the outcome! We're both in the same boat now, brother! 🙂

Cheers,

GB

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Answer 4

Sep 18, 2016 12:41 PM in response to gail from maine

Hi people,

I looked here http://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ as I did not post yesterday.

I am currently logged in to iMessages today and I cannot see back far enough in the Status page to see if there was an issue.

I have also Logged the account Out and back in again without any issue.

8:41 pm Sunday; September 18, 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)

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Answer 5

FrankO23 Author

Level 1

68 points

Sep 18, 2016 2:56 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks for the update. I'm now able to open and use the Messages app on my MacBook without it prompting me for a password. So whatever the glitch was seems to have resolved itself.

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Answer 6

Sep 19, 2016 11:11 AM in response to FrankO23

Good to hear.

Thanks for letting us know.

7:11 pm Monday; September 19, 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