I can't activate iMessage

Question

Level 1

8 points

I can't activate iMessage

Hy guys,

I received my iPhone 7 on Wednesday. So I'm waiting since Wednesday for iMessage to be activated!

I was talking to my mobile provider (Congstar) - they can't see any problem with my settings or anything else. But they had numerous calls from other iPhone7 Users with the same problem.

So I did call the Apple support twice. No result. I even set back my Apple password on iForgot - still no solution. Of course i did reset my network settings - problem still exists.

Several restarts and of course every step, wich is named on the support pages - still no activation.

Does anybody know, how to solve that problem?

Kind regards

Andreas

iPhone 7, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 11:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

norm123

Community Specialist

Sep 27, 2016 6:24 AM in response to schimi73

Hey there, schimi73!

Welcome to Apple Support Communities, and congratulations on your new iPhone 7!

I see that you are having an issue with activating iMessage. I use iMessage a lot on my iPhone. So, I know how important it is that we get this issue resolved.

Please try the troubleshooting steps in If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime , specifically, this section:

Check your device settings

Make sure that you’re connected to a cellular data or Wi-Fi network. If you're using an iPhone, you'll need SMS messaging to activate your phone number with iMessage and FaceTime. Depending on your carrier, you might be charged for this SMS.

Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure that you've set up your time zone correctly.

Turn off and restart iMessage and FaceTime

Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.

Go to Settings > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.

Restart your device.

Turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.

Still not activated after a day?

It might take up to 24 hours to activate iMessage and FaceTime. If the issue continues after 24 hours, follow these steps:

Make sure that your device has the latest version of iOS.

If you're using an iPhone, contact your carrier to make sure that you can receive SMS messages.

Contact Apple Support.

Get more help

You can also use your email address with iMessage and FaceTime. If you have issues verifying your email address, learn what to do:

Your email address is already in use.

You didn't receive the verification email.

Best Regards.

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Answer 2

FelipeV

Level 6

12,099 points

Sep 27, 2016 6:39 AM in response to schimi73

Congstar is not an official iPhone carrier. "Unofficial" iPhone carries sometimes charge for activation as it requires that an SMS message be sent to a UK number. This happens when turning on iMessage/Facetime activation. Make sure your account is able to send international SMS.

You can, however activate iMessage with your AppleID. Make sure you are connected to a wifi network and make sure you select "Use iCloud/Apple ID with message" in the Message settings.

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Answer 3

schimi73 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 27, 2016 7:02 AM in response to norm123

Hallo norm123,

as mentioned in my post, I already tried every step from the official support site

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Answer 4

schimi73 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 27, 2016 7:04 AM in response to FelipeV

Hallo Felipe,

as mentioned in my post, I already did contact congstar and there is no restriction for sending international SMS

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Answer 5

FelipeV

Level 6

12,099 points

Sep 27, 2016 11:48 AM in response to schimi73

You did not mention that. You ambiguously stated that they said that "<there were> no problems with my settings or anything else..."

It is not the first case that this has happened and where a carrier washes its hands and it turns out that the problem WAS at their end. In their view, it is always the fault of the iPhone. I would try and contact someone in congstar support who can escalate the problem.

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Answer 6

schimi73 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 27, 2016 12:15 PM in response to FelipeV

Yes, I will go on contacting congstar. But I found several forums, where other users have the same problem. Mainly with Telekom, congstar and MobilcomDebitel.

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Answer 7

FelipeV

Level 6

12,099 points

Sep 27, 2016 12:37 PM in response to schimi73

schimi73 wrote:

Yes, I will go on contacting congstar. But I found several forums, where other users have the same problem. Mainly with Telekom, congstar and MobilcomDebitel.

That should tell you something, since two of the above are not official iPhone carriers, shouldn't it?

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