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Hi,
So I cannot log into iMessage on my MacBook Air.
My Apple ID is fine, I can log into iCloud and other services without problems but it is refusing to let me log into iMessage. I am doing the correct password and the correct email address, yet it always gives me a message like
this:
I can't figure out how to fix it.
Help?
Thanks,
Keegan
MacBook Air, macOS Sierra (10.12.2)
Ok, let's try something a little more technical (sorry, I don't know your level of experience). We're going to delete the Messages preference file that contains any previous account info.
1) Completely closing out Messages (either by Cmd + Q or up by the Apple menu click Messages > Quit Messages.
2) Open up Finder and browse to your home folder (where you see Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. and right-click in that white area and select "Show View Options." Check the box that says, "Show Library Folder" and then click the little red x to close out that small window. Now you should see a Library folder. Double-click on that to open it.
3) Look for a folder called "Preferences" and open it.
4) Browse for a file very specifically called "com.apple.imservice.ids.iMessage.plist"
Right-click on this and select "Move to Trash."
5) Close out this Finder window and then empty your trash.
6) Reopen Messages and try your credentials again.
Ok, let's try something a little more technical (sorry, I don't know your level of experience). We're going to delete the Messages preference file that contains any previous account info.
1) Completely closing out Messages (either by Cmd + Q or up by the Apple menu click Messages > Quit Messages.
2) Open up Finder and browse to your home folder (where you see Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. and right-click in that white area and select "Show View Options." Check the box that says, "Show Library Folder" and then click the little red x to close out that small window. Now you should see a Library folder. Double-click on that to open it.
3) Look for a folder called "Preferences" and open it.
4) Browse for a file very specifically called "com.apple.imservice.ids.iMessage.plist"
Right-click on this and select "Move to Trash."
5) Close out this Finder window and then empty your trash.
6) Reopen Messages and try your credentials again.
Messages - If you can‘t sign in to your iMessage account or FaceTime on your Mac
Have someone else attempt to sign in using their Apple ID. If they can successfully sign in and use Messages/FaceTime, it may be your Apple ID.Someone I know had this happen and I was able to sign in usingmy Apple ID. After a call to Apple Support and then being elevated to a tier 2 support person, it turned out it was a problem with their Apple ID. It took the software engineers 3-4 days to fix the problem. When calling Apple, make sure you tell them it is an Apple ID problem so you don't get charged.
There is a contact link.
Apple Support by e-mail or chat Select your device, Battery, Power and Charging, then Power adapter not working to get a chat option.
Ok. This sounds like an issue with either the iCloud accounts or something on the network. If both of you are able to log in to your accounts on iCloud.com in the web browser and access your calendar, email, Pages, etc. but just Messages and FaceTime don't work then it's unfortunately one of those two things as best as I can guess.
I would do two things: 1) Check with the iCloud Family account administrator (if that's not you) and see what they know. 2) Contact Apple ID Support for help with your accounts. Apple ID - Official Apple Support
Please post an update on what you find out here as I would like to know.
Thanks!
Hi Keegan,
Sorry you are having trouble with this. Have you logged in to iCloud under System Preferences (gear icon)? If you can successfully sign in there, then when you open Messages back up, it should have you up and running.
Ok. When things like this happen, it sometimes helps to be super particular. If you go to System Preferences > iCloud and look at the email address under the account name and then be sure it's the exact same as the one you use to sign in on the web (or copy/paste the email address you are using on the web). Then carefully type in that email address in the User Name field of Messages Accounts. If the password comes back incorrect in Messages, it sometimes helps to sign out on the web and sign back in typing your password.
Also, are you the only user on this Mac?
Okay, I've tried that before..
Just tried it again to be safe, still not working.
I have also tried being super specific about the email and password and I know 100% it was all correct.
I do have another user on this mac, but it's never used.
okay, yeah.
So I live in Mongolia... Have been for the past 8 years and iMessage has worked fine. Just flew to thailand for two weeks, came back and tried to get it to work. But nothing.
Also, just checked my Facetime. That isn't working either.
Wondering if there's something on the network that is blocking traffic for Messages/FaceTime? Assuming you are back at your home and on the same network and nothing to your knowledge has changed since your trip. Since both typically use your iCloud account, I wonder if other iCloud services are working? So... if under System Preferences > iCloud, you have Calendars selected, when you open iCal/Calendar, are your entries syncing up?
Also, if you haven't already tried it, go to Applications > Utilities and open up Console. Select "system.log" on the left and see what scrolls as you do things. You might want to completely close out of Messages and FaceTime before opening this to see if anything is triggered. And then try credentials again and see if anything shows up in Console when you get the error?
So just tried the Console thing, nothing shows up when I try to log into iMessage.
My family's iMessage and iCloud services are working fine. My younger sister's iMessage and FaceTime has the same problem though. This started about a month before going to Thailand apparently.
Hi,
Yes, I'm logged into iCloud in System Preferences.
If you're not previously aware of these plist files, I don't recommend deleting any other files in this directory, just FYI. lol
Ahah, I know my way around a computer pretty well 🙂
Okay, I've also tried this before.
Just didn't again though, still not working however.
Ok. To try to understand better how it became this way, what event happened? I'm assuming it was working fine and then something happened and then it wouldn't? Looking for clues...
What device is your sister using that Messages and FaceTime isn't working?
Her iPad and Computer apparently.
She's tried changing her password and logging in and out again multiple times.
I cannot sign into iMessage on my Mac
