When y'all transport messages from your iPhone, some display in blue bubbling while others appear in green bubbling. The blue messages use iMessage, Apple tree'south proprietary messaging service, while the greens are standard SMS or MMS messages. If you lot turn iMessage off, all your messages transport as standard messages and display in light-green.

So what if yous didn't turn off iMessage, but your messages all display in green anyway? This is a problem with iMessage not working, and Apple tree doesn't exactly make it easy to figure out what's going wrong.

iMessage Not Working? Make Sure Y'all Actually Have a Problem

Before you assume the worst, information technology can't injure to examine the problem. Are you sure iMessage isn't working with everyone, or is it but not working when you message 1 contact?

Try sending iMessages to a few different people who you know apply iMessage to notice out if it works for any of them.

If you're having trouble with iMessage when sending letters to a single contact, the problem is probably on their end. On the other paw, if iMessage isn't working with whatever of your contacts, and y'all know they're using iMessage, the trouble is probably happening with your device.

Ship a Exam Message (or 2)

If you oasis't already, try sending a message to a friend or family fellow member y'all know uses iMessage. If iMessage doesn't work with them, attempt contacting another person that you know uses iMessage. This volition help yous figure out if the problem is on your device.

You may non have multiple contacts you tin can check with if near of your friends use Android. In this case, if you accept multiple devices using iMessage, endeavor sending messages with each. That way you can see if iMessage works on your Mac simply not your iPhone, for instance.

If iMessage is working on your iPhone but your messages aren't delivering, this is another bailiwick entirely. Instead, read our guide to fixing "iMessage Not Delivered" on your iPhone.

Make Sure iMessage Is Configured Correctly

Even though you accept iMessage enabled, you may not have it enabled for a specific number. This is easy to bank check. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings and curlicue down to Messages. It sounds obvious, but make sure the iMessage slider is enabled here. So tap on Transport & Receive.

Here y'all'll meet the phone numbers and email addresses you lot can associate with iMessage. Make sure all the numbers and email addresses yous want to use are enabled.

On a Mac, open the Messages app. From the menu bar, select Messages > Preferences, then go to the iMessage tab. Make sure any number or email addresses you want to use with iMessage are enabled here.

If you're having problems on multiple devices, echo these steps on whatever device yous're having problems with.

Try Different Ship & Receive Options

If iMessage is still not working on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, try using different options in the Send & Receive settings. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Letters > Ship & Receive. On a Mac, open Messages and go to Messages > Preferences iMessage.

From this screen, you should see all the phone numbers and electronic mail addresses linked to your Apple tree ID account. Endeavour enabling or disabling different options to see if any combinations make iMessage start working once more.

In general, information technology's as well best to choose to Start New Conversations From your mobile number, if y'all're using an iPhone.

Restart iMessage and Reboot Your Device

On your Mac, you likely finish up rebooting about once a calendar week, simply this is less common on an iPhone or iPad. A reboot alone can aid, just there's some other step y'all'll want to have to resolve iMessage problems. You'll want to plow off iMessage, reboot, then turn it back on.

On an iPhone or iPad, launch Settings, then scroll down to Messages. The iMessage toggle is located near the elevation of the screen. Turn it off, reboot your device, then turn it back on using the aforementioned method.

On a Mac, launch the Messages app and select Messages > Preferences from the menu bar. Go to the iMessage tab, and under your Apple ID, uncheck Enable Messages in iCloud. Reboot your Mac, and so plow this setting dorsum on.

Send and Receive iMessage options on Mac

To be extra thorough, you may want to do this for every device you utilize with iMessage.

Sign Out and Back In to iMessage

This is another method that is and then simple it can't hurt to try: log out of iMessage, then log dorsum in.

On an iPhone or iPad, open up the Settings app and scroll down to Messages. Here, tap Send & Receive. From this menu, tap on your Apple tree ID at the bottom of the screen. In the dialog that pops up, tap Sign Out.

After you sign out, tap on Employ your Apple ID for iMessage. In the dialog that pops upwardly, it will show your Apple ID and ask if you lot desire to log in with that. Tap Sign In to log in with that ID.

On a Mac, open the Messages app. Become to Messages > Preferences from the menu bar, and then cull the iMessage tab. Click on Sign Out, and then click the button also labeled Sign Out. You'll immediately see a login screen, with your Apple ID electronic mail address already entered. Enter your password, then choose Next.

Signing out of iMessage on a Mac

Exam Your Internet Connection

Unlike regular texts, iMessages ship over the net. So you demand to have a working Wi-Fi connection or skilful cell reception with available mobile data to use iMessages. Open a web browser and try loading a new webpage to test your internet connectedness.

If you can't get online, that will explain why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone or Mac. Try connecting to a unlike Wi-Fi network or check how much mobile information you've got left.

Strangely, iMessage doesn't always permit you lot activate the service over Wi-Fi. So if you're trying to employ iMessage for the get-go time but can't get information technology working at all, try disabling Wi-Fi temporarily and activate iMessage on your iPhone over cellular information instead.

Reset Network Settings

This is an iOS-only pick, and worth trying if iMessage even so isn't working after trying the higher up fixes. Resetting your network settings is a fix for several iPhone and iPad issues, and tin can oftentimes fix iMessage-related problems.

Launch Settings, and so gyre downwardly and select Full general. Here, scroll again and select Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom of the screen. And so tap on Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Don't worry about losing whatever data; this will only reset network settings. All apps and files on your iPhone or iPad will remain untouched. Nevertheless, your phone will forget saved Wi-Fi networks, so you'll need to enter their passwords once more.

Other Possible iMessage Fixes Worth Trying

There are a few other possible fixes yous can endeavour when iMessage is not working. If you're not receiving iMessages on a certain device, 1 simple tip is to endeavour sending a bulletin from that device. This is something that several Mac and iOS users on the internet have reported working for them. It might audio foreign, but it's worth a effort.

You should likewise visit Apple tree's System Condition website to make sure iMessage isn't downwardly for everyone. Make sure there'southward a green circle next to iMessage. If in that location's anything else, it means Apple is experiencing technical issues; yous'll demand to await for Apple's technicians to set up it.

Checking the Apple System Status.

Another possible fix is to bank check if a macOS or iOS update is available. This is peculiarly truthful if you've recently updated. Apple issues updates to better your device and ready bugs, but these updates can sometimes introduce new bugs. If this is the case, Apple may take already issued a new update to set up it.

Finally, if nothing else works, you can attempt contacting Apple Support. They may have options beyond what we've compiled hither.

Having Trouble With Regular Text Messages Too?

Hopefully, 1 of the above fixes got iMessages working again on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you're having the problem on multiple devices, y'all'll need to repeat the footstep that worked on every device. If that doesn't help, hopefully another 1 of the steps volition.

What if your standard SMS or MMS messages aren't working? Fortunately, we accept some fixes for that equally well.

iPhone Won't Ship Text Messages? ten Tips and Fixes

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