When you see the “iMessage Waiting for Activation” error on your iPhone, it can stop you from sending iMessages. Here are several solutions to help resolve this issue.
| Solution | Steps |
|---|---|
| 1. Check Network Connection | Make sure your device has a stable network connection, as iMessage activation needs an internet connection through Wi-Fi or cellular data. |
| 2. Enable and Disable Airplane Mode | Toggle Airplane Mode on and off. Go to Settings > Airplane Mode, turn it on, wait for a few seconds, and turn it off again. |
| 3. Restart Your iPhone | Power off your iPhone and then turn it back on. This can sometimes resolve temporary glitches affecting iMessage activation. |
| 4. Check Date and Time Settings | Go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Ensure that ‘Set Automatically‘ is enabled, allowing your iPhone to set the correct time, which is crucial for iMessage activation. |
| 5. Sign Out and Sign Back Into Apple ID | Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap on your Apple ID at the bottom and choose “Sign Out.” Restart your iPhone, then sign back in. |
| 6. Reset Network Settings | Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, as well as VPN and APN settings used for network connectivity. |
| 7. Update iOS | Check for an iOS update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. An updated version of iOS may resolve any bugs causing the activation issue. |
| 8. Contact Your Carrier | Sometimes the issue may be related to your carrier’s network. Contact your carrier to ensure that they support iMessage and that your account has no outages or restrictions. |
| 9. Contact Apple Support | If none of the above steps resolve the issue, there may be a deeper problem. Contact Apple Support for further assistance. |
Message app saying “Not Delivered” and “Force iMessage send as text Message” message status. The most common causes are,
Various factors can cause the “iMessage Waiting for Activation” error on an iPhone. Here’s a table listing the possible reasons for this issue:
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Network Connection Issues | iMessage activation requires a stable internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular data. Problems with connectivity can prevent activation. |
| Incorrect Date and Time Settings | If the date and time settings on your iPhone are incorrect, it can disrupt communication with Apple’s servers, thus affecting iMessage activation. |
| Carrier Restrictions | Some carriers may have restrictions that block iMessage functionality or issues with their network that prevent successful activation. |
| Apple ID Issues | Problems with your Apple ID, such as login issues or restrictions, can affect iMessage activation. |
| iOS Bugs or Glitches | Software bugs in the current iOS version on your device can interfere with the activation process. |
| SIM Card Issues | A malfunctioning or improperly seated SIM card can lead to activation failures, as iMessage is tied to your phone number and carrier network. |
| System Settings Error | Sometimes, system settings related to network, time, or configurations may become corrupted, impacting services like iMessage. |
The very first step to check the problem with iOS 18 is you should check that the iMessage is not working with a particular contact and if yes then the problem might be on the other end. Or else it is not working with any of your contacts then the problem is on your iPhone.
iMessage Activation takes too much time and Asking when I restart my iPhone, iMessage an error occurred during activation in simple English your phone iMessage won’t Activate after iOS 18 update. Let’s see straightforward fixes,
Valuable Solutions for iMessage waiting for Activation error after iOS 18 update
- You have enough balance to send a message from your iPhone to your Carrier Company. Otherwise, Free International SMS service enabled on your Active CDMA or GSM network. If not you can contact your Cellular or Carrier Company in your Country. iMessage is Carrier-Based if your Carrier is providing iMessage that it will easy to activate on your Mobile number otherwise the solution is the switch to the other Carrier company.
Note: When you activate iMessage on your mobile number, you will be charged a standard SMS rate.
- Many times iMessage waiting for activation error occurs due to Wi-Fi connectivity issues. So you should check your Wi-Fi network. if your Phone has weak Wi-Fi then change the Wi-Fi network and try again.
- iMessage Activation unsuccessful in the case of iMessage Down server due to under maintenance by the company. in this case, you should check iMessage System Status
- Check whether the SIM was inserted or Not. First, check your phone number listed in your Phone app. Otherwise, update your profile and number showing on the Phone app as a first contact. Go to the Settings app on iPhone > Phone > My Number—Enter your cell phone number. Go back to save.
Tip 1: Check Network Connection When iMessage Stuck on Waiting for Activation
Is your iOS 18 iMessage not sending from a Phone number? Then activate iMessage on your Apple ID as an Address. Go to the “Settings app” > “Messages” > “Send & Receive” > “Use Your Apple ID for iMessage.” Once you register Your Apple ID for iMessage, you can now send a free message using your Apple ID instead of your Mobile Number from other Apple devices.
Network on WiFi or Cellular disconnecting: iMessage entirely depends on the Wi-Fi network. Without a good network connection, you cannot send messages, or your carrier service will charge you. First, reboot the router if you’re using the internet through it. If it doesn’t work, then reset the network settings of the iPhone.
Step #1: Go to “Settings” and open “General”.
Step #2: Next, scroll down the screen Transfer or Reset iPhone and click on “Reset”.
Step 3: Select Reset Network Settings tap Enter your passcode choose Reset Network Settings on IOS Device.
This action will clear all the settings you have made related to the network to default settings. still, iMessage waiting for the activation label can’t go away the continue mentioned workarounds.
Tip 2: Set Date and Time Automatically
After the first step if iMessage waiting for activation in iOS 18 is not solved then try this trick. The messaging apps required the date and time should be set correctly otherwise it will show errors. Better off you must enable auto-set date and time on iPhone.
Step #1: Launch “Settings” and tap “General”.
Step #2: There you will find “Date and Time”.
Step #3: Enable to Set Automatically and also check the time zone.
Tip 3: Enable and Disable Airplane Mode
Turning on and off the Airplane mode is helpful when the issues are related to network connections. Simply open the control center and turn on the Airplane mode and after a few minutes disable it.
Hint: Fix iPhone No Service after iOS 18 Update
Tip 4: Update Your Carrier Settings
You can manually update carrier settings on your iPhone. If you are using carrier data and still receiving iMessage waiting for activation, then try to update the carrier settings if available.
Note: Make sure that your iPhone or iPad is connected to a strong Wi-Fi or cellular network.
- Step #1: Launch the “Settings” App,
- Step #2: Choose “General”
- Step #3: Now tap on “About”.
- Step #4: Scroll down to the Carrier option.
- Step #5: Click on Carrier,
if a new carrier update is available, You’ll see a pop-up option to perform this update. For example, check my phone screen.
There you can update the carrier settings.
Tip 5: Contact Your Carrier or Apple Support
Selected Carrier (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone, O2, and others in the USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, India, New Zealand, and other Countries) only support iMessage free in selected plans. Otherwise, you need to activate using requests at the Career desk.
You can also ask the Apple Support Center to get free help and support.
Tip 6: Disable iMessage Reboot the iPhone and Enable the iMessage
Now the next troubleshooting tip is to reboot the device. Before shutting off the iPhone, you should try to disable iMessage, and after that, restart the iPhone. To disable iMessage, follow the steps.
1. Go to “Settings App” and tap on “Messages” on your iPhone.
2. In there, turn off “iMessage”.
How to reboot:
iPhone X/iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus
- Step #1: Press and release the volume up key.
- Step #2: Press and release the volume down key.
- Step #3: Now, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo is visible on display.
After this reboot, the iPhone and again follow the same steps to enable iMessage. Know Reboot or Hard Restart All iPhone models.
Tip 7: Restore iPhone to Factory Settings
If neither of them works for you, then the last option is to reset the iPhone to its factory settings and try to fix the iMessage waiting for activation. But it will erase everything on your iPhone, so it is advisable to take a backup before restoring the iPhone.
1. Open up the“Settings” App and click “General”.
2. Click Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap on Reset.
3. Select Reset All Settings tap Enter your passcode choose Reset All Settings.
Step #2: Now, open “Reset” and then tap on “Reset All Contents and Settings”.
Setup your iPhone as a new and Restore the last backup to fix the internal iOS 18 error.
Or Downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17 (if you saw an error after updating iOS on iPhone or iPad).
Hope you have fixed your problem of being unable to activate iMessage successfully and trying to fix the iMessage Waiting for Activation Error on iPhone.
