How to Sign Into iMessage on iPhone, iPad & MacBooks

Q: Why won't my iMessages activate?

If you get stuck on Waiting for Activation, try to reset your phone or Apple ID, but it can take up to 24 hours for Waiting for Activation to disappear. Meanwhile, ensure your iOS is up to date, your phone has an active data connection, and your Date and Time are Set Automatically.

Q: How to activate iMessage with phone number

Go to your iPhone Settings >> Messages. Next, toggle on 'iMessage.' You'll receive a confirmation message that says your carrier may charge you for SMS messages. Tap on 'OK' to continue.

Q: How do I see old iMessages?

To see your old iMessages, go to Messages. Drag your finger downwards across the screen until you see the search bar Enter any keyword from the old message you want to check. You can also search by typing the name of the person that you conversed with Tap Search, check from the list, and select the message you are looking for

Q: How to sign into iMessage on iPad

Go to Settings >> Messages, turn on iMessage Log in with the same Apple ID you use on your other devices.

iMessage allows Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch users send messages over cellular data or WiFi. However, although signing in is relatively straightforward, some first-time users have reported having issues signing in and completing other necessary settings as you have to activate your iMessage before you start using it.

So, in this article, I’ll show you how to sign into iMessage on iPhone and other Apple devices. I’ll also walk you through the issues you’re likely to encounter with iMessages and tips on how to fix them.

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How to sign into iMessage on iPhone

Go to Settings >> Messages, turn on iMessage
Log in with the same Apple ID you use on your other devices.

How to sign into iMessage on Mac

Open your “Messages” app. You can open it from the dock or the desktop.
Click the Messages option.
If you’ve never used Messages on that Mac before, you’ll need to sign in or create an Apple ID. First, enter your username and password. Then, to register for a new account, click “Create Apple ID.”
Click Preferences
Click Accounts.
Click the iMessage account in the menu on the left side
Enter your Apple ID and password.
Then click on Sign In.

How to activate iMessage on iPhone

Open “Settings” on your iPhone
Scroll down to Messages and tap it
Move the iMessage slider to “ON” until the slider turns green.
Tap on Send & Receive to open an iMessage settings menu where you can set which email addresses and phone numbers you want to use to send and receive messages.
Tap an email address or phone number to activate it until a checkmark appears next to the account.

How to turn Read Receipts ON or OFF in iMessages for iPhone or iPad for everyone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Go to Messages
To turn ON receipts, toggle on Send Read Receipts until you see it turn green. To turn it OFF, ensure the toggle is switched to the left.

How to turn Read Notification ON or OFF for someone on iPhone or iPad

Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap open the conversation you want to turn Read Notification ON or OFF for.
Touch the name of the person at the top.
Tap on the “i” that appears.
Activate or deactivate receipts by toggling the Send Read Receipt ON or OFF.

How to turn message previews ON or OFF in iMessages

Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Scroll down to Notifications

Tap on Messages under the Notification Style

Scroll down to the Options section
Next, tap Show Previews. Then “Always choose“, “When Unlocked” or “Never.”

Images source: Emma Witman/Business Insider

Why is my iMessage not working on my iPhone?

Below are the common reasons why an iMessage will not work on your iPhone, reasons it’s not working, and tips to fix the problem:

#1. Your iMessage is not sending

Note that iMessages are only sent between users of iOS devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch). So, for example, if your recipient has an Android and a Mac with iMessage activated, he will receive the iMessage on his Apple computer and not on his smartphone.

Are you sure your friend has an iPhone, yet your iMessage hasn’t been delivered? Either he hasn’t activated iMessage (Settings >> Messages >> iMessage ), or he recently switched to an Android.

#2. The iMessage server is down

If you think iMessage’s server is down, go to Apple’s System Status page. This indicates the status of all Apple services (iTunes, iCloud, FaceTime, etc.). When a problem is detected, Apple reports it and takes care of fixing it. However, all Apple services are operating optimally at the time of writing.

You can also go to the Down Detector page. Just enter the name of the service in the search engine at the top right corner, in this case, iMessage, and then a graph will automatically generate. It shows all iMessage outages seen in the last 24 hours.

#3. Your internet connection is poor

To use iMessage, it is necessary to have a good internet connection (3G, 4G, 5G, or WiFi). So, you need to check the status of your network.

Toggle Airplane Mode ON and OFF, then observe the reception signal. Also, make sure you haven’t exhausted your cellular data; otherwise, connect to a nearby WiFi hotspot (Settings >> WiFi).

If you cannot join a wireless network, perform a reset of your settings, Settings >> General >> Reset >> Reset network settings.

#4. iMessage isn’t set-up correctly

Make sure iMessage is set up correctly. To do this, go to Settings >> Messages. Ensure iMessage is activated. In the Send & Receive option, ensure you have the correct phone number and email address.

I suggest that you deactivate and then reactivate your addresses and numbers.

#5. Close and relaunch Messages

I also suggest that you close the Messages application and relaunch it. Double-press the Home button and swipe the app window up your screen. Then open it again. If the Messages app is not responding, you can try to reset it.

Go to Settings >> Messages and turn it OFF to do this.
Next, turn OFF Send & Receive and sign out of your Apple account.
Now turn OFF and reboot your iPhone.
After this Reset, see if the Messages app is working correctly. Then, re-enable iMessages and log back into your Apple account.

#6. You have too many messages

Consider freeing up space on your iPhone by deleting SMS and MMS. These can slow down the Messages app.

To delete them, choose your conversation
Tap the message
Select Delete

Note that it is possible to configure your iPhone to delete your messages automatically.

Go to Messages
Select Keep Messages
Choose the 30-day option

In addition, lowering the quality of images and photos also frees up storage space and lightens the Message application. Head to Settings >> Messages, then turn OFF the Lower Picture Quality option

#7. iOS is out of date

An iOS update can also resolve your iMessage issue. So, I recommend updating it if it’s not already updated. Go to Settings >> General >> Software Update to do this.

#8. Your time zone is incorrect or not automatically set

The iMessage app works with your time zone. It must be set to update automatically, or your iMessage will not work.

To ensure your device updates automatically, go to Settings >> General >> Date & Time and set the time zone Automatically to ON.

#9. Your iPhone setting needs a full reset

If iMessage remains stuck despite the previous tips, consider doing a full reset of your iPhone.

Go to Settings >> General, then tap Reset All Settings.

#10. Take it to the Genius Bar

If the issue remains unresolved, I recommend you book an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple Store using this link.

How do I restore iMessages on my iPhone?

You can easily restore them from any other device as iOS syncs your data to all your devices if the sync feature is turned ON or by restoring from iCloud, iTunes Backup, or the iMessage Recovery Software.

To restore from iCloud, erase your iPhone content and settings by going to Settings >> General. Then look for Reset and tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
Reboot your iPhone and set it up following the on-screen instructions
When you get to Apps & Data, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”
Log in to iCloud and choose the backup you wish to restore
Finish the restore procedure, and your backup data which includes deleted iMessages, will restore to your device.

Why won’t my iMessages activate?

If you get stuck on Waiting for Activation, try to reset your phone or Apple ID, but it can take up to 24 hours for Waiting for Activation to disappear. Meanwhile, ensure your iOS is up to date, your phone has an active data connection, and your Date and Time are Set Automatically.

How to activate iMessage with phone number

Go to your iPhone Settings >> Messages. Next, toggle on ‘iMessage.’ You’ll receive a confirmation message that says your carrier may charge you for SMS messages. Tap on ‘OK’ to continue.

How do I see old iMessages?

To see your old iMessages, go to Messages.
Drag your finger downwards across the screen until you see the search bar
Enter any keyword from the old message you want to check. You can also search by typing the name of the person that you conversed with
Tap Search, check from the list, and select the message you are looking for

Can I check my iMessages online?

You can check iMessages sent or received from your contacts on iCloud and any synchronized device.
Read also: If you delete a message on iMessage does it delete for the other person?

How to sign into iMessage on iPad

Go to Settings >> Messages, turn on iMessage
Log in with the same Apple ID you use on your other devices.

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About The Author

John Adebimitan

John Adebimitan is an accomplished tech writer with a passion for unraveling the complexities of the digital world. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying technical jargon, John has been instrumental in guiding readers through the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

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