When you send messages from your iPhone, some brandish in blueish bubbles while others appear in green bubbles. The blue messages use iMessage, Apple'south proprietary messaging service, while the greens are standard SMS or MMS messages. If yous turn iMessage off, all your messages send as standard messages and display in green.

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

iMessage Not Working? Make Certain You Actually Have a Problem

Before you assume the worst, it can't hurt to examine the trouble. Are you sure iMessage isn't working with everyone, or is it just not working when y'all message 1 contact?

Endeavor sending iMessages to a few dissimilar people who y'all know use iMessage to observe out if it works for any of them.

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

Send a Test Message (or 2)

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

You lot may not have multiple contacts you lot tin check with if most of your friends use Android. In this case, if you have multiple devices using iMessage, attempt sending messages with each. That way you tin can see if iMessage works on your Mac only not your iPhone, for example.

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

Make Certain iMessage Is Configured Correctly

Even though you have iMessage enabled, yous may not accept it enabled for a specific number. This is easy to cheque. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings and coil down to Messages. It sounds obvious, but make sure the iMessage slider is enabled hither. And so tap on Send & Receive.

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

On a Mac, open the Letters app. From the bill of fare bar, select Messages > Preferences, so go to the iMessage tab. Make sure whatsoever number or email addresses y'all want to utilize with iMessage are enabled here.

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

Try Dissimilar 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 > Messages > Send & Receive. On a Mac, open Messages and become to Messages > Preferences iMessage.

From this screen, yous should see all the phone numbers and email addresses linked to your Apple ID account. Try enabling or disabling dissimilar options to see if any combinations make iMessage outset working again.

In full general, it'due south also best to choose to Get-go New Conversations From your mobile number, if you're using an iPhone.

Restart iMessage and Reboot Your Device

On your Mac, you probable cease up rebooting about in one case a week, only this is less mutual on an iPhone or iPad. A reboot lone can help, but there's some other step you'll desire to accept to resolve iMessage bug. Y'all'll want to turn off iMessage, reboot, then turn it back on.

On an iPhone or iPad, launch Settings, and then coil down to Messages. The iMessage toggle is located near the height of the screen. Plow information technology off, reboot your device, then turn it dorsum on using the aforementioned method.

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

Send and Receive iMessage options on Mac

To be actress thorough, you may desire to do this for every device yous use with iMessage.

Sign Out and Back In to iMessage

This is some other method that is so simple it can't hurt to endeavor: log out of iMessage, then log back in.

On an iPhone or iPad, open 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 Use your Apple ID for iMessage. In the dialog that pops up, it will bear witness your Apple ID and enquire if you want to log in with that. Tap Sign In to log in with that ID.

On a Mac, open the Letters app. Go to Messages > Preferences from the menu bar, then choose the iMessage tab. Click on Sign Out, then click the button also labeled Sign Out. You lot'll immediately come across a login screen, with your Apple ID email address already entered. Enter your password, so cull Adjacent.

Signing out of iMessage on a Mac

Test Your Internet Connection

Unlike regular texts, iMessages send over the net. So you need to have a working Wi-Fi connection or skilful cell reception with available mobile information to use iMessages. Open a web browser and attempt loading a new webpage to test your net connexion.

If you can't get online, that will explain why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone or Mac. Attempt connecting to a dissimilar Wi-Fi network or cheque how much mobile data yous've got left.

Strangely, iMessage doesn't always let you activate the service over Wi-Fi. So if you're trying to apply iMessage for the first time just can't go it 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-but option, and worth trying if iMessage still isn't working later trying the higher up fixes. Resetting your network settings is a fix for several iPhone and iPad bug, and can often gear up iMessage-related problems.

Launch Settings, and then whorl downward and select General. Hither, scroll over again and select Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom of the screen. Then tap on Reset > Reset Network Settings.

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

Other Possible iMessage Fixes Worth Trying

There are a few other possible fixes you can endeavour when iMessage is not working. If you're not receiving iMessages on a certain device, one simple tip is to try sending a message from that device. This is something that several Mac and iOS users on the internet take reported working for them. It might sound strange, only it'south worth a try.

You should too visit Apple's System Status website to brand sure iMessage isn't down for anybody. Make certain there's a light-green circle next to iMessage. If in that location'southward anything else, information technology means Apple is experiencing technical issues; you'll need to wait for Apple'due south technicians to set it.

Checking the Apple System Status.

Another possible fix is to cheque if a macOS or iOS update is available. This is particularly true if you've recently updated. Apple bug updates to improve your device and set bugs, but these updates can sometimes innovate new bugs. If this is the case, Apple may take already issued a new update to gear up it.

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

Having Trouble With Regular Text Messages Besides?

Hopefully, one of the above fixes got iMessages working once more on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you're having the problem on multiple devices, you'll need to echo the step that worked on every device. If that doesn't help, hopefully another one of the steps will.

What if your standard SMS or MMS letters aren't working? Fortunately, we have some fixes for that every bit well.

iPhone Won't Send Text Messages? 10 Tips and Fixes

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