To use either iMessage or FaceTime, you need to activate them on your iPhone. If you see an error message when you try to activate, follow these steps.
When activating iMessage or FaceTime, you might see one of these messages:
Waiting for activation
Activation unsuccessful
An error occurred during activation
Could not sign in, please check your network connection
Unable to contact the iMessage server. Try again.
What you need before you sign in
Make sure that you’re connected to a cellular data or Wi-Fi network.
Make sure that your device has the latest version of iOS.
Make sure that your time zone is set correctly. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
If you're using an iPhone, you need SMS messaging to activate your phone number with iMessage and FaceTime. Depending on your carrier, you might be charged for this SMS.
If a prompt appears stating "Your network provider may charge for SMS messages used to activate FaceTime and iMessage", tap "Turn On" to allow possible SMS charges.
Turn off and restart iMessage and FaceTime
Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.
Go to Settings > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.
Turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.
If your phone number still doesn’t have a check next to it in Settings after 24 hours
It might take up to 24 hours for your carrier to verify your phone number with Apple. Contact your carrier to make sure that you can send and receive SMS messages and wait up to 24 hours after you try the troubleshooting steps above.
If iMessage is on and a spinning gear appears next to your phone number, your device automatically attempts to verify your phone number. There is no need to repeatedly turn iMessage off and on.
Use an email address to sign in to Messages or FaceTime instead
You can also use your email address with iMessage and FaceTime. Sign in to your Apple ID account page and review all the email addresses you have on file, including the one that you're trying to verify. If the email address is incorrect, you can update it. Then click Resend next to the email address that you want to verify.
To select your email address to use with Messages:
In the Settings app, tap Messages.
Tap Send & Receive, then choose your email address.
To select your email address to use with FaceTime:
In the Settings app, tap FaceTime.
Scroll to You Can Be Reached By FaceTime At, and choose your email address.
When you use both your phone number and your email address with Messages, you might start or receive separate conversation threads with the same contacts. Set your phone number or email address as the primary way to start and receive Messages.
FaceTime isn't available in all countries or regions.
If you can't turn on or sign in to Messages and FaceTime when you try on your Mac or iPad
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