Fixing iMessage Not Working Issue on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

When sending messages on iPhone, some will show blue, some show green. Blue-marked messages are sent via iMessage, Apple's exclusive messaging service, while green-marked messages are standard SMS/MMS messages. If we turn off iMessage, all messages will be sent as standard SMS messages and marked green.

However, in some cases, even when iMessage is not turned off, your messages still appear green. This could be due to iMessage malfunctioning, not functioning properly.

Readers, please refer to the following article by Mytour to learn some ways to fix iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

1. iMessage not working

Before diving into troubleshooting steps for iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, ensure iMessage is not working with any contacts, or just not working with a specific contact.

If you're having trouble with iMessage when sending messages to a specific contact, the issue might be with that user. Conversely, if iMessage isn't working with any contacts, the problem might be with your device.

1.1. Test message sending

Before you start, try sending messages to your friends or family who are also using iMessage. If iMessage isn't working with these contacts, try sending messages to other iMessage users to see if the issue is with your device.

If iMessage is working but your messages aren't sending, refer to the following content of the article to learn how to fix iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

2. Fixing iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

2.1. Method 1: Ensure iMessage is properly configured

Although iMessage is activated, you may not have enabled the service for certain contacts. To check this, on your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then scroll down to find Messages. Ensure the iMessage toggle is enabled, then find and tap Send & Receive.

Here you'll see the phone numbers and email addresses you can link to iMessage. Make sure all the phone numbers and email addresses you want to use are activated.

On Mac, open the Messages app. In the Messages menu at the top left corner of the window, select Preferences, then access the iMessage tab. Make sure the phone numbers or email addresses you want to use with iMessage are activated here.

If encountering the issue on multiple devices, repeat the similar steps you encountered on the devices to troubleshoot.

2.2. Method 2: Turn off and on the iMessage app

If the above method is not feasible, the next solution is to turn off and then reopen the iMessage app. Sometimes, this method also helps fix errors in some cases.

On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then scroll down to Messages. Toggle the iMessage switch at the top right corner of the screen to OFF, then restart the device and perform similar steps to turn iMessage back on.

On Mac, open the Messages app, then select Preferences from the app menu, located at the top left corner of the screen. Access the iMessage tab, under Apple ID, uncheck Enable this account. Restart your Mac, then perform similar steps to re-enable iMessage.

2.3. Method 3: Sign out and sign back into iMessage

If the above methods are not applicable, try signing out and then signing back into iMessage to see if the app is functioning correctly.

On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then scroll down to find Messages. Here, scroll down to find and tap Send & Receive. In this menu, tap on Apple ID at the top right corner of the screen. On the dialog displayed on the screen, tap Sign Out.

After signing out, tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage. The dialog displayed on the screen will show your Apple ID and ask if you want to sign in. Tap Sign in to sign in with that ID.

On Mac, open the Messages app, select the app menu at the top left corner of the screen, choose Preferences, then select the iMessage tab.

At the top right corner of the screen, click Sign Out, then click Sign Out again to confirm signing out. Immediately, a login window will appear with your Apple ID email address pre-entered. Enter your login password there and click Next.

2.4. Method 4: Reset Network Settings

This solution is only applicable to iOS devices. Resetting network settings can help resolve some common errors on iPhone, iPad, and often troubleshoot issues related to iMessage.

Open the Settings app => General. Here, scroll down and tap the Reset option at the bottom corner of the screen. Finally, select Reset Network Settings.

Resetting network settings does not erase any data on your iOS device. The device will forget saved Wi-Fi networks, so you'll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.

2.5. Other Ways to Fix iMessage Not Working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

In addition to the above troubleshooting methods, you can try some other solutions to fix iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. If you're not receiving iMessage on a specific device, a simple trick is to try sending a message from that device.

Another method is to check if there are any new macOS or iOS updates available. Apple releases updates to improve user devices and add bug fixes, but these updates sometimes come with new bugs. If you find yourself in this situation, Apple may have released a new update including bug fixes.

Lastly, if none of the above methods are applicable, the final solution for you is to contact Apple Support for assistance in troubleshooting.

The above article from Mytour just guided you on how to fix iMessage not working on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Additionally, if you have any queries or questions like iMessage not sending messages, for example, readers can leave their comments below the article, and Mytour will respond to your inquiries as soon as possible.