My iPhone Says iMessage Is “Waiting For Activation”. Here’s The Fix! 

May 17, 2023

When you sign up for an Apple ID, you can access iMessage and FaceTime for free. This means that as long as you have an internet link, you can video chat or text with anyone, even if they don’t have a mobile plan. But sometimes, these apps might take longer to activate or get stuck on the “Waiting for activation” message.

Here are some potential solutions to the problem:

Check the server status page for Apple to see if the services are down. If so, wait until Apple fixes them.

Make sure you can access the internet. Check to see if you can load more than one page. Suppose you can’t connect to a stronger internet connection and try again. If that doesn’t work, try changing the settings for your network.

Use the Settings app to turn off iMessage and FaceTime, then restart your device and turn both apps back on.

Sign out of your Apple ID account and sign back in to reestablish the connection.

Verify that the device’s time and date are accurate. If not, update them via the Settings application.

Check for software updates in the Settings app to keep your devices current. If there is an available update, download and execute it.

If all else fails, perform a factory reset. This will restore it to its original condition when you purchased it. For guidance, refer to our article on resetting your iPhone to factory settings.

Contact your carrier if the “Waiting for activation” screen persists after 24 hours to ensure you can send and receive SMS messages.