Simple Steps to Activate iMessage on Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

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Start taking advantage of Apple’s iMessages service with this user-friendly guide

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: September 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using an iPhone or iPad

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Using a Mac

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Troubleshooting

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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This wikiHow teaches you how to set up your Apple device to send and receive iMessages. This will allow you to send and receive messages to other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users using both Wi-Fi and cellular data instead of the standard SMS/MMS service. Additionally, you can sync iMessages on iCloud. Having trouble activating iMessages? We’ll also talk you through some troubleshooting steps.

Quick Steps

Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
Scroll down and tap Messages.
Toggle on iMessages.
Tap Send & Receive.
Select a phone number and/or email address to enable in iMessage.

Section 1 of 3:

Using an iPhone or iPad

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This app looks like a set of grey gears and is found on your Home Screen.^{[1]
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It's located about a third of the way down the menu, in the 5th group of settings.

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Slide the white iMessages slider to the “on” position. The slider will turn green, indicating that iMessages are now enabled. Your device can now send and receive messages without using cellular data when connected to a wireless network. If you are using an iPhone, you can still send text messages without a wireless network by using your normal cellular data.^{[2]
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- If prompted to sign into your Apple ID, simply input your username and password into the pop-up. The device will verify your login information and then activate iMessages if successful. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you'll need to create one.
- iMessages may take up to 24 hours to activate because Apple needs to verify that the phone number and Apple ID match. Activation usually happens within an hour.
This will lead you to the iMessage settings that affect which emails or phone numbers you can send and receive messages to/from.^{[3]
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Tap on an email or phone number to enable. A check mark will appear next to the account. This will allow the email or number to send/receive messages using the iMessage service.
- You should see the phone number associated with your phone already.
- If you see a message that says Use Your Apple ID for iMessage, tap that and log in with the same Apple ID you use on all your devices. You can now select any other numbers and email addresses associated with your Apple ID.^{[4]
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- In the You can receive iMessages to and reply from section, you can add, remove, and select email addresses to receive iMessages. On an iPhone, you can also add or remove the phone’s number to or from this list. Other devices will only display this phone number in the list once it has been enabled from the iPhone.^{[5]
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- In the Start new conversations from: section, you can select one address others will see when you send an iMessage to them. On an iPhone, you can also add or remove the phone’s number to or from this list. Other devices will only display this phone number in the list once it has been enabled from the iPhone.^{[6]
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Section 2 of 3:

Using a Mac

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It looks like a white talk bubble on a green background located either on your dock or desktop.^{[7]
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Sign in with your Apple ID. If you haven't used Messages before on this Mac, you will be prompted to enter or create your Apple ID. Input your Apple username and password, or click Create Apple ID to create a new account.
- Make sure to sign in using the same Apple ID that you use on your iPhone.
It is in the menu bar at the top of the screen when you’re in the Messages app.
It’s in the Messages dropdown menu.
The icon looks like a grey “@” symbol and is located in the top center of the Settings window.
This is at the top of the iMessage menu you just opened. It may already be selected by default.
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Turn on messages in iCloud (optional). If you want to sync iMessages with iCloud, check the box next to Enable Messages in iCloud. This is one easy way to sync your messages across all your devices that are signed in with the same Apple ID, although you don’t have to do this to send/receive iMessages across multiple devices.
- If you want to set up iCloud messages on your other devices, see this guide from Apple.
In the You can be reached for messages at section, put a checkmark next to any phone number or email address you’d like to use to receive iMessages on your Mac.
If you want others to see read receipts when you open their iMessages, check the box next to Send read receipts. If you’d rather not share that information, leave it unchecked.
Use this dropdown menu to select one of the numbers or addresses linked to your iMessage account. This determines which number or address people see when you message them.

Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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Check that you’re connected to the internet. For iMessage to work, you must be connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular data plan. If you get an error message when trying to enable iMessages, make sure your phone is connected to the internet.^{[8]
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- To check your connection status, swipe down from the top right side of the screen to open your Control Center.
  - The
    Wi-Fi symbol will be blue if you’re connected to Wi-Fi. You can also access your Wi-Fi settings and sign onto a network in Settings > Wi-Fi.
  - If you’re not using Wi-Fi, make sure the Cellular Data button is green. It looks like a single antenna with radiating lines around it. You can also access your cellular data settings by going to Settings > Cellular. Make sure Cellular Data is toggled on and you have an active data plan with your network provider.
iMessages may not work correctly if your phone’s OS is too outdated. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and see if there are any updates or upgrades available. If so, install the newer iOS and try to enable iMessages again.
If these settings aren’t working right, iMessage may not activate. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the right time zone is selected. If possible, enable Set Automatically.^{[9]
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Make sure SMS messaging is included in your cellular plan. To use iMessage, you need to enable SMS messaging with your carrier first. Double-check with your carrier that texting is included in your plan.
- When you first enable iMessage, you might see a message that says Your network provider may charge for SMS messages used to activate FaceTime and iMessage. If so, tap Turn On.
  - If free or unlimited messaging is included in your plan, you won’t be charged anything extra for sending or receiving iMessages.
Sometimes a simple restart can resolve any issues you’re having. If you’ve enabled iMessages but it isn’t working, go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessages off. Restart your iPhone, then toggle iMessages back on.
If you’ve tried all the fixes above and your phone number still isn’t verified with iMessage, you might just need to give it some time. It can take up to 24 hours for Apple to verify your phone number if you’re setting up iMessage for the first time.
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Use an email address instead of your phone number. If all else fails, you can connect your iMessage account to an email address. This will need to be an email address that’s linked to your Apple ID.
- Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Choose the email address that you’d like to use for iMessages.

Community Q&A

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Question

What does the "show subject" field mean?

Community Answer

You can literally have a subject (much like an email) in your text messages and iMessages.

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Why are some numbers listed as "not registered with iMessage"?

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If you are on an iPad, only iPhone and other iPad numbers can be used to text and Facetime.

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iMesage has an inactivation error, how can I fix it?

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Call or visit your service provider.

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wikiHow Video: How To Enable iMessage On iPhone | Tech Insider

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Tips

If you have issues, make sure your device is up to date. You can check for updates in the General section of the Settings app.^{[10]
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Research source} See this guide for more details on updating your iOS software.

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To tell at a glance if you’re sending iMessages or regular SMS messages, check if your chat bubbles are blue (iMessage) or green (SMS). Remember that you can only send iMessages to other iPhone, iPad, or Mac users.

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You need an active Wi-Fi or cellular internet connection to send and receive iMessages.

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Warnings

If you are abroad, using iMessage over Wi-Fi allows you to send texts for free. Make sure to turn off SMS messages to avoid higher charges.

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