iOS: Troubleshooting FaceTime and iMessage activation

iPhone automatically registers your phone number for use with FaceTime and iMessage during activation.

• To use FaceTime with your Apple ID, navigate to Settings > FaceTime and tap Use your Apple ID for FaceTime.
• To use iMessage with your Apple ID, navigate to Settings > Messages > Receive At and tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage.

When you enable FaceTime or iMessage with an iPad or iPod touch, you will need to enter a valid Apple ID and password. Other users will be able to contact you on FaceTime and iMessage using this email address.

After each step, toggle iMessage and FaceTime off and then on again in Settings > Messages and Settings > FaceTime.

1. Update to the latest version of iOS.
2. Ensure that you have an active Internet connection. You can complete activation using Wi-Fi or a cellular data connection. Check your Wi-Fi network using standard Wi-Fi network troubleshooting.
3. If you receive an error when signing in to your Apple ID, visit myinfo.apple.com, sign in to your account, and ensure that the primary email address has been verified.
4. Ensure that FaceTime has not been restricted: Settings > General > Restrictions > FaceTime.
5. In Settings > General > Date & Time, ensure that Set Automatically is on. If Set Automatically is on, but the incorrect time zone is displayed, turn Set Automatically off and then choose the correct time zone, date, and time. Then turn Set Automatically on again.
6. Enable iMessage and FaceTime while connected to another Wi-Fi network in a different location.

When enabling FaceTime or iMessage on an iPhone, you may see "Waiting for Activation". This message refers to the activation of your telephone number only. You can use FaceTime and iMessage with your Apple ID even if your phone number has not completed activation.

You can see that you've activated FaceTime and iMessage with your Apple ID here:

• Settings > FaceTime > You can be reached by FaceTime at:
• Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > You can be reached by iMessage at:

After each step, toggle FaceTime and iMessage off and then on in Settings > Messages and Settings > FaceTime.

1. Update to the latest version of iOS.
2. Ensure that your iPhone is set to the correct time zone. Tap Settings > General > Date & Time.
   • Note: If Set Automatically is on but the incorrect time zone is displayed, turn Set Automatically off and then choose the correct time zone, date, and time. Then turn Set Automatically on again.
3. Ensure that FaceTime has not been restricted: Settings > General > Restrictions > FaceTime.
4. Verify that you can send SMS messages. You need a valid SMS messaging plan to activate FaceTime.
5. Contact your carrier to verify that there are no restrictions or blocks on text messages. Blocks on text messaging will prevent iMessage and FaceTime registration.
6. If you are unable to activate iMessage or FaceTime on a device after remote wiping it, wait at least 24 hours and try again.
7. If "Waiting for Activation" is displayed, leave FaceTime and iMessage enabled for 24 hours. Toggling FaceTime or iMessage off and on will cause the registration process to start over.

Follow these steps if your phone number and Apple ID do not activate after waiting 24 hours.

1. Back up your iPhone in iTunes.
2. Disconnect the iPhone from iTunes.
3. Turn FaceTime and iMessage off:
   • Settings > FaceTime
   • Settings > Messages
4. Navigate to Settings > General > Reset and select "Erase all content and settings".
5. In the iOS setup assistant, select "Set Up as New iPhone".
   
6. Sign in to your Apple ID with FaceTime and iMessage. Go to:
   • Settings > FaceTime and tap "Use your Apple ID for FaceTime"
   • Settings > Messages and tap "Use your Apple ID with iMessage"
7. Verify that FaceTime and iMessage activate successfully. It may take up to 24 hours to complete activation. When activation is successful, a check mark will be visible next to your phone number and email address in Settings > FaceTime and Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
8. Disable automatic syncing in iTunes.
   • For Mac OS X: Click the iTunes menu and choose Preferences. Click the Devices tab and select the option to "Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically". Click OK.
   • For Windows: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences. Click the Devices tab and select the option to "Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically". Click OK.
9. Connect the iPhone and restore from the backup. Do not perform a full restore.