iMessage Waiting for Activation? How to Fix FaceTime or iMessage Activation Errors on Your iPhone
The iMessage waiting for activation and facetime waiting for activation issues are really annoying and may happen when you switch to a different sim card. The problem is common in iOS 13 but in this article, we have curated a troubleshoot guide for iMessage activation error as well as facetime activation error.
We urge you to follow the methods correctly and backup your device data just in case something wrong happens while fixing the issue. So, take a backup, buckle up and scroll down to fix iMessage activation error and Facetime activation error.
Why does iMessage & Facetime say, “Waiting for Activation”?
Waiting for activation issues may arise due to various software glitches in your Apple device, which affects both iMessage and Facetime. The error can be found in the settings app in the specific panel of iMessage and Facetime.
This is possible when you have recently switched to a different device carrier or when the activation process is disturbed in the middle of its process. However, according to Apple, iMessage, and FaceTime takes up to 24 hours to activate.
If you are done waiting for 24 hours and your device still shows the error “iMessage waiting for activation”, the problem could be due to other possible reasons.
Prerequisite before fixing iMessage waiting for activation and Facetime waiting for activation
- Check Softwares update and see if there’s any update available. Go to settings > General > Software updates.
- Check your internet connection, that is, mobile data or WiFi.
- The Time zone should be correct, according to your current location.
After you are done checking with the points above, follow the methods below to fix iMessage activation error and Facetime activation error.
Method to fix iMessage & FaceTime Waiting for Activation Error
Method 1: Check your Data Connection
iMessage and Facetime both require an active internet connection. There are possibilities that iMessage and Facetime activation error is caused due to unstable or weak WI-Fi connection
Go to Wi-Fi settings and check if you are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Being connected to a Wi-Fi network wouldn’t alone fix the issue, you need to have an active internet connection.
Head over to Fast.com and check your internet connection’s statistics. If everything seems to be working, then move ahead to the next method.
Method 2: Turn off and turn on airplane mode
If your device is connected to a stable internet connection and still shows iMessage waiting for activation error and Facetime activation error, try turning on the airplane mode and turn it off. This is a kind of technical glitch that can be resolved by following the instructions below.
To do so, go to settings > Tap on the button next to Airplane mode and turn it off after 4-5 seconds. Now, reboot your iPhone and check the status of iMessage and Facetime.
Method 3: Turn off iMessage and Facetime and reboot your device
If none of the above methods resolved iMessage and facetime activation error, it would be better to turn them off, reboot your iPhone and turn them on once again. To do so, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Settings app.
- Search for iMessages, tap on it.
- Now tap on iMessage to turn it off. The grey icon signifies that iMessage has been turned off.
- Now Go to Facetime, tap on it.
- Turn it off as well.
- Reboot/Restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the power button.
- Once done, go to the settings again and turn on iMessages and Facetime once again.
- This will hopefully fix iMessage waiting for activation error as well as Facetime waiting for activation error. But, if the issue stills persist, you should check out method 4.
Method 4: Check out your time zone
iMessage and Facetime require the correct timezone on your device to activate. If your device’s timezone is incorrect, there are possibilities of waiting for iMessage activation.
To reset or fix your iPhone’s timezone:
Go to settings > General > Date and time
Now refer to another device or your clock for the correct time and search for your location’s time zone. Check whether it matches to what’s set in your iPhone’s time zone.
Quick Tip: Click here to check your time zone.
If this still didn’t work out for you, follow up with Method 5.
Method 5: Check for an iOS update
Apple keeps pushing iOS updates which includes bug fixes and feature updates. We recommend you to keep updating your iOS whenever the notification for new update pops up.
If you haven’t updated your iPhone’s OS for a long time, then it is high time to do so. To check out for iOS updates, go to:
Settings > General > Software Update.
If there is a pending update, start it and let the device update peacefully. Once done, go to settings and check if iMessage activation error still persists.
Method 6: Log in to your account once again
Another reason why iMessage and Facetime activation error shows up is because of a minor software glitch. This can be fixed by signing out of your Apple account and signing in once again.
Method 7: Add Credits (For Pre-paid users)
If you use a pre-paid plan on your iPhone, there are chances that you ran out of your credits to send and receive texts. In order to fix this, add one or two dollars of credit to your account to activate iMessage and Facetime.
This may or may not fix your issue but you can give it a try if you are on a pre-paid plan for iMessage and Facetime.
If the issue still persists, we recommend you to wait for 24 hours and let the system do its work. Apple says that it can take up to 24 hours for iMessage and Facetime to activate on your iPhone.
Contact the Support
If waiting for 24 hours and following all of the aforementioned methods haven’t fixed the iMessage and facetime activation issue, Apple support is what you need the most at the moment.
Apple’s customer support is reliable and will help you out with every basic problem with your Apple product. An Apple engineer will look into your device and fix the problem for you.
Final Words
iMessage waiting for activation and Facetime waiting for activation can give any iPhone user a tough time. Both of these services are essential for every iPhone user and fixing it immediately is necessary to start receiving messages and calls.
In this article, we have shared several methods to fix iMessage activation error as well as Facetime activation error. If you are facing any issues with the methods or need any assistance, drop a comment below.
