Is iMessage Down?

Two words you never want to hear in the same sentence are “Apple” and “outage”. The good news is that it is extremely rare for iMessage, or the Messages app, to truly be down, so if it isn’t working for you, it is much more likely that you are experiencing a device or internet issue rather than a global outage. That being said, Apple does occasionally have small spikes in user issues, though these are few and far between.

So, which is it?

Follow through this guide to pinpoint what type of technical issue you are facing, troubleshoot it, and get back online as quickly as possible.

How to troubleshoot iMessage

There are a few things you can do when you’re having iMessage issues to figure out what kind of problem you are dealing with—and then actually deal with it! Troubleshooting the issue should only take a matter of minutes, so follow these steps to get back to your messages before too long!

Check for an iMessage outage

Before you go digging through your phone or unplugging your router, check the Apple System Status page to confirm if this is a you issue or an Apple issue. If the dot next to iMessage is green, then the system is up and running. If it is any other color, iMessage is experiencing an outage, and you will have to sit tight until the problem is resolved.

No outage? Try these steps next

Did you see the friendly green dot next to iMessage on the Apple status page? Well, then it’s time to start investigating your device and your internet or mobile connections. If your texts are displaying as green bubbles instead of the standard blue, your messages were sent as SMS and not an iMessage.

Guide yourself through these step-by-step directions to find the real culprit of your connection issues.

1    Ensure iMessage is enabled by going to Settings > Messages. Toggle iMessage off and on to reset it.

2    Confirm the correct phone number and email are attached to your account by tapping Send & Receive in the Messages settings.

3    Switch from internet to mobile data and vice versa. If iMessage works on one, but not the other, you will need to troubleshoot your connection.

4    Restart your device.

5    Update iOS under Settings > General > Software Update.

6    If you have a “Not Delivered” message below your text, tap the text to retry. You may need a stronger internet connection for this.

7    If you see “Waiting for activation” in your Messages settings, you’re usually experiencing an Apple ID or network issue. You’ll need to activate your device, if you haven’t already, or try logging out and back in to your account.

Check your internet connection

If you’ve tried it all—checked iMessage’s status, verified your device is functioning, and even tested your internet speed—it’s probably time to upgrade your internet plan. As your household grows and new devices enter the picture, your old internet plan might be struggling to keep up.

Luckily, it can be easy to find a new internet provider by using our zip code finder. After entering your zip code below, we will help you find better, faster internet providers that service your area. Let’s get started!