iMessage Is Signed Out on iPhone: How to Fix It

If your iPhone says “iMessage Is Signed Out,” open Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive and sign in with your Apple Account. If you are already signed in, check your internet connection, restart iMessage, and confirm that your phone number has activated. The error can stem from a sign-in problem, network interruption, or incomplete activation.

How to fix the iMessage signed-out error

Try these fixes in order. The menu paths below apply to recent versions of iOS; on older versions, you may find Messages directly in Settings rather than under Apps.

1. Check whether iMessage is down

Before changing account settings, visit Apple’s System Status page and find iMessage. If Apple reports a service interruption, wait for the service to recover rather than repeatedly changing your account or phone settings.

2. Confirm Wi-Fi or cellular data works

1. Open a website in Safari to confirm your phone actually has internet access.
2. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and connect to a working network. If it is unreliable, try a different network.
3. Alternatively, test an active cellular data connection. If you use a VPN or security filter, temporarily disable it to see whether it affects connectivity.

A Wi-Fi symbol alone does not prove your iPhone can reach Apple’s servers. You can also try restarting your router if other devices cannot connect.

3. Sign in to the correct Apple Account

1. Open Settings > Apps > Messages.
2. Make sure iMessage is switched on, then tap Send & Receive.
3. If you see Use your Apple Account for iMessage, tap it and sign in.
4. If an account is listed, confirm it is the Apple Account you want to use. If the error continues, you can tap the account, sign out of iMessage, and sign in again.

Use the same Apple Account for iMessage on your other Apple devices. Signing out of iMessage here is different from signing out of your entire Apple Account in Settings.

4. Restart iMessage and your iPhone

Apple recommends a complete iMessage and FaceTime restart when activation or sign-in fails:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn off iMessage.
2. Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn FaceTime off.
3. Restart your iPhone normally.
4. Return to those settings and turn both services on again.

Give activation time to finish. If a spinning indicator appears next to your number, do not keep toggling iMessage; the phone may still be verifying it. See Apple’s iMessage activation instructions.

5. Correct the date and time

Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and check that your time zone is correct. Turn on Set Automatically when available. Incorrect date or time settings can interfere with activation and secure connections.

6. Install an available iOS update

Open Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available for your device, back up your iPhone, connect to Wi-Fi and power, and follow the installation prompts. An update is not a guaranteed fix, but Apple lists current iOS software among the requirements for troubleshooting activation. For details, see Apple’s update guide.

7. Check phone-number activation or try your email

Under Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive, look for a checkmark beside your phone number. iMessage uses an SMS message to activate a phone number, and carrier SMS charges may apply. Apple says number verification can take up to 24 hours. Ask your carrier whether your line can send and receive international SMS if the number remains unchecked after that period.

Meanwhile, you may be able to choose a verified Apple Account email address in Send & Receive. Be aware that using an email and phone number can produce separate conversation threads. If you recently configured an eSIM after setting up a new iPhone, Apple specifically recommends turning iMessage off and on once to initiate activation.

8. Reset network settings only if needed

If iMessage still cannot connect even though Apple’s service is available, and you have ruled out Wi-Fi, cellular, and account issues, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Before confirming: this removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords and resets cellular, VPN, and APN settings. It does not erase your messages or photos. Write down network credentials first, and ask your workplace or school IT team before resetting a managed device. Reconnect to the internet and try iMessage again. Read Apple’s network reset guidance for details.

What if iMessage still says signed out?

If your phone number has not activated after 24 hours, start with your carrier to check SMS and cellular service. If your Apple Account cannot sign in, you see an account-blocked message, or the problem persists on several networks, contact Apple Support. Note the exact error, your iOS version, and which fixes you tried.

Avoid deleting message threads, removing an eSIM, or resetting the entire iPhone solely for this error. Those actions are not standard first-line fixes and can create additional problems. If you have a working cellular plan, SMS or RCS may still be available while iMessage activation is pending, depending on your carrier and recipient.