Sometimes sending an iMessage won’t work, but don’t worry. Even if iMessage disruptions happen occasionally, you may resolve the problem on your own.
Recent iMessage Outage:
On Thursday, May 16th, 2024, a widespread iMessage outage affected thousands of users. People across all cell carriers reported being unable to send messages. According to news articles, Apple acknowledged the problem and it was resolved by around 7 pm ET.
Is iMessage Down?
- Check Down Detector: Head to Down Detector and search for “iMessage.” This website tracks outages for different online services. Users having similar issues will be seen reporting here as well.
- Apple’s System Status: Check the Apple system status page. This is where you can see if iMessage or other Apple services are encountering any issues you may be experiencing.
Tips
- Restart Your Device: Oftentimes, a simple restart will resolve software issues (for other users). Switch off your iPhone or iPad and give it a few seconds before reactivating it.
- Check Internet Connection: iMessage requires an Internet or Wi-Fi connection for users to send texts. Make sure you can access the internet and that your phone has a signal.
- Sign Out and In iMessage: Go to Settings > Messages, turn off iMessage, wait a few sec then turn it on.
- Double Check Date and Time Settings: Incorrect date and time settings can sometimes cause problems with iMessage. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Switch to automatic.
Still Having Trouble?
If you’ve tried these troubleshooting steps and iMessage is still not working, you can:
- Wait It Out: Apple usually fixes iMessage problems fast.
- Use traditional SMS/MMS: You can attempt sending a text message over classic SMS or MMS if it’s really an emergency and you need to send someone a message ASAP. Messaging fees may apply depending on your carrier plan.
