Easily Fix ‘iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message’ Error

A lot of Apple users have complained about the “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” error that they have been getting on their devices. In this article, we have managed to list all the possible solutions that you can implement to get rid of the error. In addition to that, we have also listed the reasons due to which the error occurs in the first place.

What Causes the iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message Error?

After having to fix this issue for our users, we managed to dig up the reasons due to which it occurs on your device.

• Server Down: In some cases, it might be the case that the Apple server is down or under maintenance due to which the iMessage service isn’t working for you. In such a case, we recommend that you wait for the server to come back up again so that you can get back to messaging.
• Service-Disabled: It is possible that the iMessage service has been disabled on your mobile phone due to which you are getting the “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” error. Therefore, we suggest that you enable it using the steps below.
• Misconfigured Settings: Some settings, if misconfigured, can cause the “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” error on your device. Therefore, we suggest that you properly configure the settings and check to see if doing so allows you to fix the issue.
• Outdated iOS: In certain cases, the iOS software on your device might have gotten outdated and this might be triggering the “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” issue. Therefore, we suggest that you try to go through the solutions that we have mentioned below.

Now that we have taken you through the reasons behind its occurrence, you can finally start implementing the solutions.

Before You Start:

One simple and quick fix for this error is to turn “OFF” your iPhone and then “Restart” it again. A simple reboot can help resolve any issues on your device so try doing the same with this one too. Follow these couple of simple steps to do so:

1. Grab your iPhone and press the “Power” button on its side until you see the “Slide To Power Off” option, slide it above simply.

   

2. Keep it turned OFF for a few minutes, then turn it back “ON” again using the Power button.

Another simple fix is to enable and then disable the “Airplane Mode”. For this swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen to open the “Control Center” menu, here tap on the “Airplane” icon to enable it first, then wait for some time and again press on it to “Disable” it. When you have tried implementing both of these basic fixes and the error continues to stay then move on to try some of the complex solutions indexed below.

Fixing the iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message Error:

Solution 1: Examine Apple iMessage Server Status

Checking the Apple iMessage server status is the first check-in troubleshooting this particular error before moving on to try some other advanced solutions. This is because if the Apple iMessage server is down, you won’t be able to use the iMessage service. This happens quite rare but is probable, therefore make sure to check it out beforehand by following this procedure:

1. Launch your browser and navigate to this website.
2. On the System Status page check out the “iMessage” icon, if it is “Green” it means the servers are working completely fine and the issue exists in your iPhone.

Solution 2: Check If iMessage Is Enabled

To begin with, make sure if iMessage is enabled in the Settings, to check this follow the steps below:

1. On your phone open up “Settings” and here click on “Messages”.

   

2. Here check if iMessage is “Enabled” (The toggle button must be green in this case). Also, there must be no such message beneath it as “iMessage Waiting For Activation”.

Solution 3: Force Quit the Messaging Application

In order to force quit the Messaging application, you will need to enter the “App Switcher” on your phone. Double Press the “Home” button on your mobile, this will open up all of the currently active apps, from here simply drag the “Messaging” application tab upwards to close it completely. Then after waiting for some time again open up the “Messaging” app and try sending the text message again.

Solution 4: Toggle iMessage

Try to toggle (Enable / Disable) iMessage and see if it helps fix the error. Follow these couple of steps:

1. Grab your iPhone and go to “Settings” from the menu.
2. Here tap on “Messages” and then switch “ON” iMessage using the toggle button. (Note: If it is already ON, turn it OFF and then switch it ON again afterwards).

   

3. Now try sending the message and see if the error got removed.

Solution 5: Reconfigure iPhone Network Settings

1. On your mobile go to “Settings > Messages” respectively.
2. Here turn OFF both options i.e. “Send As SMS” and “iMessage” using the toggle buttons.
3. Now return back to “Settings” and click on “General”.
4. In the General tab move down and click on “Reset”.
5. Select the “Reset Network Settings” option and type in your “Password” if required.

   

6. Once done now again go back to “Settings > Messages” and turn ON the “Send As SMS” and “iMessage” toggles.

Solution 6: Reconfigure iMessage Settings

1. On your mobile open up the “Settings” application and here select the “Messaging” app, in the following tab select the “Send & Receive” option.
2. Then under the heading labelled “You Can Be Reached By iMessage At” uncheck both your “Email Address” and “Phone Number”.

   

3. Next, click on your “Apple ID” and choose “Sign Out”.
4. Lastly, “Restart” your iPhone, make sure iMessage is “Enabled” from the Settings, and sign in to your “Apple ID” again.

Solution 7: Try Deleting the Stuck Message

You need to follow this fix in case this particular error appears upon sending a message to a specific contact only. What you need to do for this is mentioned below:

1. Open your phone and go to “Settings > iMessages > Turn Off iMessage” respectively.
2. Now try to “Delete” the text message which is stuck on sending with iMessage and after deleting send another text to the same contact.
   (Note: If it does not work then instead of deleting the single text message try deleting the whole conversation and then begin with a new one).

Solution 8: Change Settings From iMessages To SMS

1. Open your phone and go to “Settings”, here open “Messages” and check if both “iMessages” and “Send As SMS” are enabled.

   

2. Again go back to the “Settings” page, click on “Cellular” and press the slide button in front of “Cellular Data” to turn it “OFF”.
3. Again in the Settings tab choose “WiFi” and slide to turn it “OFF”.
4. Now proceed to your “Messaging” application and try sending the text message to your contact. It will start going out as a blue iMessage. Press and hold the message until you see the pop-up option as “Send As Text Message”.
5. Simply select this option and the message will start sending out as a “Green SMS”.
   (You can also confirm this by sending out a couple of more messages and check if they keep sending out as green SMS messages).
6. Repeat steps “4 and 5” for all of the contacts you need to switch from iMessage to SMS.
7. Then go to the “Settings” application and select “Messages”, here turn iMessages “OFF”.
8. Again find and select “Cellular” in the Settings tab and turn “Cellular Data” back “ON”.
9. Lastly, select “WiFi” in Settings and turn it back “ON”.
10. This procedure will permanently set your message threads to SMS, once you are done check if this helped to remove the error completely.

Solution 9: Check Your Internet Connection

One of the causes of this particular error could be a poor or unstable internet connection. A weak WiFi signal can be problematic in sending the text message to the recipient. So, in order to check your network status proceed with the method below:

1. First of all, check if the “Router” you are connected to is switched “ON” and is in working condition.
2. Once verified then “Restart” it by switching it “OFF” for a few minutes and then turning it back “ON”.
3. Now reconnect your iPhone back to the “WiFi” connection and try sending the message again to see if the error persists or not.

Solution 10: Re-Sign Into Your Apple ID

1. Open your iPhone Settings and tap on your “Name” at the top.
2. In the following window scroll down to the last and click on the “Sign Out” option.
3. Then switch “OFF” your iPhone and “Restart” it again.
4. Again go to “Settings” and click on “Sign In” at the top.
5. Once you have signed in again then check to see if the error persists or not.

Solution 11: Reset All Settings On Your iPhone

1. Open up your iPhone and go to “Settings”.
2. In the Settings window select “General > Reset > Erase All Content And Settings” and then set it up from your iCloud backup.

   

3. Your phone can also be restored with iTunes. To do this launch iTunes, connect your iPhone to your computer, select your iPhone icon and then press “Restore iPhone”. Also, make sure that you have turned OFF “Find My iPhone > Choose A Proper iTunes Backup File” and click “Restore”.
   (Note: No matter which method you use i.e. iCloud Restoring or iTunes Restoring neither of these methods supports backup previewing so you will need to restore them all to your phone).

Solution 12: Update IOS

It’s good if you keep updating your iPhone with time as it helps bring several improvements to your device. If you have any pending iOS updates on your iPhone then try installing them on your device and then see if the error gets removed. For this go to “Settings” on your mobile, click on “General > Software Update” and update the iPhone to the latest iOS version available.

Solution 13: Resolve iOS Software Issues

Sometimes there also exist certain software issues with your iPhone which result in such errors as well. Therefore, try fixing the iOS issue by using any third-party iOS recovery software such as “iMyFone D-Back”. This software is compatible with all of the iOS versions and devices and is solely designed to fix iOS issues. Download this software from here, run it on your system and then see if the error gets solved.

Solution 14: Restore Your Phone To Factory Default

If none of the solutions works out for you then what you can do is simply try restoring your iPhone to factory settings. But before doing that you must perform a backup of your device since this method will permanently delete all of your pictures, videos, and data. When you have completed the back p of your device you can carry out the procedure listed below:

1. Open your mobile and go to “Settings”, here select “General”.
2. In the General tab locate the “Reset” option, click on it and select “Erase All Content And Settings”.
3. Next “Confirm” your selection and also type the password when required.

Solution 15: Contact Apple Support

After trying all of the aforementioned solutions, if none of them proves to be effective for you then your last resort is to contact “Apple Support”. Simply state your problem in detail and all of the fixes you have already tried to carry out, the wait for some time until the Support team itself gets in touch with you for further proceedings.

Follow the above-indexed solutions carefully in order to get rid of this error but in case you need further help regarding it feel free to Contact Us here.