23 Easy Ways to Fix iMessage Signed Out Error on iPhone

iMessages are texts, photos, or videos sent to other Apple users. They’re free, encrypted, and native to Apple devices. When iMessage is being buggy, though, it’s a problem.

An iMessage Signed Out error means you can’t send or receive iMessages. Possible culprits include wrong settings, wi-fi issues, iMessage server outages, or even problems with your mobile data connection or SIM. We have multiple methods to troubleshoot this error, and all the how-to steps to go along with them.

Why Is My iMessage Signed Out?

If you didn’t purposefully sign out of iMessage, here are three possible causes:

Wi-Fi Connection Issues: iMessage requires an active Wi-Fi connection to function. Poor Wi-Fi connection can cause the error.
Cellular Data Connection Issues: iMessage also uses cellular data, so connection issues can be a cause.
Other Factors: These include software glitches, wrong iPhone or iMessage settings, issues with Apple servers, etc.

How to Fix iMessage is Signed Out Error

Here are some troubleshooting options:

1. Restart Your iPhone

The first thing to try is restarting your iPhone. Restarting can fix most in-app or connectivity issues by terminating all pending tasks and applications, and restarting on a clean slate.

2. Check If iMessage Is Enabled

Confirm that iMessage is actually enabled. It could have been disabled by mistake.

Go to Settings > Messages.
From here you can see if iMessage is enabled. The toggle switch should be green with your phone number underneath.

3. Disable and Re-enable iMessage

Try a soft restart by disabling and re-enabling iMessage:

Go to your iPhone Settings > Messages.
Disable iMessage.
Restart your device, and enable iMessage.

4. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection and Credentials

You could be getting the Signed Out error if your internet connection is poor. Confirm that your Wi-Fi connection is enabled:

Go to Wi-Fi via Settings.

If your Wi-Fi is connected and you’re still seeing the error, check whether your Wi-Fi network settings (name and password) are correct.
If you recently changed your Wi-Fi name or password, go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
Tap on your Wi-Fi name and view your credentials.

5. Reset Network Settings

If you reset network settings, it will reset your phone’s saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth connections to factory default. Be sure to write down your Wi-Fi network credentials beforehand.

To reset network settings:

Open Settings, then General.
After that, choose Transfer or Reset iPhone, and Reset.
Now, select Reset Network Settings.
Rejoin your Wi-Fi network upon reboot to see if iMessage works.

6. Check Your Mobile Data Connection

Poor internet connection from your cellular network can be at fault. See if you have active mobile data and that your service provider is online by checking the signal bar for signal strength. If you’re in a rural area or there are heavy weather conditions, you may experience phone with no service problem.

7. Check Your SIM Card (If Applicable)

If you have issues with your cellular data connection but your network provider is active on other nearby iPhones, try removing and re-inserting your SIM card, also checking for damage and improper alignment.

It is worth noting that current iPhones don’t usually have physical SIM cards anymore. If your phone is older or you live in a region that still has access to these types of products, this could be a good tip to try. For most iPhone users, however, this will not apply.

8. Check Your Apple ID Settings

Your Apple ID gives you access to everything Apple, including iMessage. Check that your ID is correct, especially if you’re having issues with other Apple services.

Go to Settings, then Messages.
Then select Send and Receive.
Tap on Use Your Apple ID for iMessage and sign in to iMessage if your Apple ID isn’t listed.

9. Change Your Password

Another cause could be your password, if someone is trying to hack your account. If so, try changing your Apple ID password:

Go to Settings, then Name/profile, then Apple ID.
After that, Change Password
Sign in to iMessage again to see if it helps.

10. Activate Two-Factor Authentication

If a hacker is attempting to access your account or you’re experiencing Apple ID and phone number are now being used for iMessage, and it is logging you out, enabling two-factor authentication can prevent them.

Go to Settings, then your Apple ID.
Select Password & Security.
Toggle on Two-Factor Authentication.

11. Check Your iMessage Server Status

Apple has a System Status Page that shows the current status of its services. If the server is down, it could cause the error.

To check, go to Apple System Status page, tap on the All Services… plus (+) sign, and confirm that iMessage is available with a green dot. It turns red if unavailable.

12. Update iOS

It’s essential to update your iOS to the latest version. Apart from keeping you safe from the latest cyber threats, software updates let you try new features. If iMessage gets a bug fix and you don’t update your iOS, you could have issues signing in. To check for and install new updates:

Go to Settings, then select General.
After that, choose Software Update.
Tap Install if available.

13. Check Your Date and Time

Verify that your system date and time are accurate.

Go to Settings
Then, General.
After that, select Date & Time.
It should be set to Set Automatically. This can also help with troubleshooting FaceTime sign in issues.

14. Reset iMessage Region

iMessage is supported globally so a glitch in your region settings may prevent you from signing in.

To fix this:

Go to Settings, then select Message.
Now, select Send & Receive and Apple ID link.
Change Location.
Region.
Current Region and Save.

15. Check to See if a VPN is Active

If you use a VPN or other privacy software on your iPhone or iPad, it could be interfering with your iMessage functionality. Try disabling the software and seeing if you can sign back into iMessage.

16. Check for Multiple Devices Signed in

If you have multiple Apple devices and there is a problem with the sign-in permissions/functions on one of them, it could affect other devices as well. This is especially true if one of the devices is older and more prone to bugs and problems.

17. iCloud Syncing Problems

Because iCloud is used to sync multiple devices, issues with this syncing may cause you to be signed out, in order to try to prevent sign-in conflicts with another device.

18. Check if Low Power Mode is Activated

Sometimes this battery saving setting can cause malfunctions with apps, settings, and other device functionality. This would be especially true if you recently activated it and then the iMessage problems started.

19. See if Your iPhone/iPad Storage is Full

If your data on your device is full, it could interfere with the ability to sync to Apple’s servers, which may kick you out of iMessage from time to time. Try clearing up some space on your device to see if this solves the problem.

20. System Bugs our Glitches

Apple is regularly releasing system updates, usually in response to security vulnerabilities or previous bugs. That said, sometimes these updates actually cause problems of their own. If you are suddenly experiencing the iMessage signed out error and none of the previous troubleshooting methods helped, try looking up forums or asking other iPhone users if they are having the same problem. If so, it is likely that Apple will roll out a fix for it soon.

21. Delete a Previous Message

If there was an old message or thread that was corrupted or stuck, it can sometimes cause the iMessage signed out bug. You can try deleting the message or even the entire thread to see if it sorts itself out.

22. Use Your Email Address with IMessage

If you can’t seem to sign back into iMessage after it signs you out, try using an email address that you have affiliated with your account. This lets you use this email to receive and send messages through iMessage. Here’s how:

Go to the Settings app
Go to Apps
Go to Messages
Select Send & Receive

Select your email address. Now you should be able to use your email address in addition to your phone number to receive iMessages

23. Contact Apple Support

If you tried all of these fixes and you’re still wondering, “Why is my iMessage signed out?” it may be time to contact Apple Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the “iMessage is signed out” error also cause problems with Facetime?

It depends on if the issue is your Apple ID or some other factor, but it is quite common. Because FaceTime and iMessage both are linked to your Apple ID, any issues with this sign-in could affect both services.

For that reason, it can be a helpful way to narrow down potential causes of the problem. If one works but the other doesn’t, it may not be your ID that is the problem. It could be something like your mobile data connection or some other problem specific to the device you’re using.

How can network setting problems cause iMessage issues?

There are a handful of ways that network problems could be causing iMessage errors. Such as:

Misconfigured network settings hinder iMessage being able to connect to Apple’s servers.
Bad or intermittent connections can make it difficult for iMessage to verify your Apple Account.
Mobile data settings that are configured wrong can also cause problems. It’s important for users to enable mobile data so that iMessage can function.

Can having multiple Apple devices cause the iMessage signed out error?

Yes, it can definitely happen if there is a conflict with the Apple ID or syncing with these two (or more) devices. When this happens it can be helpful to sign out of everything and then sign in again. Also be sure that settings and configurations are the same for all devices and that they are all up to date with the latest iOS version.

How can I tell if my Apple ID is signed into iMessage?

If you want to confirm that your Apple Account is correctly signed in, here are the steps:

Go to settings on your device.
Go to Apps.
Go to Messages.
Tap Send & Receive.
From here, you should be able to see the email address and other log in info that is linked to your Apple Account.

If you see that you’re not signed in, you should see the option to “Use your Apple Account for iMessage,” which you can sign into by following the prompts. If you are signed in with a different account than you had expected, you should be able to sign out and then sign in again with the right account information.

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Joy Okumoko

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