'iMessage is Signed Out' Error: 23 Simple Ways to Fix It on iPhone

If your iPhone keeps logging you out of iMessage, then you’re probably familiar with the iMessage is Signed Out error. Or maybe this is the first time you’re seeing it. Possible reasons for the ‘Signed Out’ error include wrongly configured settings, Wi-Fi issues, iMessage server outages, or even problems with your mobile data connection or SIM.

No matter the reason for the iMessage error, there’s no need to worry! We’ve got nearly two dozen solutions for when iMessage stops working so that you can get back to texting.

How to Fix ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ Error

There are several possible reasons for why iMessage is signed out, so there are also many troubleshooting options. We’ve gathered all the best fixes here so that you can get through this error in no time.

1. Restart Your iPhone

The first thing to try is restarting your iPhone. Restarting can fix lots of things, from app bugs to connectivity issues, both of which could be the reason for the ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error.

Rebooting will not erase anything and can only do your phone some good, so give it a shot before we head into these more complicated steps!

2. Check If iMessage Is Enabled

One potential reason iMessage isn’t working is because it’s turned off. Follow these steps to confirm that iMessage is actually enabled:

Go to Settings > Apps.
Tap Messages.
If the toggle next to iMessage is greyed out, tap it to switch it back on.

3. Disable and Re-enable iMessage

If iMessage was already on, one quick way to fix the ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error is to toggle the service off and on. It’s like a soft restart that just takes a few seconds. It’s easy to do:

Return to Settings > Apps > Messages.
Tap the iMessage toggle to disable it.
Wait a few seconds, and then tap it again to re-enable it. It might take a few seconds to fully restart.

4. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection and Credentials

You could be getting the ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error if your internet connection is poor. If you’re near a reliable Wi-Fi network that you know works for other internet-related tasks, make sure you’re actually connected to the network. If your router is broadcasting over 5 GHz, consider changing it to 2.4 GHz, which could help with interference.

Here’s how to confirm that Wi-Fi is enabled:

Open the Settings app and then tap Wi-Fi.
Switch the Wi-Fi toggle on (so that it’s green).
If Wi-Fi is already enabled, tap the (i) next to the network and make sure the password is correct.

5. Reset Network Settings

Sometimes, resetting the network settings fixes inexplicable connectivity issues. Following these steps 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 make setup easier later.

Open Settings, then General.
Go to Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom, then tap Reset.
Select Reset > 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’re more likely to not have a signal.

7. Check Your SIM Card

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 (if you have one). Also check for damage and improper alignment.

It’s worth noting that lots of iPhones don’t have a physical SIM card. 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 Account Settings

The ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error might be related to your Apple Account/ID. Your Apple Account gives you access to everything Apple, including iMessage. Check that your account is correct, especially if you’re having issues with other Apple services.

Go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
Select Send & Receive.
Tap on Use Your Apple Account for iMessage and sign in to iMessage if your Apple Account isn’t listed.

9. Change Your Password

Another cause could be your password, if someone is trying to hack your account. If so, change your Apple Account password:

Open the Settings app.
Select your Apple Account at the top.
Tap Sign-In & Security.
Choose Change Password.
Type the new password into the text boxes, then tap Continue.
Follow any other on-screen steps to finish up, and then check if iMessage works.

10. Activate Two-Factor Authentication

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

Open Settings and tap on your Apple Account.
Select Sign-In & Security.
Select Two-Factor Authentication, and ensure one of the methods listed is enabled.

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 ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error, in which case there’s nothing you can do to fix it; all you can do is wait for Apple to address the problem.

To check, open Apple System Status and confirm that iMessage is available with a green dot. It goes red if iMessage is unavailable.

12. Update iOS

It’s essential to update 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 iOS to install it, you could have issues signing in to iMessage. Updating out of a beta version of iOS can also be useful for correcting this error.

Here’s how to check for and install new iOS updates:

Go to Settings > General.
Tap Software Update.
Tap Install if an update is available.

13. Check Your Date and Time

Verify that your system date and time are accurate. A discrepancy could trigger strange errors such as ‘iMessage is Signed Out.’

Open the Settings app.
Select General > Date & Time.
Confirm that Set Automatically is chosen. This can also help with troubleshooting FaceTime sign in issues.

14. Use an Email Address Instead

iMessage not only supports phone numbers, but also email addresses. If you’re having iMessage issues, switch to using the service with your phone number to see if that fixes it.

Go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
Tap Send & Receive.
Choose your email address.

15. Check if a VPN is Active

If you use a VPN or other privacy software on your iPhone, it could be interfering with 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.

Open Settings > General.
Tap Battery.
Toggle Low Power Mode off.

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. You can delete apps and files to quickly free up space.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see up which apps are using the most space. Here, you can also set up the Offload Unused Apps feature to save potentially lots of space.

20. System Bugs or 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. Contact Your Carrier

Some users have reported success reaching out to their carrier about the ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error. Using their website or chat function, describe to the provider what is happening. The company might give you a new SIM, although some have done the following:

Delete the plan from your phone.
Re-activate the eSIM using your phone’s EID number.
Re-add the plan to your phone.

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.

Why Is My iMessage Signed Out?

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

Wi-Fi Issues: iMessage requires an active internet connection to function, so a poor Wi-Fi signal can be to blame.
Cellular Data Issues: iMessage can also use mobile data. Just like with Wi-Fi, spotty or outright zero service can cause the error.
Other Factors: These include software glitches, wrong iPhone or iMessage settings, issues with Apple servers, etc.

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.

Can a weak battery cause iMessage to sign out?

Yes, if your battery is low and Low Power Mode is activated, it could affect background processes, including iMessage. Try charging your phone and disabling Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery to see if that helps.

Does changing my Apple Account password log me out of iMessage?

Yes, if you recently changed your Apple Account password, your devices may need to be reauthenticated. Go to Settings and then tap your name at the top, followed by Sign-In & Security. Make sure you’re logged in with the correct credentials.

Could my iPhone be locked to a carrier?

If your iPhone is locked to a specific carrier and you’re using a different SIM or traveling internationally, it could cause activation issues with iMessage. If you suspect this, check with your carrier or try a different SIM card.

Will resetting my iPhone fix the iMessage signed-out error?

Resetting your iPhone should be a last resort only, but if nothing else works, you can try a full reset. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Be sure to back up your data first!

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Joy Okumoko

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