iMessage Not Working iOS 10, How-To Fix

iOS 10 finally brings flair to iMessage so that we now have a vibrant message experience that includes emoji, invisible ink, animated backgrounds, digital touch, bubble effects, handwriting, and tons of stickers.

iOS 10 is also Apple’s first foray into opening up iMessage to third-party developers.  So our iMessage experience is getting a lot more interesting and fun, as developers deliver new add-ons to our Messages.

iMessage is changing the way we communicate via our smartphones, acting as a hub for all sorts of different experiences.  But as iMessage grows increasingly complex, so too do our issues and problems with the app.

iOS 10 users report several problems with their iMessages apps after updating to the latest iOS. If you upgraded to the newest iOS and are having issues with iMessage and Messages, here are some tips to help you troubleshoot.

Using a Different iOS version?

• See this article for problems with iOS 12 iMessage and Message App
• If you’re using iOS 11 and experiencing Message problems, please see this article
• And if you’re still using iOS 9, check out this article to fix your iOS 9 Message problems

These Top Tips Fix Most iMessage Problems 

1. Make sure you are applying sufficient finger or stylus pressure to the Message send button (the upward pointing arrow icon to the right of your message.) And that you are holding that touch longer than usual to allow the send with effects menu to appear.
   1. For iFolks with 3D Touch, a light touch is all you need
   2. For iFolks without 3D Touch, a firm and long touch is what you need
2. Restart Messages app by double tapping the Home button then swipe to the app to force quit. This action force stops the Messages app. You don’t lose any data or messages. Then relaunch the Messages app
3. Restart your iOS device by pressing and holding the off/on button until you see the slider. Then slide the slider to turn off your device
4. Turn on Airplane Mode and turn off by going to Settings > Airplane Mode
5. Turn off and on iMessage by going to Settings > Messages

Connections and Settings Tips

1. It is likely that a connection problem may cause this issue. Resetting network settings may fix this. Simply Tap Settings > General > Reset > choose Reset Network Settings
2. Some users stated that turning off Wi-Fi Assist fixes this problem. If you want to try this tip, go to Settings > Cellular > and turn off Wi-Fi Assist
3. Make sure that the Date and Time setting is chosen “Set Automatically” by going to Settings > General > Date & Time
4. Reset All Settings by opening up Settings > General.  Scroll down and tap on Reset.  Choose Reset All Settings.  Enter your passcode if asked and choose Reset All Settings again.  This resets all the settings on your iDevice. But, it won’t delete any media or data
5. Try to change your DNS settings and try again if this solves your iMessage problem. To do this, tap Settings > Wi-Fi. Locate your wireless connection then tap the (i) button. Now tap the DNS field and enter 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 (this is Google’s public DNS)

If none of these Top Tips worked for you, then let’s drill down into some specific issues iFolks reported with iMessage and Messages in iOS10 and later.

iMessage Problems: Effects Not Working

One of the most common complaints is that the new iOS 10 iMessage effects are not working.  If you experience these iMessage problems, the first thing to check is that both you (the sender) and the message recipient are running iOS 10 or higher.

The full effects of iMessage only work when all receiving devices are running the latest iOS.  If not, then many of the cool animations transmit as static images.

Also, ensure that you are sending your messages via iMessage and not as SMS Text Messages.  The quick and easy way to tell is iMessages are blue, and SMS/MMS Texts are green.  Effects only work on iMessage texts–the blue ones.

Bubble Effects Not Appearing in iMessage

A frequent issue is that the bubble effects are not appearing up when holding down the send button.

What Bubble Effects Do in iMessage

• Slam: Stamps the bubble down and makes the entire screen ripple
• Loud: Sends a giant bubble that shakes before settling down into place
• Gentle: Sends a tiny bubble that meekly slips into place
• Invisible ink: Covers the bubble in animated noise and blur until you swipe it out of the way

The first thing to verify is that Reduce Motion is OFF.  Check General>Accessibility>Reduce Motion>Off.

Also, we discovered that bubble effects work only when pressing the send button on 3D Touch iPhones and iDevices.  For non-3D Touch iDevices, bubble effects only appear when you do a long press on the send button (the upward pointing arrow icon to the right of your message.)

Screen Effects Not Appearing in iMessage

Another one of iMessage problems is that the screen effects are not showing up when adding to your message.

What Screen Effects Do in iMessage

• Balloons: Sends multi-color balloons expanding and flying up from screen bottom
• Confetti: Drops multi-color confetti from screen top
• Lasers: Fills the screen with lasers and sound
• Fireworks: Sets off multi-color fireworks
• Shooting stars: Shoots starbursts from screen left and exploded as it moves right

Similar to bubble effects verify is that Reduce Motion is OFF.

Check General>Accessibility>Reduce Motion>Off

How You Press Send is Important

Make sure you press firmly on the send button for 3D Touch iPhones and iDevices.  For non-3D Touch iDevices, do a long press on the send button (the upward pointing arrow icon to the right of your message.)

At the top of your iDevice, select the Screen tab and swipe right to switch effect type.  Once picked press the send button–the blue upward-pointing arrow icon to the right of your message.

Handwriting Feature in iMessage Not Working?

If the handwritten keyboard doesn’t automatically come up, rotate your screen to landscape, and tap the hand-drawn loop button located in the bottom-right of your on-screen keyboard. The handwriting button looks like an upside down hand-scripted “e.”

To bring back the regular keyboard from the handwriting view, tap the keyboard icon on the bottom right corner.

Predictive Emoji Not Working in iMessage?

iOS takes emojis to a new level! Literally, at our fingertips, we have heaps of emoji icons to express our feelings from moment to moment.

Built into iOS 10 is an excellent predictive quick type keyboard feature that suggests emojis replace regular words.

So if you type in a dragon, the text changes to orange indicating that a dragon emoji is available to replace the word.  Tap on the orange to replace with emoji or ignore to keep your word.

Bear in mind that an emoji is available only for words that have an associated emoji.

Unfortunately, some iMessage users are experiencing issues with predictive emoji showing up.  Often, the predictive text bar fails to display a corresponding emoji, so users are forced to find them manually.

The good news for your emoji-lovers is that we have a couple of fixes for you! See this article for more in-depth tips on fixing problems with emoji.

A Word of Caution for Multiple Keyboard Users

If you have multiple keyboards installed, long press the globe icon and select the Emoji keyboard.  Also note, that at this time predictive emoji DOES NOT work in the Gboard Keyboard and other third-party keyboards.

Instead, Gboard offers emoji suggestions in the keyboard’s top bar, to the right of the Google icon.

Predictive Emoji Fix #1

Go to Settings>General.  Select Keyboards.  Scroll down to the bottom and locate the toggle labeled Predictive. Toggle this ON and OFF a couple of times, ending up with it ON (green.)

Now, reset your iDevice by holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for 10 seconds, wait until you see the Apple Logo.

Check and see if iMessage is now predicting emojis as expected.

Predictive Emoji Fix #2

Go to Settings>General.  Scroll down and select Reset.  Tap Rest Keyboard Dictionary.  Enter your passcode if requested and tap Reset Dictionary again.

Once Dictionary resets, return to Settings>General.  And select Keyboards.  Tap Edit and Delete the Emoji Keyboard.

Once deleted, select Add New Keyboard and select the Emoji Keyboard.

Now, reset your iDevice by holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for 10 seconds, wait until you see the Apple Logo.

Check and see if iMessage is now predicting emojis as expected.

Predictive Emoji Fix #3

Check out our video tips for getting predictive emoji working.

iMessage Problems When Sending or Receiving Messages

After updating to iOS 10, you experience problems sending or receiving messages. Maybe your messages show as sent but are never delivered. Or your messages show as undelivered, but you get a response.

These problems occur in single and group messages.

So if you experience this issue, try the 9 Tips listed above.  This includes restarting your phone, toggling the iMessage application on and off, and restoring the device to factory settings.

If these steps don’t solve your problem, try turning off Wi-Fi Assist.

See also: Messages (iMessage) not working, How to fix

Delayed Text Messages

When you use iMessage, you are not receiving messages until several hours after they were sent. Or, your recipients get your sent messages hours after you posted them.

You even receive a ‘delivered’ notice, but the message does not arrive immediately. This problem often occurs when your phone number is not checked on the FaceTime app.

Recipients Get the Same iMessage Twice

When sending an iMessage to your friends, it’s delivered two or three times unexpectedly. If you have this problem, try some of the fixes outlined above.  This includes turning your iDevice on and off, restarting it, and resetting to factory settings.

If these steps still don’t solve the problem, try resetting your phone’s network features under Settings.

Turn iMessage off and then back on. If you continue to experience the same problem, contact Apple Support for additional solutions.

See also: How to send/receive iMessages in airplane mode

Waiting for Activation Error in iMessage

1. Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage
2. Disable Facetime
3. Sign out of your Apple ID
   1. Go to the Settings > iTunes & App Store > Tap Apple ID > Sign Out
4. Turn on Airplane mode
   1. Wifi will be turned OFF automatically.
   2. Turn on  Wifi
5. Return to Settings>Messages and turn on iMessage
   1. Enter your Apple ID and password
6. Go to Settings and turn OFF Airplane mode
   1. If you see a notification that says ‘Your carrier may charge for SMS’ – Tap OK
   2.  If not, go to Messages, turn OFF iMessage and then turn it ON again.
7. Give it a few minutes, and your iMessage should activate

iMessage Keeps on Crashing While Trying to Type

Some users have had this annoying problem. iMessage frequently crashes while trying to use it. One tip that has worked for many users is turn off Auto Cap, AutoCorrect, predictive and Check Spelling features.

This is more of a workaround, but it does work and mitigates the crashing problem.

“Service Denied” Text Message from “Unknown?”

Another one of iOS 10 iMessage problems is receiving a ‘Service Denied’ text message from ‘Unknown.’  If received, report the message to your carrier. The problem is likely your mobile carrier and not your Apple iDevice/iPhone.

Troubleshooting tips for ‘Service Denied’ text message

1. Sync and Backup your phone with iTunes
2. Restore it to its original factory setting
3. Sync with iTunes to restore your apps, music, pictures, and other files
4. Remember when restoring your device to restore it as a “New Device.” Don’t restore from “backup” or you end up with the same problem.

And Always Remember to Clean Up!

 

Reader Tips

• I fixed iMessage by making sure the date and time were correct. After traveling in a different timezone, my date and time did not update automatically as it normally does when I return. So I manually adjusted the time and date by tapping on the correct time zone on the map. Once that was correct, then and only then did I recheck the automatic option

Summary

Elizabeth Jones( Co-owner & Content Producer )

For most of her professional life, Amanda Elizabeth (Liz for short) trained all sorts of folks on how to use media as a tool to tell their own unique stories. She knows a thing or two about teaching others and creating how-to guides!

Her clients include Edutopia, Scribe Video Center, Third Path Institute, Bracket, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Big Picture Alliance.

Elizabeth received her Master of Fine Arts degree in media making from Temple University, where she also taught undergrads as an adjunct faculty member in their department of Film and Media Arts.