iMessage and FaceTime Waiting for Activation on iPhone 14: 8 Fixes

How to fix iMessage and FaceTime not working on iPhone 14? Here are 8 fixes to iMessage and FaceTime waiting for activation on iPhone 14.

Apple recently released a support document explaining that users may experience problems with iMessage and FaceTime not working on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro after completing the setup. Many iPhone owners use iMessage almost every hour and FaceTime nearly every day, so this iPhone 14 issue is a bumpy start for them. This article lists some known problems where users can’t activate iMessage and FaceTime, and 8 effective ways to fix them.

Table of Contents

iMessage and FaceTime Waiting for Activation on iPhone 14: 4 Common Issues

There are a number of reasons for iMessage and FaceTime waiting for activation on iPhone 14, which could be a problem with your cellular company or just an easy-to-fix bug. When we break down the problem, we find that this error message comes in 5 different forms. 

  • Waiting for activation
  • Activation unsuccessful
  • An error occurred during activation
  • Could not sign in, please check your network connection
  • Unable to connect to the iMessage/FaceTime server. Try again.
iMessage and FaceTime Waiting for Activation

Also, here are the 4 most common issues you might experience after setting up your iPhone 14:

  • Unable to receive iMessage or FaceTime calls
  • When you send a message to another Apple device, you’ll see a green message bubble instead of a blue one
  • The conversations in your Message appear as two separate threads instead of one
  • The recipient will see that your message is coming from the wrong account, for example, from your email address if you had selected your phone number

Tips

In some cases, iMessage can take up to 24 hours to activate, meaning it won’t work at a certain point. 

8 Effective Fixes to iMessage and FaceTime not Working on iPhone 14 

While the error messages and problems above are different, these are almost the same issue: your FaceTime and iMessage won’t work properly on your new iPhone 14. It is quite confusing. Don’t worry. Here are 8 ways to help you fix it effectively.

1. Update Your ‌iPhone 14‌ to iOS 16.0.1

Apple says the first way to fix these iPhone 14 problems is to update your device to iOS 16.0.1, which is now available for all iPhone 14 models. According to the iOS 16.0.1 release notes, the update fixes bugs that could affect activation and migration of new iPhone devices.

Make sure your phone’s charge is greater than 50% before you update. Or you can plug your iPhone 14 directly into a power outlet using the Lightning cable and power plug, and ensure that you’re connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Then simply go to “Settings” > “General” > “Software Update” > “Download and Install”, and follow the prompts to complete your update. 

Update to iOS 16.0.1

2. Adjust the iMessage/Facebook Settings Slightly

If you are still experiencing problems with iMessage and FaceTime not working on iPhone 14 after updating to iOS 16.0.1, you can try to adjust your iMessage/Facebook Settings slightly. Launch your “Settings” app and click on the “Cellular” to make sure your phone line is enabled. Note that if you are using multiple SIM cards, ensure that the phone number you are using is selected and turned on.

Then, head to “Settings” > “Messages” >  “Send & Receive”. Click on the phone number you want to use with Message. Go back to “Settings” > “FaceTime” and click on the phone number you want to use with FaceTime. It will reset the activation process of these services, allowing your iPhone 14 to work properly.

Send & Receive iMessage

3. Make Sure the Date and Time Zone Settings are Correct

When Apple tries to authenticate your iMessage or FaceTime, the activation server will expect a time match between them and your device. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Date & Time”, and enable the “Set Automatically”. Also, make sure the time zone is correct.

4. Restart Your iPhone 14

In general, restarting your device will solve most of your iPhone problems and iOS16 known issues. Go to “Settings” > “Messages” and turn off “iMessage”. Then turn off your “FaceTime” in the same way. Finally, restart your iPhone 14 and enable both options again.

5. Make Sure Your Can Send and Receive SMS Messages

When you activate FaceTime and iMessage on your iPhone 14, Apple may send you an SMS to verify its status. The message is usually invisible to you because it happens in the background. If you can’t send and receive SMS messages, then Apple may not be able to authorize the device and you can’t activate iMessage and FaceTime. We recommend that you double check with your carrier to confirm that you can indeed send and receive SMS messages. Also, making sure you have enough SMS/call balance will be helpful.

Send and Receive SMS Messages

6. Reset Your Network Settings

If you experience Wi-Fi or cellular network problems, Apple will not be able to activate your iPhone 14 with either service. Please go to “Settings” > “General” > “Transfer or Reset iPhone” > “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings”. Be sure to record your Wi-Fi password before you reset it, as you will need to re-enter it after the reset.

7. Sign out of Your Apple ID and Sign in again

Open the “Settings” app on your device and click on your name from the top. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Sign Out”. Here, select whether you want to keep a copy of your data on this iPhone. Even if you choose not to, they will still be in your iCloud. When you log in again, all of this will be synced and available on your iPhone. Click on “Sign Out” in the upper right corner  and confirm it.

Go to “Settings” and you’ll see the login option. Click on the “Sign into your iPhone” and enter your Apple ID & password. When prompted, enter the six-digit verification code sent on your other trusted Apple devices. If you do not have any other trusted devices, the code will be sent via SMS or dialed to your phone number.

Sign in to iPhone

Tips

When you log out, the App Store, iMessage, and FaceTime will also automatically log out. But you can still use your phone number to activate your iMessage and FaceTime. You can’t use your Apple ID for email.

8. Reset All Setting

Go to “Settings” > “General” > “ Transfer or Reset iPhone” > “Reset” > “Reset all Settings”. This is usually a last resort, as it resets all of your personalized and customized functions to factory defaults. Performing this will not affect any of your personal device data, including photos, texts, documents, and other files. After restarting your iPhone 14, you need to reconfigure these settings. 

Bottom Line

Hope the 8 solutions above will easily help you solve the problem of iMessage and FaceTime not working on iPhone 14. If your FaceTime or iMessage still won’t activate after all this, directly contact Apple Support.