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Resetting Network Settings May Fix iMessages Not Working in iOS 7

Monday September 30, 2013 2:48 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
imessage_not_delivered_cropSince the release of iOS 7 earlier this month, a number of users have been complaining about issues with iMessages failing to be sent or received from their iOS devices.

While Apple's iMessage service has suffered from occasional outages, including a minor one documented on the company's System Status page earlier today, some users have been complaining of multi-day outages on their devices, suggesting that something more than a simple service problem may be occurring. Anecdotal reports have indicated that the issue may have worsened with last week's release of iOS 7.0.2, but reports of problems do date further back than that.

Some users have reported that turning their iOS devices off and back on fixes the problem, while others indicate that the solution has not worked for them. In our own testing with a device experiencing difficulties, the following steps appear to have fixed the issue (Note: this will cause your device to forget previously entered Wi-fi passwords)

1. Turn off iMessage in Settings > Messages
2. Reset networking settings in Settings > General > Reset
3. Reenable iMessage in Settings > Messages

Many users are reporting that these failed iMessages are also not falling back to traditional text messages as should occur when iMessage is unavailable. Instead, the iMessages simply hang during the sending process and eventually show as undelivered.

[ 198 comments ]


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.Andy
69 months ago

1. Turn off iMessage in Settings > Messages
2. Reset networking settings in Settings > General > Reset
3. Reenable iMessage in Settings > Messages

Rating: 24 Votes
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trainwrecka
69 months ago
Another thing to check is your service provider. If it says "Sprint" please put iMessage in the "OFF" position.
Rating: 18 Votes
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BC2009
69 months ago


But some iMessages never got thru to me. I know, they were from my wife.


Some might consider that a feature. Built-in excuse for failure to respond.
Rating: 11 Votes
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oliversl
69 months ago
Too glad I'm still on iOS 6
Rating: 7 Votes
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vmachiel
69 months ago
Hmm that actually worked for me, awesome!
Rating: 4 Votes
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ThunderSkunk
69 months ago
Dammit, iOS Vista...
Rating: 4 Votes
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audunhaugland
69 months ago
I just had to restart my iphone. Then it worked again.

But some iMessages never got thru to me. I know, they were from my wife.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Whodatdumbguy
69 months ago
As a developer, I reported this problem with video to back it up showing them what happens between two phones with iMessage and was told by engineers that this is normal behavior. Hmmm guess they should have paid more attention to me 2 months ago.
Rating: 3 Votes
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iChrist
69 months ago

Will resetting network settings lose all my known Wifi's?



Yes. An awful solution for the 'people' at Apple tech support to suggest.


:apple:
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Fenir
69 months ago
Wife (noticeably upset): "Honey, where where you after work!?"

Husband: "Uh...hun, what are you talking about? Didn't you get my text message?

Wife (now more upset): "Uh, no. You didn't send one. Don't try pulling that card on me"

Husband: "No, hun, really, iMessage was down! You must not have gotten my message!"

Wife: "BUT WE DON'T EVEN USE iPhones!!!!!"

Husband: "Exactly! That's how bad it is!"
Rating: 2 Votes

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