在Apple(Apple)设备上激活 iMessage通常是在公园里散步。事实上，激活在后台自动发生，无需用户输入。但是，有时 iMessage 激活失败，从而导致消息服务无法使用。
当您的Apple设备无法激活 iMessage 时，您会发现“等待激活”、“激活不成功”、“激活过程中发生错误”等错误消息。我们重点介绍导致 iPhone 上iMessage 激活失败(iMessage activation failure)的因素及其相应的修复。
1. 对您的Internet连接和设置进行故障排除
互联网连接是在Apple(Apple)设备上激活和使用 iMessage 的重要先决条件。如果您的 Wi-Fi 或蜂窝网络连接缓慢(cellular connection is slow)或无法使用，您的 iPhone 将显示“等待激活”消息。
如果您无法访问网页或使用依赖互联网的应用程序，则很可能是您的连接问题。重新启动您的 Wi-Fi 路由器或联系您的互联网服务提供商报告问题。
还有一件事：确保(Make)“设置”(Settings)应用可以访问您设备的互联网连接，尤其是在您使用蜂窝数据的情况下。
打开设备的“设置”(Settings)菜单，选择“蜂窝(Cellular)网络”，在应用列表中找到“设置”(Settings)并确保已将其打开。
将 iPhone 的网络设置重置为出厂默认设置也可以恢复互联网连接，尤其是当您的设备以外的其他设备可以通过同一Wi-Fi或蜂窝网络访问互联网时。
转到设置(Settings)>常规(General)>重置(Reset)>重置网络设置(Reset Network Settings)。再次选择重置网络设置(Reset Network Settings)以继续。
打开设备的蜂窝数据或加入 Wi-Fi 网络，看看是否能修复 iMessage“等待激活”错误。
2. 检查 iMessage 服务器状态
如果为消息服务供电的服务器遇到问题，您将无法在 iPhone、iPad 或其他Apple设备上激活或使用 iMessage。(Apple)访问Apple 系统状态(Apple System Status)页面并检查 iMessage 是否正常工作。
如果 iMessage 旁边的状态指示灯为绿色，则 iMessage 的服务器已启动并正在运行。
另一方面，黄色指示器表示 iMessage 正在经历停机。在这种情况下，您可以等到Apple解决问题或联系Apple 支持(Apple Support)报告问题。
3.重新启用iMessage
关闭 iMessage 并从头开始设置消息服务可以消除“等待激活”消息。
打开设置(Settings)应用程序，选择消息(Messages)，然后关闭iMessage。等待(Wait)大约 5 秒钟，然后重新打开该选项。
请注意，根据您所在的地区，您的网络运营商可能会在您每次在 iPhone 或 iPad 上重新启用 iMessage 时收取激活 iMessage 的费用。如果 iMessage 状态仍然停留在“等待激活”，则跳转到下一个故障排除解决方案。(Jump)
4.重新启用FaceTime
重新启动FaceTime可以强制您的 iPhone 或 iPad 激活 iMessage。
转到设置(Settings)，选择FaceTime，然后关闭FaceTime。等待(Wait)5-10 秒，然后在大约 5 秒内重新打开该选项。
5. 检查日期(Date)、时间(Time)和位置设置(Location Settings)
不正确的日期和时间配置将导致多个Apple 应用程序和服务出现故障(Apple apps and services to malfunction)。一些依赖 iPhone 日期和时间设置准确性的第三方应用程序（例如Google 地图）也可能会停止正常工作。(Google Maps)前往设置菜单并确保您的 iPhone 根据您当前的时区自动设置时间和日期。
打开设置应用程序，转到常规(General)，选择日期和时间(Date & Time)，然后打开自动设置(Set Automatically)。
如果您的 iPhone 或 iPad 有屏幕时间(Time)密码，则自动设置时间的选项可能会显示为灰色。转到iPhone 的屏幕时间设置(iPhone’s Screen Time settings)，关闭密码，然后返回“日期和时间”设置菜单以自动设置设备的时间。
我们还应该提到，并非所有蜂窝运营商都允许用户自动设置其设备的时间。Apple还指出，“自动设置”选项可能并非在所有国家和地区 都可用。(not be available in all countries)
如果您设备的日期和时间仍然不正确，请检查 iPhone 的设置并确保使用您的位置来确定准确的时区。
- 前往设置(Settings)并选择隐私(Privacy)。
- 选择定位服务(Location Services)。
- 确保已启用定位服务。(Location Services)然后(Afterward)，滚动到页面底部并选择系统服务(System Services)。
- 切换设置时区(Setting Time Zone)。
6.重新启动您的设备
如果由于“等待激活”错误，您仍然无法让 iMessage 在您的 iPhone 或 iPad 上运行，请执行系统重启并再次检查。
前往“设置”(Settings) > “通用(General)” > “关机(Shut Down)”，然后将“滑动关机”滑块向右移动。
等待(Wait)您的设备完全关闭，然后按住侧边(Side)按钮或电源按钮重新打开设备。将您的设备连接到互联网，前往“信息(Messages)”设置菜单，然后检查 iMessage 现在是否处于活动状态。
7. 更新您的设备
iOS 和 iPadOS 错误有时会导致 iMessage 故障。如果您的 iPhone 的 iMessage 状态仍然停留在“等待激活”，安装最新的操作系统版本可以解决问题。
转到设置(Settings)>常规(General)>软件更新(Software Update)，然后选择下载并安装(Download and Install)。重新启动您的设备以完成更新并检查 iMessage 的激活状态。
8. 登出 Apple ID
断开Apple ID并重新登录对遇到 iMessage“等待激活”问题的 iPhone 用户来说非常有效。(worked the magic for iPhone users)如果上述故障排除步骤证明失败，您应该尝试此操作。虽然我们应该警告说，退出Apple ID会从您的设备中删除一些个人文件（如Apple Music下载）。
因此，我们建议您在退出Apple ID帐户之前备份您的 iPhone 。(backing up your iPhone)这将允许您轻松恢复在此过程中丢失的数据。
- 打开设置(Settings)并选择您的Apple ID 名称(Apple ID name)。
- 滚动到页面底部并选择退出(Sign Out)。
- 输入您设备的密码，然后点击关闭(Turn Off)以继续。
重启您的设备，重新连接您的Apple ID帐户，然后检查 iMessage 是否成功激活。
9. 联系您的移动运营商
如果您的网络运营商遇到网络停机，iMessage 激活可能会遇到困难。联系您的蜂窝运营商的客户支持以寻求帮助，或确认移动网络服务是否中断，尤其是短消息服务(Short Message Service)( SMS )。
10.联系苹果支持
如果您的移动运营商端一切正常，请联系 Apple 支持(contact Apple Support)报告问题。更好(Better)的是，直接与另一台支持 iMessage 的设备上的Apple 支持(Apple Support)代表聊天。您将获得有关如何实时解决问题的分步说明。
11. 等一下
根据 Apple 的说法，激活 iMessage和FaceTime有时需要长达 24 小时(sometimes takes up to 24 hours to activate iMessage)。激活时间范围通常取决于区域和蜂窝运营商等因素。查看这篇Apple 支持文章(Apple Support article)，了解支持 iMessage 的受支持移动/无线运营商列表。
How To Fix “iMessage Waiting for Activation” Error on iPhone
Activating iMessage on Apple devices is usually a walk in the рark. In fact, the activation happens automatically іn the background with no input from the user. Howеver, there are times whеn iMessage activation fails, thereby rendering the messagіng serνice unusable.
When your Apple device can’t activate iMessage, you’ll find error messages like “Waiting for activation,” “Activation unsuccessful,” “An error occurred during activation,” etc. We highlight factors responsible for iMessage activation failure on iPhones and their respective fixes.
1. Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection and Settings
An internet connection is an important prerequisite for activating and using iMessage on Apple devices. Your iPhone will display the “Waiting for activation” message if your Wi-Fi or cellular connection is slow or inoperative.
If you can’t visit web pages or use internet-dependent apps, your connection is most likely the problem. Restart your Wi-Fi router or contact your internet service provider to report the problem.
One more thing: Make sure the Settings app has access to your device’s internet connection, especially if you’re using cellular data.
Open your device’s Settings menu, select Cellular, locate Settings on the list of apps and ensure it’s toggled on.
Resetting your iPhone’s network settings to factory default could also restore internet connectivity, especially if other devices but yours can access the internet on the same Wi-Fi or cellular network.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Select Reset Network Settings again to proceed.
Turn on your device’s cellular data or join a Wi-Fi network and see if that fixes the iMessage “Waiting for activation” error.
2. Check iMessage Server Status
You cannot activate or use iMessage on your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple devices if the server powering the messaging service is experiencing an issue. Visit the Apple System Status page and check if iMessage is working normally.
If the status indicator next to iMessage is green, iMessage’s servers are up and running.
A yellow indicator, on the other hand, denotes that iMessage is experiencing downtime. In this case, you could either wait until Apple fixes the problem or contact Apple Support to report the issue.
3. Re-Enable iMessage
Turning off iMessage and setting up the messaging service from scratch can eliminate the “Waiting for activation” message.
Open the Settings app, select Messages, and toggle off iMessage. Wait for about 5 seconds and toggle the option back on.
Note that, depending on your region, your network carrier may charge a fee to activate iMessage each time you re-enable iMessage on your iPhone or iPad. Jump to the next troubleshooting solution if the iMessage status is still stuck on “Waiting for activation.”
4. Re-Enable FaceTime
Restarting FaceTime can force your iPhone or iPad to activate iMessage.
Go to Settings, select FaceTime, and toggle off FaceTime. Wait for 5-10 seconds and toggle the option back on in about 5 seconds.
5. Check Date, Time, and Location Settings
Incorrect date and time configurations will cause several Apple apps and services to malfunction. Some third-party apps (Google Maps, for example) that rely on the accuracy of your iPhone’s date and time settings may also stop working properly. Head to the settings menu and ensure your iPhone automatically sets time and date based on your current time zone.
Open the Settings app, go to General, select Date & Time, and toggle on Set Automatically.
The option to set time automatically might be grayed out if your iPhone or iPad has a Screen Time passcode. Go to your iPhone’s Screen Time settings, turn off the passcode, and return to the “Date & Time” settings menu to set your device’s time automatically.
We should also mention that not all cellular carriers allow users to set their device’s time automatically. Apple also notes that the “Set Automatically” option might not be available in all countries and regions.
If your device’s date and time remain incorrect, check your iPhone’s settings and ensure your location is used to determine the accurate time zone.
- Head to Settings and select Privacy.
- Select Location Services.
- Make sure Location Services is enabled. Afterward, scroll to the bottom of the page and select System Services.
- Toggle on Setting Time Zone.
6. Restart Your Device
If you still can’t get iMessage to work on your iPhone or iPad due to the “Waiting for activation” error, perform a system reboot and check again.
Go to Settings > General > Shut Down and move the “slide to power off” slider to the right.
Wait for your device to shut down completely and hold the Side or power button to power the device back on. Connect your device to the internet, head to the Messages settings menu, and check if iMessage is now active.
7. Update Your Device
iOS and iPadOS bugs are sometimes responsible for iMessage malfunctions. If your iPhone’s iMessage status is still stuck on “Waiting for activation,” installing the latest OS version could resolve the issue.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and select Download and Install. Restart your device to complete the update and check iMessage’s activation status.
8. Sign Out of Apple ID
Disconnecting Apple ID and signing back in worked the magic for iPhone users who’d encountered the iMessage “Waiting for activation” issue. You should try this if the troubleshooting steps above prove abortive. Although we should warn that signing out of Apple ID will delete some personal files (like Apple Music downloads) from your device.
Therefore, we recommend backing up your iPhone before signing out your Apple ID account. That’ll allow you to easily restore data lost during the process.
- Open Settings and select your Apple ID name.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Sign Out.
- Enter your device’s password and tap Turn Off to continue.
Restart your device, reconnect your Apple ID account, and check if iMessage activates successfully.
9. Contact Your Cellular Carrier
iMessage activation may hit a brick wall if your network carrier is experiencing network downtime. Reach out to your cellular carrier’s customer support for assistance, or to confirm if there’s a disruption in mobile network services—particularly Short Message Service (SMS).
10. Contact Apple Support
If everything’s fine on your cellular carrier’s end, contact Apple Support to report the problem. Better yet, chat directly with an Apple Support representative from another iMessage-enabled device. You’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to fix the problem in real-time.
11. Wait It Out
According to Apple, it sometimes takes up to 24 hours to activate iMessage and FaceTime. The activation time frame typically depends on factors like region and cellular carrier. Check out this Apple Support article for a list of supported mobile/wireless carriers that support iMessage.
