"I have an iPhone 6 and just upgraded to iOS 11 but I can't send iMessage now and I keep getting this activation error message on my phone. How can I fix iMessage not working in iOS 11?This is one of the highly reported problems of iOS 11 just like the flashlight not working in iOS 11, alarm and airdrop not working in iOS 11 troubling users seriously.
The reason for iOS 11 iMessage not working is likely due to a poor internet connection, carrier issues, or incorrect settings, and can be resolved by trying a series of simple troubleshooting steps.
If iMessage isn't working on your iOS 11 device, you might experience issues with effects not working, bubble effects not appearing, screen effects not appearing, or the handwriting feature not working. To troubleshoot, try these simple tips.
If the iMessage server is down, no one can use the iMessage feature, although this is a rare occurrence. You can check the Apple official site for more information.
To activate iMessage, your iPhone needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. Go to Settings and turn on WLAN or Cellular.
If the network has been already on but you can't connect to the internet, you can fix this by resetting network settings. To do this, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, and finally select Reset Network Setting. This should resolve the issue and allow you to connect to the internet.
If you're unable to use iMessage, first, ensure it's turned on by going to Settings > Messages. Then, verify that your phone is set up to receive iMessages by going to Settings > Messages and checking the addresses and mobile number listed in Send & Receive.
If the Message app is stuck, it may prevent iMessage from working. To resolve this, double-press the Home button, swipe up on the Message app, and shut it down. After a few seconds, relaunch the app to see if iMessage is functioning properly.
Excessive messages can consume iPhone space, leading to system and application slowdowns, which may cause iMessage not working. To resolve this, you can either delete unnecessary messages or use a free iPhone data transfer software to transfer messages to a PC, thereby freeing up iPhone space.
To delete messages on your iPhone or iPad, open the Messages app, find the conversation you want to delete, swipe left on it, and select Delete. This will permanently remove the conversation from your Messages app.
iOS 11, the first version of a new breakthrough, had some small bugs, including issues with iMessage. However, an update to iOS 11.0.3 is now available, which should provide effective fixes for these problems.
Check for a new iPhone software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update, then download and install it.
Go to Settings > General > Date & Time, and turn on "Set Automatically".
If the above solutions don't work, you can try resetting and restoring your iPhone to its factory settings, but be aware that this will erase all data, so it's recommended to back up your device first.
To reset your iPhone, go to Settings, then General, followed by Reset, and finally select Reset All Content and Settings.
Downgrading to iOS 10 is a viable option if your device is outdated and can't handle the latest iOS version, making iOS 11 the final resort.