iOS 26 iMessage not working? Try these fixes

⚡ Fast fix

• Remove inactive SIM cards: Delete inactive eSIMs or remove unused physical SIM cards.
• Wait 24 hours: It may take up to 24 hours to verify a phone number.
• Update your phone: Install iOS 26.1 or later.
• Reset iMessage: Turn iMessage off in Settings, restart your iPhone, and turn it back on.

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If you recently updated your iPhone® to iOS® 26 and noticed that iMessage® isn’t working, don’t worry. It’s not just you. A bug in the software update caused this issue for many people.

Asurion Expert help our millions of customer with all of their tech care needs—from setup to protection and repair—and have the know-how to solve iPhone issues too. Here are the steps they recommend to get your iMessage working again.

Check for updates and manage your SIM cards

The simplest fix when iOS 26 iMessage is not working is to update your phone to a newer version of iOS. Apple identified the inactive SIM bug causing issues with iMessage on iOS 26, so iOS 26.1 and later versions have fixed this bug.

Check for a software update with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General > Software Update.
3. If an update is available, it will appear on this screen. Make sure the update is labeled iOS 26.1 or later.
4. Choose Update Now to download and install the update right away. Choose Update Tonight to install the update during off-hours when your phone is locked and has plenty of battery life.

Alternatively, you can adjust your SIM settings to make iMessage work on iOS 26:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Cellular.

You may see multiple SIMs listed. Dual SIM lets you use two phone numbers on the same device. However, it can cause problems on iOS 26 when you have an inactive SIM with the same phone number as your active SIM.

If you have an inactive SIM, whether it’s an eSIM or a physical SIM card, you will need to get rid of it to resolve the iMessage issue on iOS 26.

Remove an inactive physical SIM by locating the SIM tray on the side of your phone. Turn off your phone and insert a paper clip or SIM ejector into the small opening to pop open the tray. Pull the tray out and remove the SIM card before reinserting the tray.

To delete an inactive eSIM:

1. Select the eSIM plan in Settings > Cellular.
2. Select Delete eSIM.

After removing the inactive SIM, restart your phone. This may solve your iMessage issues on iOS 26.

Refresh your messaging settings and Apple ID

The next solution to try is adjusting your messaging settings. If you’re getting an iOS 26 iMessage activation unsuccessful message, try these steps:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Messages.
2. Choose Send & Receive.
3. Tap your phone number to activate iMessage. If your phone number already has a checkmark next to it, you don’t have to change anything.
4. In Messages, turn off iMessage.
5. Restart your phone and go to Settings > Apps > Messages again.
6. Turn iMessage back on.

It’s a good idea to try signing out and back into Apple ID to refresh your credentials as well:

1. Go to Settings and click on your name.
2. Choose Sign Out.
3. If the Sign Out option is greyed out, you may need to adjust settings in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Enter your Apple ID® passcode and verify which data you want to keep on your phone.
5. Select Sign Out again to confirm.
6. Restart your phone.
7. Open Settings and select Sign in to your iPhone.
8. Enter your Apple ID and password.

These quick resets may resolve the issues preventing your iMessage from working properly on iOS 26. When you update your phone, you may also notice some iOS 26 design changes, such as app icon redesigns and better one-handed access.

Troubleshoot your network and carrier settings

If none of the other solutions have fixed your iMessage, it may be a connection issue with your carrier. Check to see if your carrier currently has any network outages. Try switching from cellular data to Wi-Fi to see if iMessage works on a different connection.

As a last resort, try resetting your network settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Resetting your network settings will not delete your data, but you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks. Consider contacting your carrier for help if you experience persistent connection issues.