iMessage Not Working on iPhone 18 Pro? How to Fix

This article explains how you can fix if iMessage is not working as expected on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. You might have problems trying to send iMessages. For example, you might see a red exclamation mark next to an iMessage you want to send, indicating your message did not send. You might also see an alert saying “not delivered”. Sometimes, your messages might be delivered as regular text messages (green bubbles), instead of iMessages (blue bubbles). Furthermore, you might also have problems receiving iMessages that your friends send to you. You may not receive iMessages on your iPhone 18 Pro at all.

Another common issue is iMessage activation. Some iPhone 18 Pro users may see a “waiting for activation” when they want to turn on iMessage.

Are you having this problem too? Try the troubleshooting steps below in order. Please test iMessage to see if you’ve fixed your issue after trying each step.

Not delivered

If you keep getting a “not delivered” alert saying “this iMessage was not delivered” when you try to send iMessages on your iPhone 18 Pro, tap the red exclamation mark and tap Try Again. If you still can’t send the message, tap the red exclamation point, then tap Send as Text Message. Messaging rates may apply.

When you resend, is your iMessage delivered this time? If you are still having this problem, try the next step.

Check your settings

Please check the following settings:

Tap Settings > Apps > Messages and make sure that iMessage is enabled.
Tap Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts and ensure that the sender is not on your block list. Because you will not receive iMessages from people who are on the list.
Make sure that your recipient has an Apple device. Make sure that iMessage is enabled on your recipient device.
If you are having issues with a group message, open the conversation and check to see if you left it. If you see a message that says you left the conversation, then either you left the conversation or you were removed from the group message. You can rejoin a group message only if someone in the group adds you.

System status for iMessage

If iMessage is still not working on your iPhone 18 Pro, check the system status for iMessage. You should do this especially if you start having this problem suddenly. It is possible that Apple is experiencing downtime with its iMessage services. You can find out if iMessage is down. Here is how:

Open a web browser on your device.
Open Apple’s System Status page.
Locate iMessage in the list of services.
If you see a green circle next to it, Apple is showing that iMessage services are up and running from their end. Continue with the steps below.
If you see a red, blue, or anything other than green circle next to iMessage, this means that iMessage services are disrupted and not running. The problem is on Apple’s end. Contact Apple Support if you still can’t send or receive iMessages after the service is back.
On your iPhone 18 Pro, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive and then make sure that your Apple account email and your phone number (if applicable) are set to send and receive iMessages.

Restart your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone 18 Pro may fix your iMessage problem. Here is how:

Press and hold the side button and either volume button together until the power off slider appears.
Drag the onscreen slider.
Wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.
Press and hold the side button (on the right side of your iPhone) until you see the Apple logo.

Turn iMessage off and back on

On your iPhone 18 Pro, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn off iMessage. Then restart your device. And then when your device is turned on, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn on iMessage.

Check your Internet connection

You need a network connection (cellular or Wi-Fi) to be able to send or receive iMessages. Please make sure that your iPhone 18 Pro is connected to a cellular data or Wi-Fi network. You can easily check this. Open Safari on your device and visit geekschalk.com. Does our website load? If not, it may mean that your device is not connected to the Internet, causing your iMessage problem. Here is what you can do:

You may want to restart your Wi-Fi router. Restart your router and cable modem by unplugging the devices and then plugging them back in.
It is possible that your Internet service provider is having issues. You may want to contact your service provider for more help.
You can send iMessages over cellular. If you see SOS Only, No Service or Searching alerts on your device, that means that you can’t connect to a cellular network. Here is what you can do:
- Try to turn on Airplane Mode for at least 15 seconds, and then turn it off (Settings > Airplane Mode).
- Turn Cellular Data off and then on again (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data).
- Go to Settings > General > About. If a carrier settings update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to install your carrier update.
- Again there may be issues with your cellular company. Contact your carrier.

iOS update

Make sure that you’ve installed the latest software updates. Check for an iOS update and if there is an update, update your device. Here is how:

On your device, tap Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Software Update.
And if there is an update, follow the onscreen instructions to update your device.

Check the date and time

Please ensure that the date and time are set correctly for your time zone. On your device, tap Settings > General > Date & Time. Turn on Set Time Automatically. To set the date and time yourself, turn off Set Time Automatically, then set the date and time. To activate iMessage, your time zone also needs to be set correctly.

Activate iMessage online

Go to apple.co/IMFT-mac.
Under Enable Apple Account, tap Get Started.
Sign into your Apple Account and follow the onscreen instructions. If you use a phone number with iMessage, make sure to enter that phone number.
You will receive an email if your account is ready for iMessage and FaceTime use.