After updating iPhones to the latest version of iOS, many iFolks experience a problem sending text messages. Instead of the standard “Message sent” confirmation, the following message appears: Unable to send the message, iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message.
So far, Apple has no official answer to this problem. However, here you can find some methods that we find useful.
Solution 1: Check The Apple Imessage Server:
If Apple iMessage Server is down, nobody can use the iMessage service. This may be the cause of your problem. This is a rare situation, but it can still happen. Be sure to verify it before performing the following methods.
Go to the Apple System Status page (or type Apple System Status in Google and open the first result).
Check out the iMessage point. If it is green, the servers work fine and the problem is on your iPhone.
Solution 2: Restart Your Iphone:
Restarting your iDevice can solve many everyday problems. Try it with this one.
Press and hold the power key until you see the Slide slider to turn off and slide it.
30 – 40 seconds after it turns off, press and hold the Power key again to turn it on.
Solution 3: Enable / Disable iMessage:
Another way to correct “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” is to activate iMessage (deactivate and activate again if it is already ON).
- On your iPhone, go to Settings and touch Messages.
- Turn on the iMessage lever. (If it is already on, turn it off and on again)
- Try sending a text message.
If that doesn’t work, activate iMessage. Then, turn off your iPhone and turn it on again.
Also, try turning off Facetime and then enable and disable iMessage (try both combinations). Now, restart the iPhone.
Solution 4: Reset Network Settings for iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message:
- Resetting your iPhone’s network settings worked for some users. You can try too.
- First, go to Settings> Messages and disable the Send as SMS and iMessage option.
- Go to Settings and tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings and enter your password if necessary.
Go back to Settings> Messages and activate the Send as SMS and iMessage option.
Note: This procedure will NOT delete any data from iPhone memory. It will only delete saved Wi-Fi passwords and network settings.
Solution 5: Delete The Locked Message / Conversation:
If the error “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” occurs when a message is sent only to a specific contact:
- Go to Settings> Messages> Disable iMessage
- Try to delete the first text message that is stuck when sending with iMessage.
- Once you delete it, try sending another text to the same contact.
If that doesn’t work, try to delete the whole conversation and start a new one.
Solution 6: Change from I-messages to SMS:
- Go to Settings and open Messages. Make sure that iMessages and Send as SMS are turned on.
- Go back to Settings and touch Cell. Now, slide Cellular data to OFF.
- Go back to Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Turn off Wi-Fi.
- Open the Messages application and try to send a message to the contact to whom you want to send SMS messages.
- The message should start to come out as a blue iMessage. Press and hold the message bubble until you see the “Send as text message” option.
- Now press that option. Once you choose this, the message should come out as a green SMS.
- Send one or two additional messages to make sure they continue to appear as green SMS.
- Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each contact you want to change from iMessage to SMS.
- Now, go to Settings and touch Messages. Slide iMessage to OFF.
- Go to Settings and go to Cellular. Reactivate cellular data (if you were using cellular data.
- Go to Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Activate the Wi-Fi connection (if you were using a Wi-Fi connection).
This method must configure your message threads to SMS. That means that all messages to the contacts you choose in Steps 4-7 will go as SMS.
Note: If you have more than one contact that you want to change from iMessages to SMS, be sure to repeat steps 4 to 7 before moving on to Step 8. If you turn off iMessage, text messages will NOT go to contacts with an iMessage thread . Then the error “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” will appear again. If you accidentally activate iMessage during this method, all threads will return to iMessage. Then you will have to start over.
Solution 7: Reset Your iPhone to Factory Settings:
If none of the above methods give you positive results, reset your iPhone to factory settings.
Note: This method will delete ALL DATA (images, music, videos) and settings from your iPhone. Before doing this, we recommend making a backup of your iDevice. Here you can see how to do it even without a computer.
Go to Settings and tap General.
Scroll down to reset, touch it and choose Clear all content and settings.
Confirm your action and enter your password when necessary.
I hope you were able to solve “iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” using one of the previous methods. If you did, be sure to let us know which one worked for you. If you did not, take a look at this article. We will update it if a new solution comes out.
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