iMessage is turned on in Settings, but you need an Apple ID and active internet connection first
iMessage is Apple's messaging service that sends texts over Wi-Fi or cellular data instead of using your phone plan's text messages. To use it, you need to be signed into an Apple ID on your iPhone, have an active internet connection, and enable the feature in Settings. The whole process takes about two minutes.
If you do not have an Apple ID yet, you will need to create one before you can turn on iMessage. You can do this during the setup process or through Settings at any time. Once iMessage is on, your iPhone will automatically use it when messaging other Apple users — Android users will still receive regular text messages from you.
Key Takeaways
- iMessage requires an Apple ID and either Wi-Fi or cellular data to work, so check both before you start.
- You turn on iMessage in Settings under Messages, and it takes about one minute to complete.
- If iMessage does not turn on, restart your iPhone and check that you are signed into an Apple ID in Settings > [Your Name].
- iMessage only works when messaging other iPhone, iPad, or Mac users — Android users will receive regular text messages instead.
Check that you have an Apple ID signed in
Before you enable iMessage, your iPhone must be signed into an Apple ID. This is the account you use to download apps, back up your phone, and access Apple services. If you set up your iPhone when you first got it, you likely already have an Apple ID on the device.
To check: Open Settings, tap your name at the very top of the screen. If you see your name and email address, you are signed in. If you see "Sign in to your iPhone" instead, tap that and enter your Apple ID email and password. If you do not have an Apple ID, tap "Create Apple ID" and follow the prompts — you will need a valid email address and a password you create.
Open Settings and go to Messages
Once you are signed into an Apple ID, open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Messages. This is where all your text message settings live.
You will see several options here. The one you need is called iMessage — it appears near the top of the Messages settings screen. If you see a toggle switch next to it that is gray or off, tap it to turn iMessage on. The switch will turn green when it is active.
Wait for iMessage to activate
After you turn on the iMessage toggle, your iPhone will take a few seconds to a few minutes to activate the service. During this time, you may see a message that says "Waiting for activation" under the iMessage toggle. This is normal — your phone is connecting to Apple's servers to set up your account.
Do not close Settings or restart your phone while this is happening. Just wait until the toggle stays green and the "Waiting for activation" message disappears. Once it does, iMessage is ready to use. You can now send messages to other iPhone users and they will arrive as iMessages (shown in blue) instead of regular texts (shown in green).
What to do if iMessage will not turn on
If the iMessage toggle will not stay on, or if you see an error message, the most common fix is to restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and volume button together until you see "slide to power off," then slide to turn off the phone. Wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.
After your phone restarts, go back to Settings > Messages and try turning on iMessage again. If it still does not work, check that you have Wi-Fi or cellular data turned on — iMessage cannot activate without an internet connection. You can check this by looking at the icons at the top of your screen: you should see either a Wi-Fi symbol or signal bars. If you see neither, turn on Wi-Fi or cellular data and try again.
If iMessage still will not activate after restarting and checking your connection, sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, enter your password, then sign back in with the same Apple ID. This refreshes your account connection and often fixes activation problems.
How to know iMessage is working
Once iMessage is on, you will see the difference in your Messages app. When you text another iPhone user, their name or number will appear with a blue message bubble around your text. When you text an Android user or someone without iMessage, the bubble will be green. This is how your phone shows you which messages are going through iMessage and which are using regular text service.
You do not have to do anything different to send an iMessage — just open Messages and type as you normally would. Your iPhone automatically chooses iMessage for Apple users and regular text for everyone else. If you are on Wi-Fi and do not have cellular service, iMessage will still work because it uses your internet connection instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay for iMessage?
No. iMessage is free to use if you have an Apple ID and an active internet connection. You do not pay per message or need a separate plan. It uses your existing Wi-Fi or cellular data, the same way email does.
Why is my iMessage still showing as waiting for activation after 10 minutes?
This usually means your internet connection is unstable or your Apple ID is not fully synced. Restart your iPhone, make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular signal, and try again. If it still does not work, sign out of your Apple ID in Settings and sign back in.
Can I use iMessage if I do not have a phone plan with text messages?
Yes. iMessage works over Wi-Fi alone, so you can message other Apple users without a texting plan. However, you will not be able to send regular text messages to Android users without a plan that includes texts.
What happens if I turn off iMessage?
All your messages will switch to regular text messages, which will use your phone plan's text allowance. Messages from iPhone users will arrive as green bubbles instead of blue. You can turn iMessage back on anytime by going to Settings > Messages and toggling it back on.
Why do some of my messages show as green instead of blue even though I have iMessage on?
Green messages mean those contacts do not have iMessage turned on, or they are using an Android phone. Your iPhone automatically sends them regular text messages instead. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with your iMessage.