Apple users can use iMessage to send reactions to messages, start group chats, share photos, and more online. But iMessage has its fair share of issues. If you're wondering, "Why does iMessage keep crashing?" and how to fix it, you're not alone. Read on to find out the solution.
iMessage is known for its distinctive blue message bubble. This means that if you're chatting with your friend and the message bubble suddenly turns green, your message was delivered as a regular text message, not an iMessage. To prevent this from happening, let's first understand the causes and then follow up with the fixes.
Why does iMessage keep turning off and how to fix it?
There can be several reasons why iMessage might turn off on its own. Let's briefly look at a few of them.
- iMessage is currently disabled, causing it to turn off randomly.
- Your internet speeds are less than ideal and unable to support iMessage, causing it to turn off automatically.
- A temporary bug or glitch in your iPhone causes iMessage to turn off without warning.
- The current date and time are incorrect.
- Your device's storage space is full.
- Your device is waiting for a software update.
How to Fix IMESSAGE Keeps Turning Off on iPhone
Now that we know why iMessage is off, let's take a look at 8 ways to help you fix this issue on your iPhone.
1. Check iMessage system status
Apple has a dedicated System Status page that you can use to check if services are working as expected. If an iMessage outage is reported, the green circle in front of it will turn red. When this happens, all you can do is wait for the color to return to green.
Open the Apple System Status page
However, if the system status is green, proceed to the fixes below.
2. Check your internet connection
Since iMessage uses your internet connection to send messages, it may encounter issues if that internet connection isn't working properly.
Then, try Switch to 5G On your iPhone, if available. Otherwise, you can also connect to a Wi-Fi network. Once the speed stabilizes, open iMessage and check again.
3. Set the date and time to automatic mode.
An incorrect date and time on your iPhone can cause a number of other unrelated app issues, one of which can be iMessage intermittently shutting down. To prevent this from happening, you can set your device to automatically fetch the date and time based on your device's location. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Open Settings And press general.
Step 2: Then press Date and time.
Step 3: Here, run toggle switch To be set automatically.
This will automatically set your device to fetch date and time data based on your location.
4. Disable and re-enable iMessage
Using the Settings menu, you can manually enable and disable iMessage on your iPhone. This can be useful when trying to fix issues like iMessage that keeps turning off.
Therefore, you can disable iMessage on your iPhone and then force restart your device. This will help close all app functions and restart them. Once done, enable iMessage and check again. Here's how.
Step 1: Open an app Settings on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Messages.
Step 3: Turn off the switch for iMessage.
Step 4: Now, depending on your device model, proceed to turn off your device:
- For iPhone SE 5st generation, 5s, 5c, and XNUMX: Long press the top button.
- For iPhone SE 7nd generation and later, 8, and XNUMX: Long press the side button.
- For iPhone X and later and iPad: Long press the power button and any volume control button at the same time.
Step 5: Here, press and hold the slider all the way down.
Once your device's screen is off, press and hold the power button to restart your iPhone. Then, enter your device's passcode and open the Messages settings menu. Here, turn on the switch for iMessage. Then, wait a moment and check again to see if iMessage is working as expected.
5. Check iPhone storage space
Your device needs sufficient storage space to function properly. This means that if your device's storage is almost or completely full, it may affect app functionality and cause iMessage to shut down without prompting. To ensure this isn't the case, you can check the available storage space on your iPhone. Here's how.
Step 1: Open Settings And press general.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap iPhone storage.
Step 3: Here, check out Storage space Currently available.
If your storage space is full, consider: Free up some space on your iPhoneOnce finished, open the Messages app again and try sending a message to see if iMessage is enabled.
6. Update your two-factor authentication (2FA) settings.
If you recently added a number to your trusted number list for two-factor authentication, this may cause iMessage to work intermittently. This could also be one of the reasons why iMessage keeps turning off on its own.
To fix this, open your device's two-factor authentication (2FA) settings and remove all trusted numbers except the one associated with your iMessage. Here's how.
Step 1: Open the settingsدCome and press Your Name.
Step 2: Here, click on “Password and security”.
Step 3: Scroll to Two-factor authentication and click "Release".
Step 4: Click on Icon - in front of the number which you wish to remove.
Step 5: Click on delete.
Step 6: Locate Remove to confirm.
This will remove the selected number from the list of trusted numbers that can be used for two-factor authentication. You can repeat the process and remove any other numbers as well.
7. Check for iOS updates
Although your device comes preloaded with the latest software, it can become outdated over time. To keep up with current software changes and resolve recurring software issues, most manufacturers, such as Apple, release regular software updates. While they install automatically, you can also check for them manually. Here's how.
Step 1: Open an app Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap general.
Step 3: Click on upgrade software.
Now, wait for the update to download and install. Once finished, open iMessage and check again.
8. Reset your iPhone
Prepare Reset iPhone Your iPhone is an effective way to resolve most issues. So, if you've tried all the methods above and iMessage still turns off by itself, consider resetting your device. This will erase all your iPhone data and settings and return it to factory settings. Follow the steps below to do so.
Step 1: Open Settings And press general.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap “Transfer or reset iPhone.”
Step 3: Here, click on Reset.
Step 4: Click on “Reset all settings.”
Next, finish resetting your device according to the on-screen instructions. After the device restarts, try sending an iMessage. However, if the problem persists, Contact Apple Support.
FAQs to Fix IMESSAGE Issues on iPhone
Can your mobile plan cause iMessage to turn off on your iPhone?
The answer: Although your mobile plan can't directly cause iMessage issues, it can indirectly interfere if it causes your mobile data to stop working. In this case, you can connect to a Wi-Fi network or check if your current mobile plan is active.
Use IMESSAGE on iPhone
We hope this article helps you better understand why iMessage keeps stopping and how to fix it on your iPhone. You can also check out our other article if you're having trouble. iMessage randomly logs out on your iPhone.
