How to Fix the “iMessage is Signed Out” Error on an iPhone: A Complete Guide

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The ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error is a frustrating issue that keeps baffling many iPhone users. Put simply, it prevents you from sending and receiving messages through iMessage, pushing your conversations back to regular SMS.

Fortunately, you can fix the issue in a few easy steps. Let’s understand why the “iMessage is Signed Out” error pops up and look at all the effective solutions to troubleshoot it on an iPhone.

Why Causes the “iMessage is Signed Out” Error on an iPhone?

You may see the “iMessage is Signed Out” error on your iPhone due to one or more of the following reasons:

Authentication issue with your Apple Account
Network problems or unstable internet
Incorrect date and time settings
Apple’s iMessage servers being temporarily down
Bugs introduced by an iOS update

9 Ways to Fix the “iMessage is Signed Out” Error on an iPhone

From checking Apple’s system status to verifying your internet connection to refreshing the iMessage services, below are all the tried-and-tested solutions to help you get iMessage working again on your iPhone.

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1. Check Apple’s System Status

Before you try to fix the issue on your side, it’s important to verify whether the problem lies with your device or Apple since iMessage servers occasionally go down for maintenance or experience outages. To do this:

Visit Apple’s System Status page.
Look for the iMessage service status. If it’s red, there’s an issue with iMessage servers.

In this case, wait for Apple to resolve the issue, as there’s nothing you can do on your end. However, if the iMessage status is green, move to the solutions below.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

Unlike regular SMS, iMessage requires your iPhone to have a stable internet connection, whether cellular or Wi-Fi. A poor Wi-Fi signal or poor cellular network reception can cause the ‘iMessage is Signed Out’ error.

To check whether your iPhone’s internet is working, open Safari and try to access any website. If it doesn’t load and Safari displays the “iPhone is not connected to the internet” message, You’ve likely found the cause of the error.

You can try the following to fix it:

Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
Restart your router if you’re on Wi-Fi
Toggle Airplane Mode on and off

3. Toggle iMessage Off and On

If the internet and Apple’s iMessage servers are working fine, but the issue persists, refreshing the iMessage services on your iPhone can force your iPhone to reestablish the connection with Apple’s servers. Simply turning iMessage off and on again can clear minor glitches that might be causing a disconnection. Here’s how to do it:

Open Settings and go to Apps > Messages.
Toggle off the iMessage button.
Wait a few seconds, then toggle it on again.

4. Sign Out and Back Into Apple Account

Sometimes, an authentication issue with your Apple Account can disrupt the regular functioning of iMessage. To fix this, try signing out and back into your Apple Account, as this can reestablish a fresh connection with Apple’s servers.

Open Settings and tap your Apple Account name at the top.
Scroll down to the bottom and tap the Sign Out button.
Enter your Apple Account password to confirm.
Wait a few seconds and sign back in.

5. Set the Date & Time Setting to Automatic

A mismatch between the date and time on your iPhone and that of Apple’s servers can affect network-related functions like FaceTime and iMessage. So, head to the Date & Time settings and verify if your iPhone follows the correct time zone.

In Settings, navigate to General > Date and Time.
Toggle on Set Automatically.

6. Disable VPN

Having VPN enabled on your iPhone can affect iMessage’s ability to connect to Apple’s servers. This is because some VPNs block certain ports or reroute traffic in a way that prevents iMessage from authenticating correctly. Disabling VPN might restore proper functioning.

You can disable the VPN by going into Settings > VPN and flipping the VPN Status toggle off. Alternatively, you may head back into the VPN app and turn off the connection directly by tapping the Disconnect or equivalent button.

7. Restart Your iPhone

If Apple’s servers are working fine, or there isn’t any issue with your Apple Account or Date & Time setting on your iPhone, a software bug or glitch might be the reason behind the “iMessage is Signed Out” error.

While you can’t identify the software bug or glitch, you can restart your iPhone, and it should do the trick—like it does with many issues.

8. Reset the Network Settings

Sometimes, your iPhone might have trouble connecting to the internet, causing iMessage to keep signing you out. It’s not very common, but it’s worth checking out, and the best way to fix it is to reset your iPhone’s network settings. However, this will erase all the saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, Bluetooth devices, and VPN information, so note them somewhere safe beforehand.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset, then choose Reset Network Settings and follow the on-screen instructions.

9. Update iOS

An outdated iOS version can cause performance-related issues on your iPhone and prevent built-in apps and services from working properly. Apple often releases iOS updates with security patches and bug fixes to fix bugs and improve performance. Here’s how you can check if an update is available and install it:

Head to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install and perform the on-screen prompts.

Back in Blue: iMessage Restored and Ready

While the “iMessage is Signed Out” error can be disruptive, the solutions we’ve shared above should help you fix it. However, if none of them works and you still keep seeing the error, contact Apple Support, as their experts should be able to identify the problem and offer personalized assistance to get iMessage working again.