Problem with iMessage activation: How to get rid of it in iOS 26
Apple's communication service can be jerky on current iPhones. If there are problems, you should follow these tips from the manufacturer.
iMessage icon with two notifications
(Image: oasisamuel/Shutterstock.com)
Users who have installed iOS 26 and try to activate iMessage may experience difficulties if there are inactive eSIMs on their device. The manufacturer refers to this in a help document published last week, which is currently only available in English. If there is no activation, messages are not (or no longer) received or are sent as text messages or RCS messages, even though the other party can use iMessage.
Two SIMs with one number
Apple always links iMessage on iPhones to the respective mobile phone number. Customers have to go through an activation process when changing SIM cards and/or devices or transferring an eSIM to a new device. An SMS is sent in the background to ensure that the number can be verified. This can sometimes cause problems and mean that it can take a while before iMessage is available. Sometimes the device is also unable to receive text messages properly when activated.
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The issue in iOS 26 is now apparently a different one according to Apple: it seems to happen that some users have an active and an inactive SIM of the same number on the same iPhone. This is the case, for example, if you have switched to the eSIM but left the old SIM in the device. But sometimes it's the other way around. It is not yet clear why iOS 26 apparently does not realize that one SIM is inactive and allows it to interfere with iMessage activation.
Remove SIM or delete eSIM
Apple now recommends the following steps: If the inactive SIM is a physical SIM, you should remove it from the device as it is no longer needed anyway. If the inactive SIM is an eSIM, go to the device's mobile phone settings and delete it. Then go to the iMessage settings and select the number there to restart the activation process.
In addition to the inability to send iMessage messages or the fallback to SMS/RCS, the error pattern also includes messages being sent with an email sender instead of a phone number. Finally, the iMessage settings may also show two numbers.
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