iMessage Isn't Working On My iPhone 7 Plus! Here's Why & The Fix!

David Lynch

JUNE 27, 2017

iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus and you can't figure out why. All the texts you send and receive are in green bubbles, or are just failing to send altogether. In this article, I'll explain why you can't send or receive iMessages on your iPhone 7 Plus and show you how to fix the problem using a step-by-step guide.

iMessages Versus Text Messages

Before getting into why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus, we think it's important to talk about the distinction between iMessages and standard text messages.

If you've been an iPhone users for long enough, you probably know that iMessages are in blue bubbles, while standard (SMS) text messages are in green bubbles.

However, iMessages are a lot more than just a different color bubble. iMessages are special because they allow you to send messages greater than 160 characters, the amount you can send in one SMS message. iMessage also doesn't make you rely on a texting plan from your wireless carrier, like you would if your phone only sent SMS or MMS messages.

Unfortunately, you can only send iMessages to other iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac users. So, if your friend has an Android, the texts you send them will be SMS.

Why Isn't iMessage Working On My iPhone 7 Plus?

At this point, it's difficult to say. It could be a problem with your iPhone 7 Plus, or with the friend's iPhone you're trying to message. Let's break down both scenarios:

  • If the problem is with your iPhone 7 Plus, you won't be able to send or receive iMessages from anyone on your iPhone.
  • If the problem is with one of your contact's iPhone, you'll be able to send and receive iMessages from everyone but that specific contact.

To figure out the real reason why iMessage isn't working on your iPhone 7 Plus, try sending a message to a few of your contacts. If iMessages send to all of them but one, then the problem is with the specific contact.

If you aren't able to send iMessages to anyone, then the issue is coming from your iPhone and you'll want to follow our troubleshooting guide below to diagnose and fix the problem!

How To Fix An iPhone 7 Plus That Won't Send Or Receive iMessages

7 Steps Total
1.

Make Sure Send & Receive iMessage Is Turned On

Turning on Send & Receive gives your iPhone the ability to send and receive iMessages from other iOS devices. If send and/or receive is turned off, your iPhone won't be able to send or receive iMessages in the Messages app.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. Scroll down and tap Send & Receive.
  4. Look for a check next to your phone number under "You can be reached by iMessage at" and "Start new conversations from".
  5. If there isn't a check mark next to your phone number, tap it to give your iPhone the ability to send and receive iMessages.
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2.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again

Turning Wi-Fi off and back on again can sometimes fix minor technical issues that may causing your problem.

How Do I Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again?

There are two ways to turn Wi-Fi off and back on again:

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In The Settings App

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi.
  4. You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the switch is gray.
  5. To turn Wi-Fi back on, tap the switch again.
  6. You'll know Wi-Fi is on when the switch is green.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In Control Center

  1. Swipe up from below the bottom of the screen to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Wi-Fi  icon.
  3. You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the  icon is black inside of a gray circle. wi-fi off in control center
  4. Tap the icon again to turn Wi-Fi back on.
  5. You'll know W-Fi is on when the icon is white inside of a blue circle. bluetooth is on control center
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3.

Turn iMessage Off And Back On

Turning iMessage off and back on can sometimes fix a minor software issue when your iPhone is not receiving iMessages. Think of it like restarting your iPhone, but specifically for iMessage.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. Tap the switch next to iMessage. You'll know iMessage is off when the switch is positioned to the left and gray.
  4. Tap the switch again to turn it back on. You'll know iMessage is back on when the switch is green and positioned to the right.
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4.

Sign Out And Back In To iMessage

Signing out and back into iMessage has the potential to fix any technical issues that may have been interrupting your iCloud account's ability to send and receive iMessages. From this screen, you can also log into a different iCloud account if the account your currently signed into is old.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. Tap Send & Receive.
  4. Tap your Apple ID at the top of your iPhone's display.
  5. Tap Sign Out.
  6. To sign back in, tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage.
  7. Enter your Apple ID (if necessary) and Apple ID Password.
  8. Tap Sign In.
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5.

Update Your iPhone Software In Settings

Apple puts out new software updates to improve efficiency, fix bugs, and introduce new features. Updating iOS can fix problems with your iPhone's software.

How Do I Update My iPhone Software In Settings?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. Tap Download and Install or Install Now.
  5. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  6. The update will begin once it has been verified.
  7. The update is complete after your iPhone restarts.
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6.

Reset Network Settings

When your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device for the first time, it saves information about how to connect to that network or device. If something changes with that process, it may cause connectivity issues.

Deep software problems, especially with network settings, can be difficult to track down. Rather than trying to track an issue down, we're going to reset all network settings and give your iPhone a fresh start.

How Do I Reset Network Settings?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  6. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  7. Your iPhone will shut down, reset, and turn itself on again when the reset is complete.
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7.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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iMessage: Fixed!

If iMessage was not working on your iPhone 7 Plus, that problem is now fixed! We encourage you to share this fix on social media, so your friends can know what to do when they're having problems with iMessages. Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a comment down below if you have any other questions!

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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