Nowadays, sending iMessages or Text messages is more convenient and hassle free way of communication as easy as creating a text and press send. On the other line, the receiver receives it right away and is able to reply. Unlike with email wherein you need to constantly check your email from time to time. There have been reports of Apple users receiving prompt message ‘iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message” whenever they try to send a message. There can be a variety of reasons why this prompt messages suddenly appears when trying to send a message. It may be perhaps, indeed your iMessage feature is not enabled. Or it can be because there are some problems with Apple System and or the messages app malfunctions.
Whatever the cause may be, we have come up with some potential solutions that might help fix the problem.
FIX ‘iMESSAGE NEEDS TO BE ENABLED TO SEND THIS MESSAGE’ PROMPT
Solution 1: Check Apple System Status
When you are experiencing any technical issues regarding your iPhone or apps on your iPhone, the very first thing to do is to check whether the problem is on Apple system or if not it’s probably on your end. That is before doing some troubleshooting, check on the Apple System Status website to know if iMessage is available and not experiencing any technical difficulties.
If iMessage system has a colored green circular icon, it means that it is working and available. Otherwise if it’s green then if isn’t and Apple is trying to fix it that is why you are getting the prompt error.
But if after checking iMessage status and is not having any problems, then the problem is probably on your need. This means that you may want to do some troubleshooting on your device to fix the problem.
Solution 2: Check Wifi Connection
Make sure that you are connected to a strong and reliable WiFi connection. Connecting to a weak WiFi signal can result to difficulty of iMessage to send message to its recipient. As sending iMessages requires you to be connected to a WiFi or Data Connection.
Follow these simple steps to check network status:
Step 1: Check if your router you are trying to connect to is Turned ON and is working properly.
Step 2: If it is turned ON, try to restart it by switching it Off for about 5 minutes.
Step 3: After at least 5 minutes, switch your router back ON again
Step 4: Reconnect your iPhone again to your WiFi connection
Step 5: Try to send message again and check if it resolves the issue.
Solution 3: Delete the message or the conversation
If you received a prompt message saying ‘iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message’, you may try to delete the thread or the conversation and start a new one. This can somehow help as it refreshes and restarts conversations thread.
How to delete:
Step 1: Go to Settings from the home screen
Step 2: Tap on Messages
Step 3: Then turn off iMessage
Step 4: Go back to your iPhone screen. On messages, deleted the message that is stuck when you try to send iMessage
Step 5: Send another message to the same recipient so check if problem has been resolved.
Step 6: If it still doesn’t work, try to delete the entire conversation on that particular recipient and make a new conversation by sending again a new message.
Solution 4: Reboot or restart your iPhone
This is perhaps one of the simplest and easiest solution there is and has someone proven to help fix most of the issues related to your iPhone or any Apple devices for that matter. Rebooting and or restarting your iPhone does not cause you to lose any data on except for those unsaved files, therefore you must save all your files first before proceeding with rebooting your device.
The steps on how to restart or reboot varies with the iPhone model you are using since not all models have the same locations for the buttons used to restart.
How to reboot/restart iPhone 6s, 7, 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus:
Step 1: Press and hold Power/Sleep & Wake Button (located at the right side of your iPhone) and Volume Down Button (located at the left side of your iPhone)
Step 2: Wait for it to turn OFF then release the buttons
Step 3: iPhone will automatically turns on when the Apple Logo appears. At times it may take awhile but it is completely normal.
Step 4: Enter Passcode if required
Step 5: Try to send message again to see if the problem resolves.
How to Restart/Reboot iPhone X, XS, XR, 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max:
Step 1: Press and release the Volume Up Button, located at the left side of your device.
Step 2: Press and release the Volume Down Button, just below the Volume Up button.
Step 3: Next, press and hold the Power Button, located at the right side of your iPhone device.
Step 4: When iPhone display turns off, release the buttons.
Step 5: Wait for a couple of seconds, iPhone will restart automatically. Apple Logo appears. Wait for it to normally start
Step 6: Enter Passcode if required
Step 7: Try to send message again to see if the problem resolves.
Solution 5: Disable and Enable iMessage
In order to restart and refresh your iMessage account, it is recommended to disable and enable back again iMessage. There have been reports from some Apple users that this solution actually help fix the problem.
To do this, follow the simple steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings from the home screen
Step 2: Scroll down from the list of options and Tap on Messages
Step 3: Tap on iMessage
Step 4: Slide the iMessage to the left to Toggle OFF
Step 5: To enable it again, simply slide the iMessage slider to the right to Toggle ON
Solution 6: Sign out and Sign Back in iMessage account
This solution works for some users but it is not often guaranteed. But it’s best to try, who know this may help fix prompt message. Make sure to have your log in details in handy as you will be needing this to sign back in to your iMessage account.
Step 1: Go to Settings
Step 2: Scroll down from the list of options and tap on Messages tab
Step 3: Tap on Send and Receive tab
Step 4: Now, uncheck from the list the email address and phone number in the ‘You can receive messages to and reply from’.
Step 5: Next, tap on the Apple ID used for iMessage at the top part of the screen
Step 6: Tap on Sign out
Step 7: Restart your iPhone
Step 8: Sign in account. A pop message will appear “use the Apple ID for iMessage’? This means if you will still be using the same Apple ID you onced logged out from or you want to use other Apple ID. if you want to use the same Apple ID, tap on Sign in
Step 9: Log in using correct details.
Step 10: Try to send message again to see if the problem has been resolved.
Solution 7: Reset Network Settings:
If all of the above methods fails to fix prompt message ‘iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message’, Resetting the Network Settings should help. There will be no data loss when doing this solution, although it is important to keep your WiFI password in handy as you will be needing it to log into Wifi network later on.
To reset all settings:
Step 1: Go to Settings from the Home Screen
Step 2: Then, tap on General
Step 3: Scroll down from the list of options and tap on Reset
Step 4: Tap on Reset Network Settings
Step 5: Enter Passcode if required to confirm action.
Step 6: Restart your iPhone
Step 7: Input all passwords on Wifi and other settings.
Step 8. Try to send message again to see if the problem has been resolved.
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