iPhone X iMessage Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

If your iPhone X is having issues with iMessage — whether it’s not sending, not receiving, or you’re seeing a “Not Delivered” error — you’re not alone. iMessage is usually very reliable, but when it breaks, it can be frustrating. Here’s a full list of troubleshooting steps to help you fix iMessage problems on your iPhone X.

1. Check Apple’s System Status Page

Sometimes the problem isn’t your phone — it’s Apple’s servers.

Visit Apple’s System Status page.
Look for the status of iMessage.
If it’s down, you’ll have to wait for Apple to fix it.

Tip:
Status updates aren’t always real-time, so if iMessage still isn’t working after a while, move on to the next steps.

2. Make Sure You Have a Good Internet Connection

iMessage depends on a strong internet connection — Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Test your connection by opening a web page or playing a YouTube video.
If you’re using mobile data, check that you have good signal strength and enough data left.
Try switching to another Wi-Fi network if possible.

Slow or unstable internet = unreliable iMessage.

3. Ensure iMessage is Turned On

It sounds basic, but it happens more than you’d think.

Go to Settings > Messages.
Make sure iMessage is toggled on.

You should see a “Waiting for activation” message for a few moments. Activation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours, so be patient.

Double-check:
Under Send & Receive, make sure your phone number and Apple ID email are listed.

4. Delete Old Conversations

Too many old messages can sometimes cause glitches.

Open Messages.
Delete old conversations you no longer need.

Bonus Tip:
Go to Settings > Messages > Keep Messages and set it to 30 Days or 1 Year to automatically clear old messages in the future.

You can also enable Low-Quality Image Mode under Settings > Messages to send smaller attachments.

5. Install the Latest iOS Update

Updating your iPhone can fix known bugs, including iMessage issues.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Install any available updates.

Keeping your phone updated ensures you’re on the latest and most stable version of iOS.

6. Reset Network Settings

Bad network settings could be the culprit.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Heads up:
This will erase Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings, so have them handy before you reset.

Optional:
While you’re there, turn off Wi-Fi Assist under Settings > Mobile Data > Wi-Fi Assist — some users reported this helped with iMessage problems.

7. Set Time and Date Automatically

Apple servers can reject your activation request if your time and date are wrong.

Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
Make sure Set Automatically is turned on.

8. Reset All Settings

If none of the above worked, resetting all settings might do the trick. It’s like a deep refresh without deleting your data.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm.

This won’t delete your apps, photos, or data — but you’ll need to reconfigure preferences like Wi-Fi and wallpapers.