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Sign in to iMessage: The password for needs to be updated.

I keep getting this message every few days on my MacBook Pro running 10.14.6. When I try to sign in to iMessages with my Apple ID and password, I get an error message saying "Could not sign in to iMessage. The user name or password was incorrect. Try again."


Well, both the Apple ID and password WERE in fact correct, and I can use them to sign in anywhere else an Apple ID is required. And curiously, I get a DIFFERENT error message if I enter an incorrect password. In that case, the message says "Verification failed. Your Apple ID or password is incorrect."


I have not actually used Messages on the Mac recently so I do not know whether these errors are benign or a real problem. But the frequent nagging to perform an operation that is impossible because of something corrupted on my computer is very annoying.


What is going on here, and how can I fix it (short of wiping the disk and reinstalling the OS)?

Posted on Nov 23, 2021 4:40 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 23, 2021 2:17 PM

Are you running any anti - virus programs? Using a VPN?


Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later. 


Isolating an issue by using another user account 


If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once. 


Safe Mode - About.    


If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply. After pasting the report in a PasteBin page, go to the top of the page, and copy the address in the URL bar. Paste that in a new reply.        Pastebin


https://etrecheck.com

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 23, 2021 2:17 PM in response to elisatems

Are you running any anti - virus programs? Using a VPN?


Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later. 


Isolating an issue by using another user account 


If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once. 


Safe Mode - About.    


If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply. After pasting the report in a PasteBin page, go to the top of the page, and copy the address in the URL bar. Paste that in a new reply.        Pastebin


https://etrecheck.com

Sign in to iMessage: The password for needs to be updated.

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