Cannot log into iMessages or FaceTime on Mac

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Cannot log into iMessages or FaceTime on Mac

Hi folks. Hope you can help.

I know this is a repeating problem, and I've fixed it before but just cannot get it to work now. I cannot sign into iMessages or FaceTime with my AppleID. I get an endlessly spinning wheel when trying to sign into iMessage, and I don't receive any messages on my MBP. Everything works fine on my iPhone and MBA, but not the MBP. I've signed out of iCloud and back in, to no avail, even though I think that's what worked before. And of course it is the same with FaceTime.

Restarted, NVRAM reset, security update have not changed anything. The MBP is a 2013 running BigSur. What can I do to get this machine to sign into iMessages?

Thank you.

Posted on Aug 5, 2023 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 6, 2023 2:42 PM in response to Jeremy Hansen

Hello Jeremy Hansen,

The first thing we would do would be to starting up the system in what is called safe mode. Safe mode only loads what is needed to run the computer. This can help isolate what is causing issues.

To start in safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window.

More information is available here: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

The computer will take longer to start in safe mode, and the screen may have some distorted video as it starts up. This is normal. Once you are logged in, use the system and test to see if the issue continues.

If everything seems to work as expected, go ahead and restart the computer normally and test again. There are steps outlined on what to do if the issue does or does not continue in safe mode.

Starting in safe mode also forces the computer to run some disk checks similar to First Aid. This can actually resolve some issues.

Have a good day.

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Cannot log into iMessages or FaceTime on Mac

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