iMessage on iPhone not working after updating to iOS 18.5

I think I found the fix. If you are able to enable it, go to Send and Receive. My number was not check marked and the default send/receive was my iCloud email. I then checked my number and it’s fixed 🙌.

You're definitely not alone many users have reported iMessage issues after updating to iOS 18.5, including messages defaulting to SMS or RCS, and not receiving iMessages at all.  1. Check iMessage Activation

• Go to Settings > Messages.

• Make sure iMessage is turned ON.

• Tap Send & Receive and ensure your phone number is checked (not just your email).

2. Toggle iMessage Off and On

• Turn off iMessage.

• Restart your iPhone.

• Turn iMessage back on and wait a few minutes for reactivation.

3. Reset Network Settings

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

• This clears out any network-related glitches that may block iMessage.

4. Check Date & Time Settings

• Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.

• Enable Set Automatically.

5. Sign Out and Back Into Apple ID

• Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out.

• Restart your phone and sign back in.

6. Turn Off Wi-Fi Assist (Optional)

• Go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Assist and turn it off.

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contacted Apple and they had me try all of these steps^^^^^. Nothing worked. They are aware of the issue and have yet to fix it! It is becoming much more frustrating because I am no longer receiving messages that are important. iMessage has not worked since 5/23/2025. I was referred to the “senior team” I have not been contacted in regards to this issue. Never doing an update right away.

I just wanted to update y’all because this issue sucked!!!! I finally fixed my phone and I hope this helps others. I did the Apple chat support and I asked them to check if my phone number was reported as spam and to my surprise they said my number was “blocked” from iMessage and FaceTime!! It is now working after almost 3 weeks!!!

So I contacted Apple support and since this update, for some reason it triggered that my phone number attached to my iMessage account was reported for spam.

I have reported other numbers as spam, so maybe my number was being spoofed and used for spam.

Anyway Apple unlocked my number and Im back in action. I am concerned that if my account is reported again, then I will be blocked permanently. I have had this number for over 20 years. Not using iMessage is not an option

I contacted Apple for the 4th time after completing all of the turn on/off & reset's ect mentioned in all of the other posts and even having Apple take control of my device and follow along as I did all of the steps once again. All of that was to no avail and they had no idea what was wrong. From several comments here I asked them about the SPAM issue, and lo and behold, that is what was wrong with mine too.

Contact Apple support and ask if your number has been reported as spam. Idk if it is a new scam, but mine was reported as SPAM and that was causing it not to work. As soon as the phone was reset it started working again.

SOLVED!

PROBLEM: Two days ago, My wife's Iphone 16 suddenly not getting messages in group text that included an Android. Then not even group texts that was only Iphones. Then started having trouble texting to single iphone users. Needless to say, the situation was reaching critical mass and my marriage was on the line.

SOLUTION: I went to Settings-Messages: turned off RCS and IMessage. Then I did a hard reset on the iphone (click/release volume up, click/release volume down, then HOLD the power button ONLY until phone shuts off AND keep holding power button until Apple logo reappears. THEN release). Now, turn RCS and IMessage back ON. I am not a techie - I think turning these things off and going through the hard reset clears out any glitches. Then when you turn it back on, the Iphone 16 has to resync everything with your carrier/apple. When it resyncs RCS and Imessage, it starts with a glitch free, clean slate. My wife now thinks I am a genius and my marriage is saved! Hope this helps others!

I had a similar problem. It was just resolved. I had updated my iPad Air M3 to 18.5. I was then unable to send messages to Android people and groups. My iPhone (iOS 17 still) was unaffected. My MacBookPro was also unaffected. Turns out, on my iPhone, in the settings for Messages > Text Message Forwarding > my iPad was turned off. At no time do I remember myself specifically changing that setting.

For those what found out they had been “reported for SPAM”,

I encourage everyone to report their experience Apple for both Hardware: IPhone and IOS: Messages

Product Feedback - Apple

Also consider reporting the seemingly unwarranted blockings to the FCC.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360001201223-Phone-Form-Descriptions-of-Complaint-Issues

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I too had issues being May 12, 2025 right after updating to iOS 18.5

I tried all the steps suggested in this discussion and the ones Apple Support chat had me do, nothing worked.

I keep checking back in on this forum and saw several people here mentioning that updating to 18.5 somehow triggered them being “reported for SPAM” and subsequently having the iMessage issues.

I contacted Apple support again on 7/1/25 and was told I was NOT reported for spam. I did the troubleshooting steps AGAIN. The problem went away momentarily but soon returned.

Today, 7/2/25, I asked Apple support again, and magically I was reported for SPAM. I was unblocked and hope the issue is resolved….for now.

The SCARY part is I was told the unblocking is a “one time exception”. I would hate to lose a number I’ve had for decades!

Again, I encourage everyone to report their experience to “Product Feedback - Apple“, for both Hardware: IPhone and IOS: Messages

Also consider reporting the seemingly unwarranted blockings to the FCC.

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360001201223-Phone-Form-Descriptions-of-Complaint-Issues

This happens to me with every single update now. Which is not great because it’s my work phone and group messages are how we contact each other.

it usually goes away and fixes itself after a while, but I cannot figure out why or how it just randomly starts working one day usually.

It seems to have started around the time I got an Apple Watch so I don’t know if it’s related to that or not.

I'm running into the same issue after updating to iOS 18.5 — iMessage on my iPhone won’t activate, and messages are defaulting to SMS or RCS. Like you, I’ve already tried resetting network settings, restarting the phone, signing out/in to iMessage, and removing/re-adding my number, but no luck.

One thing you could try before a full reset: go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, tap your Apple ID, and choose Sign Out, then turn off iMessage completely, wait a few minutes, and turn it back on. In some cases, this forces reactivation from Apple’s servers.

Also, make sure Date & Time is set to automatic, and you’re connected to Wi-Fi — iMessage activation sometimes fails on mobile data.

Let us know if that helps. Otherwise, since iOS 18.6 was just released with bug fixes, I’d recommend updating to see if it resolves the issue.

References:

If you can’t turn on or sign in to iMessage or FaceTime on your iPhone - Apple Support

https://bit.ly/3TZOjuK

https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/fix-all-ios-messages-issues/

Since you’ve already tried resetting network settings, restarting, and signing in/out of iMessage, one thing to check is if your phone number is properly linked. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, make sure your number is checked, not just your email. Also, toggle iMessage off, wait a minute, then turn it back on. If that doesn’t work, check Apple’s System Status page to see if iMessage servers are down. If they’re good and it’s still not working, try updating to iOS 18.6, as it might have bug fixes. If all else fails, contact Apple Support to see if your number got flagged as spam, which has been an issue for some after this update.

[Edited by Moderator]

Ugh! Me too. I updated to 18.5 about an hour ago and keep getting an error message saying:

iMessage is Signed Out. An error occurred and your account is signed out of iMessage. You may miss messages as a result. Please to to settings to address this issue.

When I go to Messages in Settings, iMessage is turned off. I turn it on and get the following message:

iMessage Activation: an error occurred during activation. Try again.

And I have...many times. I've turned my phone off and on and logged out and back in. Super frustrated.

I'm having the same problem. I have tried everything in this thread and others and nothing works. I have turned imessage off and on; turn the phone off and on, made sure the Send and Receive settings were right, I reset the network settings too. And the problem persists! Its weird too imessage doesn't work at all but I am able to send and receive SMS or RCS messages from most people but not all people. I don't know how many but at least one person's SMS and RCS text messages aren't delivered at all, they send them and don't get an error, but I don't get them. HELP!

This is happening to me too. Updated to 18.5 a couple of days ago and now my iMessages won't send from my phone. It's only allowing RCS and SMS messages, even though I have iMessages toggled on and my number checked in Send and Receive. I've tried turning the phone off and restarting it. I've tried toggling iMessage off and then back on again. Nothing's working. Apple, please help!!

I deleted my number (can add again if I want to) switched off iMessage and now send messages like other android phones.

Apple your updates need to be checked before sending out to all of us. This issue could’ve been avoided