iMessage not working on Mac

Update: after on on-line chat with an Apple support tech, I was told that my Apple ID had been blocked for Messages and FaceTime because of "reported spam." Hmmm. I was given a link to https://getsupport.apple.com/solutions and told to request an unblock "as a onetime exception." Now I'm to wait 24 hours.

Thanks for this info, I had exactly the same issue on 13th Sept 2025. iMessage failed on a Mac Mini, an iMac, a legacy MacPro desktop and my iPad Mini. I thought it was me and a login error or failure and spent 3 hours trying to sort it before I found this thread. I eventually managed to contact Apple support (first time I've ever had to since 1994!), and after 90 minutes on Chat support they were unable to sort the issue even after I sent them a link to this thread so they arranged a support phone call within minutes from Ireland. It seems I tried to send a 90 second video clip earlier in the day via iMessage and the Apple system thought it was SPAM and blocked me out of iMessage. The phone support 'screen shared' and got me to request an 'unblock' 3 times for 3 devices via an Apple page. 12 hours later an email from Apple informed me my iMessage was now active again.

I spent an hour with Apple phone support to try to fix this, on 3 computers running different versions of the OS: Catalina, Monterey, and Sequoia (all latest versions). The problem was at Apple. They had blocked (for no discernible reason) my ability to log in to Messages with my Apple ID. I was using Messages on my phone, but only with my number, not my Apple ID. This blockage occurred last week with no apparent cause. I spent hours troubleshooting on my own (reinstalling the OS, etc.) to no avail. Finally called support. Here's a key discovery: on your phone, go to Settings>Aoos>Messages>Send & Receive and select that. It will show you if you are logged in with your Apple ID or just using your phone number. If you aren't logged in, Apple may be blocking you. I followed the link https://getsupport.apple.com/solutions and requested to unblock, and now it works again, after a few hours waiting.

I'm experiencing the same problem. It doesn't seem to be MacOS related as I have a Mac Mini and a M2 MacBook Air on Sequoia and an older iMac on Ventura. Unless this is something that came in an update to both OS, I'm not sure why this would occur.

An additional behavior has shown up on the iMac in that it now keeps trying force me into two-factor authentication when I try to login to iMessage.

Agree it does not seem to be MacOS only - on 12.7.6 (no update for a year now broke) and 13.7.8 (came out 8/20/25) - messages no longer work for both machines. Phone at 18.6.2 works (that update also came out 8/20/25) - so did the phone update break both MacOS machines....and better yet how do you get anyone from Apple to read this?

Same issue. For me, it started today after my Mac Desktop auto-updated to Sonoma 14.7.6. Messages work fine on my Iphone but not on my Desktop nor, as I just discovered, my MacBook Pro, even though I dont believe that updated

Add me to the list. Messages is not working either on my MB Pro (2021, M1 Max; Sequoia 15.6.1); my iPad Mini 5 (iPad OS 18.6.2); or my iPhone 12 Mini (iOS 18.6.2). All were working fine yesterday.

I have tried all of the suggestions in the general apple support document (what to do if you cannot turn on or sign into ... ).

I was able to create a NEW Apple ID and get Messages to work on all 3 devices. But when I sign out of the new ID and go back to my old ID, I get directed to activate Messages. Again and again and again.

Same here! woke up Sunday w a pop up on iphone "Contact Apple support" bc of something about imessage on mac. Did not have imessage function on Mac Sequoia 15.6.1. Bc it apparently got blocked. They would not tell me why. Waited 24 hours and got permission to get back in. Could not get imessage to work after 2 hours on phone with support. Some messages synched, but cannot send or receive and cell phone not showing on Mac imessage. Phone is fine.

@Roam Redway - please let us know if the "unblock" works. If Messages works on your phone, but not on your computers, it does not really seem like you were blocked due to spam....not a very good block at least.

Same solution provided by Apple support (via Chat) as OP's. They're saying my messages were "reported as spam" as well and that's why I cannot access via Desktop or MacBook Pro. But I can access Messages via iPhone (so doesn't really make sense). I also had to submit a request for re-activation and now wait 24 hours. Support agent was very nice but gave me the helpful advice of "We recommend not sending out spam messages to avoid this in the future." Ummm, yeah. I don't think that was the originating issue seeing as...i am not a spammer.

Yes, the unblock has worked. Let's just hope that it lasts.

The reason that Messages worked on my phone but not my other devices is that Apple didn't block my phone number, only texts sent to/from my Apple ID. When I looked at the Messages setting on my iPhone, I had seen that I could "send/receive" messages from the phone number but I could not send/receive from the 3-emails associated with my Apple ID.

i have the same problem. started on both my imac and macbook (both 2019) about an hour ago. My iphone imessage works fine (using my cell number). Any solution would be appreciated cause i could not find any solution on their help articles!

iMessage works on iPhone 11, not on iMac, not on iPad. Keeps asking for Apple ID and password, opens Messages for a few seconds, then requests ID and Password. Just started a few days ago, maybe after iPhone update?

Update: It turned out that starting yesterday morning, iMessage / FaceTime using my Apple ID (Email) has stopped working on all my devices. No matter what kind or version (MacPro, iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacStudio). On iPhone and iPad which are on cellular, iMessage kept on working using the phone number.

I contacted apple support on the phone without success in the first place. However, this morning I received an Email from apple stating "Your iMessage account is ready to use" without any additional information. Signed in with my Apple ID on the MacPro first - working again. Same on iPhone.

Bottom line: Works again, but without any hints of why it was broken. The suspected reason of my Apple ID Email address having been blocked by apple for iMessage seems the most reasonable at the moment, but without any proof.