You get free access to both iMessage and FaceTime when you create an Apple ID. These apps allow you to text or video chat with anyone with an internet connection, but before you can use iMessage or FaceTime on an iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch, you need to activate them.
They will usually activate once you have finished setting up your device, but sometimes apps crash and just say "Waiting for activation".
If your iMessage and FaceTime apps have been stuck on the "waiting to activate" message for more than a day, there are some easy steps you can take to fix it, according to business insider.
When your device is "activating" iMessage and FaceTime, it's contacting Apple's servers to see if you're using a legitimate Apple ID, so if Apple's servers aren't working , your apps cannot be activated.
Apple has a website that keeps track of all their servers and notes when offline, so check for a green dot next to the FaceTime and iMessage tabs, if the dots are yellow or red instead, the servers are having problems, and if That's it, just wait a little bit for Apple to fix the servers.
Unlike regular SMS and phone calls, iMessage and FaceTime use the internet, not mobile signals, so if you're not connected to Wi-Fi or a data plan, they won't work.
Open Safari and make sure you can load multiple websites, if you can't, or they're loading too slowly, you've found the culprit.
If you have a good connection but it still won't activate, try resetting your network settings, then try again.
In your device's Settings app, you can toggle iMessage and FaceTime on or off. These switches are usually used to turn off services, but you can also use them to refresh your connection to Apple's servers .
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
2. Scroll down and tap Messages, then turn off the iMessage button.
3. Go back to the main Settings page and tap on FaceTime, then turn it off as well.
4. Restart your device.
5. Go back to the Settings app to turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.
Check the apps again to see if the "Waiting for Activation" screen still exists.
If the time and date on your device are wrong, it may mess with your connection to Apple servers, and you can fix this in the Settings app.
1. Open the Settings app and tap General, then Date & Time.
2. Make sure the Set Automatically button is on, if not, toggle it off and restart your device.
And check iMessage and FaceTime again, once the device restarts.
