“Activation unsuccessful,” “Waiting for activation,” or a phone number that won’t get a checkmark under Send & Receive all point to iMessage/FaceTime activation failing on iOS 26. Activation depends on a working network connection, correct date/time, and a one‑time carrier SMS to Apple’s servers, and it can take up to 24 hours to complete. Apple documents these requirements and the core workflow in its activation guidance (including a new option to activate online).

Reference: If you can’t turn on or sign in to iMessage or FaceTime on your iPhone (Apple Support).

1) Confirm prerequisites that commonly block activation

Step 1: Connect to a reliable network. Use Wi‑Fi or cellular data and make sure general browsing works; activation contacts Apple’s servers and needs a stable path.

Step 2: Set Date & Time to automatic. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and enable Set Automatically. Incorrect time zones commonly cause activation errors.

Step 3: Ensure your line can send SMS, including to international numbers. Activation uses a silent SMS from your iPhone number; some carriers charge for it and some plans block international SMS.

Step 4: When prompted that your network provider may charge for SMS used to activate iMessage/FaceTime, tap Turn On. Declining this prevents number activation.

2) Use Apple’s online activation flow

Step 1: Open apple.co/IMFT-mac and choose Get Started under Enable Apple Account. This registers your account/number for iMessage and FaceTime on Apple’s side.

Step 2: Sign in with your Apple ID and enter the phone number you use with iMessage/FaceTime. Watch for the confirmation email that indicates your account is ready.

Step 3: After you receive Apple’s email, return to iPhone Settings > Messages and turn on iMessage. Then open Settings > FaceTime and turn on FaceTime. Allow several minutes for verification.

3) Re‑register iMessage and FaceTime on the device

Step 1: Turn off iMessage (Settings > Messages > iMessage).

Step 2: Turn off FaceTime (Settings > FaceTime).

Step 3: Restart your iPhone. A clean restart clears transient registration state.

Step 4: Turn on iMessage (Settings > Messages). Leave the switch on and wait a few minutes; you may briefly see a spinning gear beside your number while it verifies.

Step 5: Turn on FaceTime (Settings > FaceTime). As with iMessage, keep it on while the phone completes verification.

4) Make sure your phone number is selected for Messages

Step 1: Open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Confirm your phone number appears and has a checkmark under “You can receive iMessages to and reply from.”

Step 2: Set “Start New Conversations From” to your phone number. This avoids new threads starting from your email instead of your number.

Step 3: If your number won’t check, tap your Apple ID at the bottom of Send & Receive, choose Sign Out, and leave iMessage on. This forces a fresh token request from Apple.

Step 4: If still stuck, turn iMessage off, wait one minute, then turn it back on and watch for the number to populate. Avoid repeatedly toggling on/off—once is enough and repeated toggles can delay verification.

5) Carrier, SIM, and line checks (common after major updates)

Step 1: Update carrier settings. Go to Settings > General > About and wait 10–15 seconds; if a Carrier Settings Update appears, install it.

Step 2: Confirm your line is active in Settings > Cellular. If you use eSIM, verify the plan shows Connected and your number displays correctly.

Step 3: Send a standard SMS to a contact outside your country code. If it fails, contact your carrier to enable international SMS; iMessage number activation will not complete otherwise.

Step 4: Optional: Put the phone in Airplane Mode, re‑enable Wi‑Fi, then turn on iMessage. This ensures the activation SMS binds to the correct line while registration uses Wi‑Fi.

6) Allow the full 24‑hour activation window

Step 1: Wait up to 24 hours after attempting activation. Carriers can take time to verify your number with Apple; during this period you may see “Waiting for activation.”

Step 2: If there’s a spinning gear next to your number in Send & Receive, leave iMessage on and let verification complete. Repeated toggling adds delays and doesn’t speed verification.

Step 3: If issues persist, check Apple’s Services status to rule out an outage before further changes: Apple System Status.

7) Ask Apple Support to check for a block on your number

Step 1: Contact Apple Support and ask them to review whether your phone number is blocked or flagged for iMessage/FaceTime. Several users report blocks being applied server‑side, which prevent number activation until removed.

Step 2: Be ready to verify account ownership and your phone number. If Support confirms a block, request unblocking and then reattempt activation on your iPhone.

Step 3: After Apple lifts a block, return to Settings > Messages and turn iMessage off and on once to trigger a fresh registration.

8) Additional device troubleshooting (use cautiously)

Step 1: Reset Network Settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings). This clears Wi‑Fi networks, VPN/APN, and cellular networking caches that might interfere with activation.

Step 2: Perform a force restart. This is a hardware button reboot that can clear stubborn registration state; the exact button sequence varies by model.

Step 3: Temporarily turn off RCS in Settings > Messages (if present), then re‑enable iMessage. This isolates Apple’s registration from carrier chat features.

Step 4: If you use multiple Apple devices, check Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone and make sure your other devices are enabled as expected. Unexpected changes here can affect SMS fallback and thread delivery.

Step 5: Avoid removing your eSIM unless your carrier has provided the QR or activation details to add it back. Removing an eSIM without ready credentials can take your line offline and complicate activation.

9) Use your email address as a temporary fallback

Step 1: Open Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and select your email address under “You can receive iMessages to and reply from.” This lets you continue using iMessage while your number activates.

Step 2: In Settings > FaceTime, select your email under “You can be reached by FaceTime at.” This enables FaceTime calls via email until your number verifies.

Step 3: Let key contacts know to reach you using your email in the interim. When your number activates, you can switch “Start New Conversations From” back to your phone number.

10) When to escalate to your carrier

Step 1: If your number still lacks a checkmark after 24 hours and the steps above, ask your carrier to confirm international SMS is enabled, not blocked by plan or fraud filters, and that your caller ID shows the correct number.

Step 2: If you recently ported numbers or changed SIM/eSIM, ask the carrier to refresh line provisioning and push an updated carrier profile. Then retry activation once more.

Most activation failures clear once the online Apple registration completes, your number is selected in Send & Receive, and the carrier allows the activation SMS through. If you still see errors after 24 hours, Apple Support can check for server‑side blocks and remove them so your number can activate normally.