iPhone 14: How to Fix iMessage and FaceTime Issues After Activation - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

iPhone 14: How to Fix iMessage and FaceTime Issues After Activation

by

Apple says some new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro owners may experience iMessage and FaceTime issues after setting up their phone out of the box. This article outlines some potential problems and how to resolve them.

iphone 14 pro box
According to Apple, some people with new iPhone 14 models may be facing iMessage and ‌FaceTime‌ activation issues after setting up their phone. Some of the problems encountered may include:

  • Inability to receive iMessages or ‌FaceTime‌ calls.
  • Seeing a green message bubble instead of a blue bubble when sending a message to another Apple device.
  • Conversations in Messages showing up in two separate threads instead of one.
  • Recipients seeing your messages coming from the wrong account, for example from your email address if you had selected your phone number.

Update Your iPhone 14 Software

Apple says the simplest way to resolve these issues is to update your iPhone 14 to iOS 16.0.1. The update is now available for all iPhone 14 models. To update your device, follow these steps. If you get a notification on your device that says an update is available, tap Install Now. You can also follow these steps:

  1. Plug your device into a power outlet using a Lightning cable and power plug, and make sure you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.
  2. Launch the Settings app.
  3. Tap General, then tap Software Update.

  4. Tap Download and Install.
  5. Enter your passcode if prompted to do so.

iphone 14 iphone 14 plus in hand feature

If You're Still Having Issues After Updating

If after updating to iOS 16.0.1 you are still experiencing problems, here are a few other steps you can try that may resolve things.

  1. In the Settings app, tap Cellular/Mobile Data. Make sure that your phone line is turned on. If you use multiple SIMs, make sure that the phone number you want to use is selected and turned on.
  2. Go to Settings -> Messages, then tap Send & Receive.
  3. Tap the phone number that you want to use with Messages.
  4. Go Back to the main Settings menu, then tap FaceTime.
  5. Tap the phone number that you want to use with ‌FaceTime‌.

If none of the above works, you may need to restore your device to iOS 16.0.1 by connecting to a Mac or PC to fix the bug and fully activate your new iPhone.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

LilNasX Avatar
49 months ago
It just works...
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diego.caraballo Avatar
49 months ago



* Seeing a green message bubble instead of a blue bubble when sending a message to another Apple device.

Google having a good laugh 😂
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Honey_crisp Avatar
49 months ago
This actually happened to me on my iPhone 13, iOS 15 after self migrating from physical SIM to eSIM on Verizon. Not an iPhone 14 issue but rather an eSIM+iOS issue.

The Messages and FaceTime settings appear to get confused with the eSIM and associated phone number and they "uncheck" the phone number to send/receive, so you have to make sure the phone number is "checked" in the Messages and FaceTime settings.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
49 months ago
Stunning and Ridiculous. A brand new phone and it does not work as intended out of the box.

Imagine buying a brand new car, and the dealer saying we just need to get it to a mechanic for some light engine work before it will drive properly. It wouldn't happen.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
49 months ago
This sounds like getting an old PC of the 90s to work.

Whats next? Boot, press weird key combos and then write stuff into the config.sys?

Yeah yeah the new Apple, thinking different.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
49 months ago

Work from home quality
This has nothing to do with home office.

Apples declined quality started long before Covid & Co. It’s totally normal that the quality starts sucking when you have a CEO that cares more for short term profits than for good products and the long term health of the company.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

Apple Says macOS 27 Won't Be Compatible With These Macs

Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:29 am PDT by
During WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. macOS 27 will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. Apple will unveil macOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote this Monday, June 8, and the...
MacBook Neo on Yellow Feature

MacBook Neo is So Popular That Apple Reportedly Doubled Production

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:24 am PDT by
On an earnings call in late April, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that customer response to the MacBook Neo was "off the charts," and the popularity of the laptop has reportedly led the company to significantly boost production. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said he believes that MacBook Neo shipments to Apple were doubled from an initial target of 5 million units to 10...
iphone 18 pro blue%402x

iPhone 18 Pro: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, and Dark Gray Chassis Leaked [Update]

Thursday June 4, 2026 5:18 am PDT by
Update: Since publication, new information has come to light suggesting the images have been AI-manipulated and are not in fact iPhone 18 Pro chassis parts. The original article follows. The color options Apple is reportedly planning for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max have appeared online today in the form of images of chassis parts of unknown authenticity....