Managing the iMessage Problem

Apple released its biggest overhaul of the iPhone OS in years on Sept. 18, 2013. The new iOS version includes a dashboard like control center for the iPhone and iPad. However, users discovered that a glitch caused disruptions to the iMessage text message system. The iCloud system status page shows a green light for iMessage, implying that the problem is the OS and not iMessage itself. This means the glitch is in the iOS release, not on Apple’s servers. 

The Problem with iMessages 

iMessage is a service that allows Apple users to send free text messages between Apple devices. iMessage can also convert messages sent from an Apple device to standard SMS texts. Users can send the messages. They don’t receive an immediate notice that the message wasn’t sent. However, messages later appear with the large exclamation point warning that the message didn’t go through. Not all iMessage users are experiencing this problem, but those that do are struggling to find solutions until Apple fixes the problem. 

Solutions to the Problem 

Some users have found it helpful to restart their devices. Other users have disabled the iMessage service, reset the Network Settings and then re-enabled iMessage. Doing this re-authenticates the user’s device with iMessage. Unfortunately, this fix seems to be temporary and has had to be repeated. Users who cannot use iMessage after resetting the network settings have to find other ways to send messages while waiting for a solution from Apple. The SMS messaging functionality within iMessage can be used. They can also fall back to traditional text messaging in place of using iMessage. Some users are switching to other text messaging applications like WhatsApp. 

Apple’s Solution 

Apple has promised to fix the problem in an upcoming patch. Because the iMessage problem only affects a small percentage of users, Apple put out a security patch last week instead of immediately tackling the iMessage problem. It considered the security issues like the bug that lets someone bypass the lock screen a higher priority. There are temporary workarounds for many users, though they are inconvenient. Apple may have the fix for the iMessage problem in its next point release, iOS 7.0.3.