Unable to use iMessage on de-activated 3GS?

**Coffeegrower** · 10-20-2011, 03:56 PM

Is there any reason iMessage shouldn't work on a de-activated iPhone? I upgraded to the 4S, and gave my 3GS (running iOS 5) to a friend, who will use it as an iPod touch. Where I have on/off toggles on the settings screen for Message, his shows "waiting for activation". Any ideas?

**alpinestars1z** · 10-20-2011, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Coffeegrower

Is there any reason iMessage shouldn't work on a de-activated iPhone? I upgraded to the 4S, and gave my 3GS (running iOS 5) to a friend, who will use it as an iPod touch. Where I have on/off toggles on the settings screen for Message, his shows "waiting for activation". Any ideas?

I think it needs to be activated so push notifications will work. If you have an inactive AT&T SIM I think that will work.

**E_Brown** · 10-20-2011, 08:31 PM

I would assume it would work since it works on an iPod touch. Not sure how to do it since I haven't owned an iPod touch in years.

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**Srenit** · 09-16-2012, 07:11 PM

any correct and helpful answers to this issue? I'm in the same boat with deactivated 3GS, just using as iPod and iMessage just keeps saying "waiting..."

**jclisenby** · 09-16-2012, 08:30 PM

You need to make sure you change the "receive at" fields in settings to just your email address. If you leave the phone number checked, it'll keep requesting activation.

**The_Chosen_One** · 09-17-2012, 02:46 PM

my son has a deactivated iPhone 4 and uses it as an iTouch. Imessage is intermittent today as well.

**JustMe'D** · 09-17-2012, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by FallenAnjel

my son has a deactivated iPhone 4 and uses it as an iTouch. Imessage is intermittent today as well.

**Srenit** · 09-17-2012, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jclisenby

You need to make sure you change the "receive at" fields in settings to just your email address. If you leave the phone number checked, it'll keep requesting activation.

I see that it is still trying to verify my phone number but it's grayed out so I do I remove?

**Srenit** · 09-17-2012, 08:00 PM

I see that it is still trying to verify my phone number but it's grayed out so I do I remove?

**jclisenby** · 09-17-2012, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Srenit

I see that it is still trying to verify my phone number but it's grayed out so I do I remove?

Make sure you also go into "general" under settings and turn off the cellular connections from there.

**TFausett** · 10-01-2012, 04:38 PM

I am having similar problems I have a 3GS unlocked on TMobile and everything has been verified phone number and email address. But it won't send the message any ideas?