Troubleshoot iMessage Issues with One Contact: 9 Easy Solutions

iMessage not working for one contact is a common problem many iOS users go through.

Wondering what could be the reason for this?

Well, there are a lot of reasons why iMessage isn’t working for one contact. 

Mostly, this is because of the iMessage being disabled on the recipient’s phone or the specific contact has blocked you. But let’s not jump into conclusions directly.

Here are some possible reasons  why iMessage is not working for one contact.

iMessage Not Working For One Contact: What to Do?

Generally, there are many reasons why iMessage isn’t working for one contact. 

One of the most common reasons is that the Airplane mode is turned on to the person you’re messaging or the recipient’s phone is turned off.

But if your problem isn’t solved here. There is nothing to worry about. Here are seven reasons why iMessage is not working for one contact.

9 Reasons Why iMessage Not Working for One Contact

1. Turning WiFi On

Before we move on to the complex methods, try checking the most basic issues.

When using iMessage, you need a stable internet connection. Try checking if your WiFi is working fine and doesn’t show the sign “Limited Access.” 

And if you’re using cellular data, it’s better to turn on the 5g or 4g option comparatively. Once connected to a strong WiFi or cellular connection, open the Messages app and try sending the iMessage again. This simple step can solve the problem of iMessage, particularly if mobile data connectivity is limited or slow.

2. Checking if the Contact Has Turned On iMessage

The issue of iMessage not working for a specific contact can also occur when the receiver hasn’t turned on iMessage. 

To confirm this, open the device’s Settings app, select Messages, and check if the iMessage toggle is turned on. If it’s off, activate the toggle. Once the setting is confirmed or adjusted, try sending the iMessage again. This verification process ensures that the recipient is set up to receive iMessages, removing issues in message delivery.

3. Blocked Contact

If you recently had an argument with your friend and are trying to message him again, there’s a high probability of blocked contacts.

Even if you have unblocked your friend, the iMessage will not work if the recipient has intentionally or accidentally blocked you. If someone blocks you, any messages you send will remain undelivered. 

Now, you cannot do anything from your end while facing these problems. It’s best to contact your friend from another messaging app and try to solve the issue. 

However, before contacting the recipient, check your blocklist and see if the contact is unblocked. On an iPhone, you can review and remove blocked contacts by going to Settings, selecting Messages, and then tapping on Blocked Contacts. 

4. Message Sent via SMS

Despite enabling iMessage, messages might be sent via regular SMS (text message) instead. This isn’t something rare among iMessage users. 

Messages sent via SMS appear as green bubbles instead of the typical blue iMessage bubbles. This can occur when the iMessage originally failed to deliver. If iMessage is unsuccessful, your phone may show you a message highlighting “Resend The Message.”

5. Recipient Not Using iMessage

If messages consistently appear green when texting a particular contact, the recipient is not using iMessage. This could be temporary, intentional (they’ve disabled iMessage temporarily), or permanent (they’ve switched to a non-iOS device like Android). In such cases, messages will be sent via SMS. 

6. Restarting iMessage and Phone

You can also restart iMessage, as this can be a possible solution to solve the “Message not being sent” problem. 

Open the setting, temporarily disable iMessage, and then turn it on again. If this doesnt help you solve the problem, then disable iMessage, reboot the device, and then turn on the iMessage, as this should help.

7. Setup iMessage

Sometimes, many users don’t set up iMessage, which is why this results in their messages being hung up in the blue section. You can confirm the setup by opening the device settings, selecting Messages, tapping on Send & Receive, and validating the designated phone number for new iMessage conversations. 

8. Sign out/Sign in Apple ID

The fix can be as simple as signing out/signing in your Apple ID. The process can be as follows:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on messages
3. Scroll and select Send & Receive
4. Now, you can view your Apple ID. Select the Apple ID.
5. Click on Sign Out.
6. Now, again, follow the same process and open settings.
7. Click on “Sign In To Your Device”
8. Sign In via your Apple ID and password.

9. Ensuring iMessage is Active and Running

If nothing seems to work, then the issue is definitely because of iMessage not running at all. This can be because of any maintenance or server problem.

An easy way to check if there is ongoing maintenance with servers is to check the official social handles of Apple. If these social handles don’t provide you with the relevant information, try checking Apple’s Support page, and your issue will be solved. 

Why Does iMessage Only Work for Some Contacts?

I’ve also seen the problem of iMessage working for some specific contacts and not working for other contacts.

Well, this can be because of the following reasons.

1. The contact isn’t on iMessage. 

2. These contacts have blocked you.

3. The recipient device is on Airplane Mode.

4. The recipient device is switched off.