Messages killed itself!

[rainbowcat]

iPhone SE 3rd gen. Messages suddenly stopped working. I keep enabling it in Settings, and it keeps turning off. I've followed Apple's directions to turn off Face Time and Messages and then restart the phone. Nope. I've restarted the phone 3 times, with the same result. Help please!

 

[Rod]

Just a couple of questions, what iOS are you running and when did this start happening?

 

[rainbowcat]

iPhone SE 3rd gen. Messages suddenly stopped working. I keep enabling it in Settings, and it keeps turning off. I've followed Apple's directions to turn off Face Time and Messages and then restart the phone. Nope. I've restarted the phone 3 times, with the same result. Help please!

Just a couple of questions, what iOS are you running and when did this start happening?

Started about 3 hours before I posted today. Running iOS 18.4.1
Also there's this weird thing going on with my phone number - same phone number is labeled "primary" and "cellular data". Never saw that before, and I can't get rid of it. Both of these are the same number!

 

[Rod]

Is this an eSIM?

Have a look under Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data
What does it show?

Mine will be different because I have two SIMs, one eSIM for Australia with a limited roaming plan and one physical nano SIM for Indonesia. So showing you my settings may just confuse you.

Bottom line here is you can now choose individual services for each of two active SIM's.

So, if you just havejust one and it's a physical SIM you could try just Restarting your iPhone or switch it off, remove the SIM switch it back on and reinsert the SIM. You might want to try turning WiFi off before reinserting the SIM but your cellular reception looks a bit weak, that could be part of the problem.

 

[rainbowcat]

Is this an eSIM?

Have a look under Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data
What does it show?

Mine will be different because I have two SIMs, one eSIM for Australia with a limited roaming plan and one physical nano SIM for Indonesia. So showing you my settings may just confuse you.

Bottom line here is you can now choose individual services for each of two active SIM's.

So, if you just havejust one and it's a physical SIM you could try just Restarting your iPhone or switch it off, remove the SIM switch it back on and reinsert the SIM. You might want to try turning WiFi off before reinserting the SIM but your cellular reception looks a bit weak, that could be part of the problem.

Pretty sure it's an eSIM. Always have weak reception where we live, and never had a problem before. Messages now works, but for iPhones only, and refuses to share my name and contact info, which makes it pretty useless. Battery went from 61% last night to 30% this morning without being used, so the phone is trying to do something.

 

[rainbowcat]

All fixed! There was an eSIM from my current provider, but they left the old physical SIM card in the phone. Required some fancy dealings from my provider's software, old SIM card is gone, and all is well. Best part is that is was all done by a sweet former student of mine. Thank you for your efforts

 

[Rod]

Thank you for the feedback. That screen shot was the clue, two numbers but the same number. Possibly your Physical SIM was set for voice calls (and SMS) and the eSIM just for Data, or vice versa.
Glad it's fixed.