Apple’s iOS 26, like any major software release, has encountered some bugs, particularly in iMessage interactions with SIM cards. A recent fix addressed iMessage activation issues related to conflicting SIM cards. But now, a new iMessage problem has emerged, especially for users setting up iPhones with eSIMs.
This issue arises when configuring an eSIM after the initial setup of the iPhone with iOS 26. If this step is skipped and the eSIM is set up later via the iPhone Settings app, iMessage may not activate automatically.
An updated support document from Apple explains the consequences of not activating iMessage or the eSIM during the initial setup, leading to message delivery issues and the use of email addresses instead of phone numbers.
To resolve this, users can follow a simple fix: open the Settings app, navigate to Messages, and toggle the iMessage switch off and on again to trigger the SMS verification process with Apple’s servers.
Once the phone number is verified, iMessage functionality should be restored, indicated by the messages turning blue again. This verification process may involve an SMS message and should ideally be done with cellular coverage.
