iMessage activation: Duplicate SIM entry causes issues on iOS 26
Apple has confirmed a rare issue in iOS 26 where iMessage may fail to activate due to conflicts caused by duplicate SIM entries. The company has published guidance and users have shared troubleshooting steps on Apple Support Communities.
What happens
On some iPhones running iOS 26, iMessage activation can be blocked when the device shows duplicate or conflicting phone entries linked to the SIM. This prevents the activation handshake from completing.
How to fix it (workarounds)
- Open Settings > Messages.
- Toggle iMessage off, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on.
- Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and check for duplicate phone numbers or addresses. Remove duplicate phone entries if present.
- Try reactivating iMessage. If problems persist, restart the iPhone and repeat the steps.
Sources & further reading
- MacObserver summary of Apple’s explanation and fixes: https://www.macobserver.com/news/apple-explains-ios-26-imessage-bug-and-how-to-solve-it/
- Apple Support Communities discussion with user troubleshooting tips: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256136714
If you’ve experienced this, share your device model and carrier in the comments — it helps identify patterns.