You've noticed iMessage isn't working properly after an update to iOS 26? A problematic entry in the settings could be to blame. — Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
LOS ANGELES: Have you found yourself unable to send or receive messages on your iPhone? Or are iMessages being sent from your email address instead of your phone number?
If this sounds familiar after updating to iOS 26, it might be worth checking your settings.
A recent Apple support notice says the likely cause of the problem is a duplicate SIM card entry with the same phone number. This issue can occur with both physical SIM cards and eSIMs.
To check for duplicate entries, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send & Receive. If you find a duplicate entry, you can fix the issue by removing the unused number from the connection settings.
Here’s how to fix it:
- For physical SIM cards: Remove the SIM card from your phone and reinsert it.
- For eSIMs: Delete the inactive SIM via the connection settings.
Once the duplicate entry is removed, iMessage should set up normally. Simply open the Messages app, confirm the displayed phone number, and iMessage should work as expected. – dpa
