Issues with iMessage after SIM Swap

[MitzEclipse]

Hi all
I am currently roaming abroad so purchased a local SIM. I now am having issues with iMessage specifically two issues I'm noticing:

1) If I text message myself, I do not have the blue iMessage, rather a green regular text message and the message sending fails. However, if I try to text my friends via iMessage, this works just fine. Issue both on iPhone and MacOS. How do I resolve this?

2) iMessage history is not synced. I can see some history on my iPhone but not synced to my Macbook since the SIM Swap. How do I resolve this?

I have tried:
- turning off iCloud and iMessage /back on
- ensuring I am "contactable at" via my old phone number and email address in iCloud -> Name, Phone Numbers, Email
- Restarted iPhone 11 and restarted Macbook - both using latest OS versions

Any suggestions please?

 

[DJLC]

On your iPhone: Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. See if your temporary local number is checked in the top section. If not, check it. Ditto on your Mac in Messages > Preferences > iMessage.

 

[MitzEclipse]

Thx for the response - enabled the temp number both on the phone and mac. Still showing up as the green text message, not blue iMessage! any further ideas pls?

 

[Fred Zed]

Doesn’t iMessages use data and perhaps the second line isn’t data enabled or vicer versa thus it sends as sms.

 

[MitzEclipse]

Well, iMessage should use data and my email - I actually do not want any phone numbers associated with my iMessage if possible (?) as I frequently SIM swap and don't want this continual issue.

Even so, the data is enabled on the temp SIM so I still don't understand why it's only green text message not blue iMessage - please advise?

 

[now i see it]

Sometimes I get iMessage txts from someone I know who has an iPhone and Apple ID and usually they’re Blue bubble messages - but not always. Sometimes they’re green SMS messages instead. Same number. iMessage isn’t 100% predictable.
Sometimes I send a message to that person and it goes out as a blue imessage but converts to a green SMS instead. Not always but sometimes.

 

[Fred Zed]

Well, iMessage should use data and my email - I actually do not want any phone numbers associated with my iMessage if possible (?) as I frequently SIM swap and don't want this continual issue.

Even so, the data is enabled on the temp SIM so I still don't understand why it's only green text message not blue iMessage - please advise?

I haven’t got my temp physical local sim iMessage enabled either. I’m sending iMessages even with my T-Mobile USA esim disabled no issues. Then again I haven’t attempted to send myself an iMessage.

 

[BigBlur]

It's not quite clear which number is getting green bubbles. You say you are texting yourself, but are you texting your old number or your temp one?

If you are wanting your old number to work with iMessage while the temp SIM card is in your phone, that isn't possible. When you have two SIM cards and only one phone, taking the first SIM out and using a second SIM will deactivate the first SIM mobile number from iMessage. The number you use for iMessage must be the same number associated to the phone. (You can get around this by having a dual-SIM phone, or separate phones.)

This thread describes the same problem. Did you ever see a message stating "This number is registered to your Apple ID, but is not associated with this phone. You can keep using the number for iMessage and FaceTime until it expires."?

I actually do not want any phone numbers associated with my iMessage if possible (?) as I frequently SIM swap and don't want this continual issue.

If you don't want any phone numbers associated with iMessage, do you have a need to use iMessage in the first place? I mean, you can remove them in Settings (Messages -> Send & Receive -> uncheck your numbers), but just be aware that your friends would need to message you using your email address that you allow in order to use iMessage.

 

[MitzEclipse]

> If you are wanting your old number to work with iMessage while the temp SIM card is in your phone, that isn't possible.

Thanks for that clarity, I wasn't aware that wasn't possible. Not sure what happens to my iMessages when I eventually have to change phone numbers then! iMessage seems really confusing compared to other message services like Whatsapp that let's you 'keep' your original phone number for messaging.

 

[mjs916]

> If you are wanting your old number to work with iMessage while the temp SIM card is in your phone, that isn't possible.

Thanks for that clarity, I wasn't aware that wasn't possible. Not sure what happens to my iMessages when I eventually have to change phone numbers then! iMessage seems really confusing compared to other message services like Whatsapp that let's you 'keep' your original phone number for messaging.

What happens when someone gets your original phone number as their new number and wants to register it for WhatsApp?

That seems more confusing than the iMessage implementation that lets you register and deregister a verified phone number, allowing for sms forwarding to internet only devices.

If you want the old number shouldn’t you just keep the old number?

Lastly, if I understand correctly you’re probably best registering phone numbers and email addresses and having your phone start iMessage conversations from an email, that way you can message the people you want and hopefully ensure it sends as an iMessage, and the number changing won’t matter as much. (I’m probably not understanding correctly).