IMessage won't use email as contact

OK I don't have a text plan with my phone, so I went into Messages in the settings and turned the SMS and MMS options off and pointed everything to my email address. However, whenever I try to send an iMessage to a known contact that is also using iOS5, it only brings up phone numbers and none of the email addresses I know to work. I know they work because on my iPad, I'm carrying on conversations with people. But the phone will simply not give me the email option on the phone's app. In fact, it isn't giving the option of ANY email addresses, only phone numbers.
Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

I seem to have the same problem. I have been trying all day. Sent a message from my wife's iPad to my iPhone and i can then continue the chat. However, when i try to add a contact with an email address, it just wont show up. Even, trying to iMessage from the contacts application doesn't seem to work as the address is reformatted without the '@' symbol in between.
My brother also has the same iPhone4 and we updated at the same time. And his works just fine. The email addresses show up right in the contacts filed of iMessage. Really frustrating.
Please let me know if there's a solution.

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IMessage won't work with 1 contact. (iOS7)

iPhone 4s with iOS7
iMessage won't work with only 1 specific contact.
Prior to updating i was able to iMessage with the contact in question without issue.
Both of us updated to iOS7 yesterday, since then messages between us are Text Messages only. We screwed around with everything. We discovered if i send to his email address (checkmarked with iMessage) it works. ALSO...after searching and trying different things, he can send me iMessages from his number, but when i respond it switches SMSs . FaceTime also works.
It works with all my other contacts without issues.
We both tried the following.
- deleting eahcother as contacts,
- resets (many)
- turned off iMessage (reset network settings)
- logging in and out of appleID in several locations
- removed checkmarks from emails/phone number
- on WiFi, on 3G
- phone restore
Start new conversation: only my phone # is checkmarked. receinve, I have 3 emails and phone number
any ideas?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Open Finder, press Option key, select Go > Library, open Preferences and delete com.apple.imessage.bag.plist and com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist

How can i remove my phone number from imessage and just use email address ?

Hi all
I've searched all the forums and still can't find an answer for what i need (what i think i need!)
I have an iphone without a data plan so whenever anybody who is registered with imessage sends me a message i will not
receive it until i am back on wifi.
What i want to achieve is to be able to receive sms messages from imessage users when i am not on wifi and then imessages when i am back on wifi.
My assumption is that if i can unlink my mobile number from iMessage and only have it associated with my email address that this should work, but i cannot seem to remove my phone number from imessage, in the settings > iMessage > send and receive it will allow me to un-tick the associated email addresses but my phone number is greyed out and will not allow me to untick.
On my home Mac i can go into messages app and deselect the phone number but not on the iphone.
One solution says to deregister my phone on https://supportprofile.apple.com/ which i have tried (i can't see how that would work anyhow as there is no phone number in that registration)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
thanks, Andy

Regardless if using your cell phone number or your Apple ID email address, iMessage requires an internet connection via an available wi-fi network or via your carrier's cellular network. Without a data plan and no internet access with your carrier's cellular network, an iMessage addressed to your email address can be received only when your iPhone is connected to an available wi-fi network no different when an iMessage is addressed to your cell phone number.
You cannot deselect or remove your cell phone number below you can be reached by iMessage at with iMessage on an activated iPhone. The iPhone's phone number is activated along with your Apple ID.

Imessage won't use phone number

I have an iphone 4 that is unlocked and I have had some problems with making imessage use my phone number. I have tried switching it on/off, signing out of my apple id, and practically every solution in these discussions with no luck. I thought I would give it one last shot and ask if anyone has any suggestions or ways to correct this. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hi, Damian.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
I understand you are attempting to activate iMessage and are receiving an error. You have tried most of the relevant steps so I would see the attached section below.
Still not activated after an hour?
It might take a few minutes to activate iMessage and FaceTime. If you've waited more than an hour, try these steps:
Make sure that your device has the latest version of iOS.
If you're using an iPhone, contact your carrier to make sure that you can receive SMS messages.
Contact Apple Support.
If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime
-Jason H.

IMessage won't use phone number to send

until Saturday my partners iphone 6 worked sending iMessages, I've done all the usual fixes like sign out, reset network, use airplane mode then sign in on wifi. I did notice that on Saturday our daughter was using a ipad linked to the account and I've just been told that she received a message saying verify account. WWould that be a problem.. When I'm trying to activate iMessage now on the phone were getting an message that its unable to activate??
Can anyone please shed some light on the problem.

Hi, Damian.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
I understand you are attempting to activate iMessage and are receiving an error. You have tried most of the relevant steps so I would see the attached section below.
Still not activated after an hour?
It might take a few minutes to activate iMessage and FaceTime. If you've waited more than an hour, try these steps:
Make sure that your device has the latest version of iOS.
If you're using an iPhone, contact your carrier to make sure that you can receive SMS messages.
Contact Apple Support.
If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime
-Jason H.

How do remove my phone number from imessage and only use email?

I do not have a data plan on my iphone so i cant use imesssage when not in wifi. so in order for me to be able to be apart of my friends group messages without having to turn imesssage on and off i need to only use my email address, but it will not let me send and recieve messages from only my email.

Regardless if using your cell phone number or your Apple ID email address, iMessage requires an internet connection via an available wi-fi network or via your carrier's cellular network. Without a data plan and no internet access with your carrier's cellular network, an iMessage addressed to your email address can be received only when your iPhone is connected to an available wi-fi network no different when an iMessage is addressed to your cell phone number.
You cannot deselect or remove your cell phone number below you can be reached by iMessage at with iMessage on an activated iPhone. The iPhone's phone number is activated along with your Apple ID.

Why won't Yahoo email recognize contacts using firefox 11?

I have Windows 7 and my contacts are recognized in my yahoo email using Internet Explorer but the contacts are not being recognized in firefox 11. Any suggestions? I would rather use firefox if I can get the contacts to work with my email.

Hi there. Have you tried to contact Yahoo e-mail support? It seems that's more likely a problem with the way the website is serving content to Firefox since what you're describing is a website functionality.
Unfortunately I don't use Yahoo e-mail myself, but someone else might be able to provide more specific help. So, my recommendation would still be to contact Yahoo about this, and provide a screenshot of what you're seeing (and expecting to see).
Good luck!

Why do you use email to contact me but refuse to accept my email

Hi
I understand that email can be a very convenient and effective way of communication; however The FCC has strict regulations on how wireless carriers can ask and receive customer information.
If you need assistance with an account or billing issue and you’re overseas you can always chat live or call our international support number free from your AT&T mobile at +1.916.843.4685.
Thanks,
Charise

Why do I have to use Facebook, tweeter or this goofy community service instead of email? Why do you use my email address to contact me but refuse to accept email In return? Just like you, I also prefer the ease and convenience of email. Would you prefer I setup my own social network and require you to post your bills to it??! Email is ubiquitous and--unlike your service--it works perfectly overseas.

IMessage won't work with some contacts

Hi everybody,
today I wanted to text my friend using iMessage.
I noticed that my friends name is not in blue. I see all my iMessage contacts in blue, except this my friend.
I tried to switch iMessage off on my phone and on phone of my friend, but it doesn't work.
What I can do to fix this problem?

Your friend's phone number is not properly registered with iMessage or the phone number you have for your friend in your contacts list is not correct. The number in your contact list must match exactly to the number your friend is using.

Imessage won't contect to one contact

Here is the situation,
one of my contacts has been trying to message me via imessage. His screen shows me as imessage. However, none of his messages can be successfully sent.
When I try to message him, my iphone will not recognize him as imessage. However, I can message a number of other friends via imessage. So far I've tried rebooting, and re-signing in.
Any thoughts as to only one contact not working for imessage.

Read this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755

Imessages being sent using email address how do I correct

I recently reactivated my iPhone 6 and now my imessages are being sent via my email address not my phone # how do I correct this?

settings - imessage - send/receive - make sure phone is number is checked and grey out.
if no sign out of imessage and sign back in. or remove your apple id.

Facetime & iMessage won't verify email

My gmail account won't verify either in settings or when I access my Apple ID. This was fine until IOS7 upgrade.

Cancel the above reply as my mb pro settings are now constantly trying to verify my gmail address in Facetime & imessage. I cannot get apple to verify my gmail address in my account settings even though it is set as my recovery address. My Apple ID is a different address which is how I want it. Is this a google v apple problem?

My iMessage and Facetime won't activate, says waiting for activation. All photos and contacts are restored, using email and wifi only, no service. Only issue is date and time will not automatically set.

My iMessage and Facetime won't activate, says waiting for activation. All photos and contacts are restored, using email and wifi only, no service. Only issue is date and time will not automatically set.

Howdy eewebe13,
So you have no cellular service but are on Wi-Fi yet iMessage and Facetime are waiting for activation.
Please step through this article for that scenario.
If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime - Apple Support
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
Nubz

My iMessage won't activate my email but will with phone number. I type my password and it says it's wrong I change it and it still says its wrong. I even made a new account and it still says the password is wrong.

My iMessage won't activate my email but will with phone number. I type my password and it says it's wrong I change it and it still says its wrong. I even made a new account and it still says the password is wrong.

Hi hectorness12!
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities! I have found an article that can help you with troubleshooting your iMessage issue. The article can be found here:
iOS: Troubleshooting FaceTime and iMessage activation
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4268
Thanks,
Braden

My iMessage won't send pictures or videos to one of my contacts.

My iMessage won't send pictures or videos to one of my contacts. Can someone please help? I've already turned my device on and off, but it still won't work. It happened after the last update.. when I send a picture or video, it would show as sent, but then have the red exclamation icon and say message not delivered. I would try and deliver multiple times but it just won't work.

It depends if the contact is not an apple product it will not work at all ..iMessage is only used for apple products.Just check.Well you should know if the contact is an apple user or not so yeah thats all really.But if it's it that important f.of a pic download a texting app it helps alot.

IMessage won't use email as contact

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