News - iMessage not working on iOS 26? This one setting fixes the Not Delivered error

iOS 26 introduced a quirk that breaks iMessage for some users during iPhone setup. If you set up an eSIM after the initial setup rather than during it, iMessage won't activate automatically, and you may see delivery failures, green message bubbles, or iMessages sent from your email address instead of your phone number. Apple has updated its support documentation to address this issue. The fix is simple: manually turn iMessage off and back on after activating your eSIM. This forces the service to recognize your phone number and start working properly. Here's how to fix iMessage if it's not working after eSIM setup on iOS 26, and how to tell if this issue is affecting you. How to fix iMessage Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! More from Tom's Guide Apple buried these 5 iPhone features in Settings. This hidden iPhone feature blocks background noise on calls. 5 must-try iOS 26 features for your iPhone