If you’re trying to activate iMessage for a new Apple account that you just created with a custom email at a custom domain that you just registered, and you keep getting this error:
“FaceTime Activation. An error occurred during activation. Try again.”
Your account has probably been blocked by Apple, since emails for newly registered domains look suspicious (e.g., eat@hodges.pizza).
Solution: Contact Apple and explain it’s a legitimate account.
- Read Apple’s support doc: https://support.apple.com/119859
- Go to https://apple.co/IMFT-mac and select Enable Apple Account.
- Use the Additional Details field to explain what you’re doing and why this is a legitimate account (e.g., I’m trying to create a new account for my family iPad).
- Submit the form, wait 24 hours, and hope Apple approves your account.
- If they do, you’ll receive an email saying “Your iMessage account is ready to use.”
- If they don’t, you won’t receive anything. Just try again.
- If your account still isn’t approved after multiple requests, contact Apple support: call their phone number, find someone you can talk to, and explain your situation.
Ultimately, it took me 3 requests, 2 online chats, and 1 phone call to get my account unblocked. But if I can do it, so can you. Good luck out there, folks!