eSIM Issue Deactivating iMessage and FaceTime for Some T-Mobile Users

T-Mobile eSIM App - Image via App Store

23 MAY 2022 - If you’re a T-Mobile customer having problems with iMessage, it’s not just you. MacRumors highlights an issue first covered by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Not covered like a story, though. More “covered like a guy having the same problem.” According to a Twitter post by Gurman:

There is a very nasty iPhone and @TMobile bug where iMessage and FaceTime for a device's phone number will randomly deactivate and there is no way to reactivate it. The only solution that worked for me is getting a new physical SIM card. An extremely disappointing issue.

Physical versus eSIM seems to play a part. The MacRumors piece says it appears to be an eSIM bug that’s deactivating both iMessage and FaceTime for some. Gurman did find, eventually, that removing then re-adding an eSIM account from a problematic ‌iPhone‌ also fixed the issue. He’s not a fan of that solution though, pointing out that it’s “complex for most people and shouldn't need to ever be done…”

Gurman says he has heard from T-Mobile on the issue. According to yet another Twitter post, the uncarrier tells Gurman that it is “working with Apple on trying to resolve the issue.”