iMac not signing in to iCloud for messages

[Iainy1]

My apple ID doesn't seem to what to sign into iMessage on my iMac. My iPhone, iPad and MacBook all are fine. Why just my iMac? 2021 M1 chip, running the latest software.

 

[ferrarr]

It says an unknown error occurred, so maybe restart or shut down/start up the iMac and try again.

 

[Iainy1]

I have tried that. Signing out of iCloud, rebooting, restarting. It would be easy if the other computers had the same problem but they don't, just the iMac

 

[Rod]

Your going to say, of course it's correct but, are you sure you have the password and user name correct?
If you are copy an pasting it try typing it manually or vice versa.

You said you signed out of iCloud and so I assume you've signed back in successfully with the same user name and password. That confirms your Apple ID is correct.

Did it work in the past? Have you done something recently that might explain it, eg upgraded the OS or Restored the OS?

It's almost positive to be a glitch or small detail of some sort if it works on your other devices.
For example, is the iMac "Authorised" in the App Store? Is it listed in "Your Devices"? Does it show up in Find My?
Any one of these little details can cause security issues and/or it could just resolve itself with no explanation.

 

[Iainy1]

I posted this question on the Apple website that I have to sign into using my Apple ID. So, no, that isn’t the problem even Apple insists that it is. It happened all of a sudden. Like I said, if it was happening to all my devices I would say it was my problem but it clearly isn’t. I can sign into the App Store iCloud account all the things my id takes me into. It’s the phrase ‘unknown error ‘ that is interesting.

 

[Rod]

"Unknown" errors are just that; unknown and that often points to a connectivity issue which could be network related or sometimes just that the particular Apple server isn't responding or your "request" is timing out.
Using a different network or network connection, turning off a VPN (if you're using one) or just trying at a different time could work.

 

[Iainy1]

If it is a connectivity problem, why does the Apple server accept my credentials for every other log in?

 

[Rod]

Different server?

 

[Iainy1]

That is the question isn’t it. I can’t think how I would hit the same server every time with iMessage and all the other times a different server.

 

[Rod]

I have learned that nothing is as simple as I might think. An unknown error implies that Apple doesn't know what's wrong either. Consequently we're stuck with a process of elimination.

 

[Jimmysb]

I had an issue yesterday where I needed my Apple ID, and was asked for the password, twice I put it in, the first time maybe it was wrong (fat finger etc), but the second it was correct, the third time used the password for admin access i.e. my computer passcode, and that is what it wanted.

 

[MacInWin]

It could be that the path that was discovered to the Message server was too long, or too slow, but the path discovered by the other Macs is shorter/faster. The system caches that path to save having to look it up again, so every time it takes that same path, but hits the same issue. You can read here about how to flush the DNS cache and force the machine to look for a new pay, hopefully a better one.

How to Flush DNS Cache on a Mac

You can flush the DNS on your Mac by entering a command into Terminal. However, the command to flush the DNS cache is different depending on your Mac.

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