With iMessage “Check In”, you can automatically notify your family or friends when you get to your destination or keep track of your friend’s arrival at a destination. If your friend hasn’t arrived as expected, you can check the important information such as their location, battery percentage, cellular signal, and more. While this feature works as expected, many have reported that it’s ill-functioning for them. But bother not, we’ve lined up the viable tips and tricks to fix iMessage Check In not working in iOS 18/17 to let you bring this all-new feature back on track.
Best Tips & Tricks to Fix iMessage Check In Not Working on iPhone
What could be hindering Apple Check In from functioning properly? To me, the biggest roadblock for the Check In is the below-par or sluggish cellular connection. Thus, fixing this usual suspect will let you overcome the hurdle. That aside, restricted location tracking and miscellaneous software glitches could also be very much in the loop.
1. Ensure That Everyone Has iOS 18/17 Installed on Their Devices
Bear in mind that “iMessage Check In” requires all iPhones (for both the sender and the recipient) to be running iOS 18/17 and later. Since this is a must-have requirement, be sure your devices are updated with the latest iteration of iOS.
2. iMessage Check In is Not Available Everywhere
Note that iMessage Check In is not available everywhere. So, be sure to check if this brand-new iOS 17 feature has been rolled out in your region or not.
- To do so, open the Messages app -> go to a chat thread -> tap on the “+” button at the bottom -> More.
- Now, if Check In appears in the menu, it means this feature has been rolled out in your region. But if it doesn’t show up here, you can’t do anything but wait until Apple rolls it out in your country or region.
3. Ensure That Messages App Can Use Your Location
Another important requirement that you must check off beforehand while trying to fix the Apple Check In issues on your iPhone is to ensure that the Apple Messages app can access your location.
- On your iPhone, head into the Settings app -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services -> Messages -> While Using.
- For a better location tracking experience, make sure that the toggle next to Precise Location is turned on as well.
4. Force Quit the Messages App
Should the “Check In” continue to malfunction, force kill the Messages app and relaunch it.
- Gently swipe up from the Home bar to reveal the app switcher. On your iPhone with Home Button, double-press the Home Button to access the app switcher.
- Now, swipe up the Messages app card to force kill the app. Then, relaunch the messaging app.
5. Turn ON/OFF the Airplane Mode
If your cellular network is poor, it could be the prime reason why Apple Check-In is not working as expected.
- The easiest way to fix the sluggish cellular connection is to use airplane mode. Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the Control Center -> tap on the airplane mode icon to turn it on/off.
6. Make Sure Messages App Can Use Your Cellular Network
Make sure that the Messages app can use your cellular data without any restriction.
- Head into the Settings app -> Cellular -> Scroll down to find Messages app and make sure that the switch next to Messages is enabled.
7. Hard Reset Your iPhone
This one has long been like a go-to savior when dealing with common problems. As you have already guessed, we will give hard reset a try as well.
- Press and release the volume up button. Then, press the volume down button. After that, make sure to hold down the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
8. Disable Low Power Mode
In order to preserve the battery life of your iPhone, the Low Power Mode goes all out to throttle all the power-hungry features such as location tracking and background activities. Hence, it’s better to keep this power-saving mode disabled.
- Fire up the Settings app on your iPhone -> Battery -> turn off the toggle next to Low Power Mode.
9. Remove “Check In” Alert and Allow Full Access
Now, it’s time to remove the “Check In” alert from the chat thread and set it up from scratch. Now, make sure to allow full access to your friends so that they can keep track of your location and also view other important details.
- To get it done, open the Messages app -> head over to the chat thread in question -> tap on the “X” button on the “Check In” alert.
- After that, tap on the “+” button at the bottom -> More -> Check-In and set it up.
10. Disable/Enable iMessage
At times, all you need to do to bring the malfunctioning iMessage back on track is to just disable/enable it.
- On your iOS device, launch the Settings app -> Messages -> turn off the toggle next to iMessage.
- Now, reboot your iPhone and then turn on the toggle next to iMessage.
11. Reset Network Settings
For times when a cellular connection is not working as expected, I make sure to give this radical solution a chance. And I must admit that it doesn’t let me down on most occasions. So, if you don’t mind re-entering your Wi-Fi password, be sure to give it a go.
- Dive into the Settings app -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.
12. Check If iMessage Is Running Well
If iMessage’s server is down or faced with a technical problem, the app will misbehave and throw a lot of unexpected tantrums. Therefore, be sure that the messaging app is running well.
- Open a browser on your iOS device -> Go to the Apple System Status site and ensure that iMessage is up and running as usual.
13. Update Software
If iMessage Check In has not yet returned to normal on your iPhone, go for the software update. Considering the fact that iOS 17 is widely deemed to be super buggy, putting the blame on a software bug wouldn’t be wrong.
- To update your iPhone, launch the Settings app -> General -> Software Update.
Fixed Apple Check In on Your iPhone..!
There you go! Hopefully, Check In has begun to work like a charm. As someone who has used this new iMessage feature ever since it came out, I’m pleased with both its purpose and implementation. What do you have to say about it?
