How to Fix iCloud and iMessage Accounts are Different on iPhone

Undoubtedly, iCloud makes it easier to sync all your data, including iMessages, across all Apple devices where you are logged in.

But hey, have you recently gotten a new iPhone, and upon trying to sync your messages, you find the error message that says – iCloud and iMessage Accounts are different?

It can be a real pain as you might not be able to access your old conversations.

Don’t worry, we will help you fix this issue in today’s guide. Let’s get into it.

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Fix iCloud and iMessage Accounts are Different on iPhone

iCloud highly favors the Apple ecosystem for users.

You need to sign in to your Apple ID to use it and usually, by default, even iMessage is associated with the same account.

But if it isn’t, the reason could be that your iPhone has multiple Apple IDs logged in which is causing the mismatch.

Quick Answer

Restart your iPhone. Visit the Apple System Status page. If there is a red dot beside iMessage, wait for the status to turn green, and then try again.

Note: Sometimes iPhone’s activation process can take longer to sync your accounts together. You can wait for 24 hours for the activation process to finish successfully.

Method 1: Use the Same Account for iMessage and iCloud

Sometimes you need to manually set your Apple ID the same as the one used for iMessage. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings and tap on your profile to confirm your Apple ID.

2. Now, go back to the Settings menu and tap on Messages.

3. Tap on Send & Receive to change your iMessage Account.

Here you can see all the phone numbers and email IDs that you can use to send and receive messages via iMessage.

At the bottom, you can see your Apple ID. If this is not the one you verified in step 1, this is why you are facing the discussed error.

4. Tap on your Apple ID and select Sign Out from the pop-up menu.

5. Tap on Use your Apple ID for iMessage.

In the pop-up, you’ll be asked if you want to sign in with the shown Apple ID.

6. If this is the correct one as confirmed earlier from your profile, tap on Sign In. If not, tap on Use Other Apple ID and enter the one Apple ID used in your main iCloud account.

Wait for some time, and both your accounts will be synced on your iPhone.

Also Read: How to Fix iMessages Not Syncing on Mac

Method 2: Re-enable Sync with iCloud for iMessage

Sometimes you need to manually enable the sync option for iCloud and iMessages.

If already enabled, they need to be re-enabled to fix temporary glitches.

1. Open Settings, and tap on your profile, followed by iCloud.

2. Tap on Show All under SYNC WITH ICLOUD.

3. Select Messages, turn off the toggle for Sync this iPhone, and then turn it on once again.

Also Read: How to Turn off iMessage for One Person

Method 3: Improve Internet Connectivity

Activation for both iCloud and iMessage accounts requires a good internet connection, the absence of which can cause troubles in the syncing process.

You can refer to our guide on How Do I Fix Slow Internet on My iPhone? 13 Easy Ways for more help.

Method 4: Contact Apple Support

Contact Apple Support if none of the methods mentioned above work for you and wait for their team to reach out to you.

How to Sync iMessage to iCloud

You can follow Method 2 under the heading Fix iCloud and iMessage Accounts are Different on iPhone to sync your iMessages to iCloud.

However, before that, make sure you are using the correct Apple ID, for which you can check Method 1.

Why iCloud and iMessage Accounts Do Not Match?

If your iCloud and iMessage accounts do not match, this implies that you might be logging into your iCloud account and your Apple devices with separate Apple IDs.

As a result, the messaging app is failing to sync.

Also Read: How to Delete Messages from iCloud