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roadsider
User level: Level 1 (15 points)

Mac Mini M1: Cannot mirror iPhone 13 and iMessage activation fails

Two issues with my Mac Mini M1 running 26.7, not sure if they're related.


  1. I can't mirror my iPhone 13 running 26.6. Worse, I can't revoke access because that button is grayed out. I can mirror from my Macbook Air M5, running 26.7, however, I've revoked access but the problem with the M1 still occurs.
  2. I can't activate iMessages. Each time its says "An unknown error has occurred." I'm using the correct password. All my other iCloud services are working fine on my iPhone 13 and other Apple devices.


So far, I have signed out of my iCloud account from my iPhone and the M1 Mac Mini. I have restarted both. I have turned off ethernet and use only wifi.


I have asked to have my account reactivated for iMessages at this link: https://getsupport.apple.com/solutions/unblock-messages/


What else can I do?


Posted on Sep 22, 2026 8:38 AM

4 replies

neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)

Sep 22, 2026 8:52 AM in response to roadsider

These two problems are very likely related because both iPhone Mirroring and iMessage rely on your Apple Account (iCloud) security tokens, Mac keychain authentication, and system location/time configurations to establish trust. Since the Mac Mini M1 is rejecting both, a corruption in the Mac's localized security tokens or network validation is the likely culprit.


Follow these steps in order to clear the deep-seated blocks and force the Mac Mini to re-verify itself with Apple's servers.


Force a Reset of the iPhone Mirroring Setup

Since the "Revoke Access" button is grayed out on your Mac Mini, you can force-reset the configuration directly through your Mac's terminal or hidden preferences:

  • Close the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac.
  • Open the Terminal app (found via Spotlight or Applications > Utilities).
  • Paste the following command and press Enter to wipe the local mirroring pairings:
defaults delete com.apple.ScreenSharing
  • Disconnect and re-pair Bluetooth: Go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your iPhone 13, click the i(info) icon, and choose Forget This Device. Do the same on your iPhone 13 for the Mac Mini.
  • Restart both devices.
  • Set up iPhone Mirroring again


iPhone Mirroring: Use your iPhone from your Mac - Apple Support


Fix the iMessage "Unknown Error" on the Mac

An "unknown error" during iMessage activation on a specific Mac usually means the messaging app cannot fetch its encryption keys from your Mac's Keychain, or its security profile has been restricted by Apple's servers.

  • Check Date & Time Alignment: Go to System Settings > General > Date & Time. Toggle Set time and time zone automatically OFF, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back ON. If your Mac’s local clock is off by even a few seconds from Apple's servers, both iMessage and iPhone Mirroring tokens will fail to validate.
  • Clear the iMessage Cache:
    • Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G to bring up the "Go to Folder" prompt.
    • Paste ~/Library/Caches/ and press Enter. Move any folders containing com.apple.Messages or com.apple.imfoundation to the Trash.
    • Do the same for ~/Library/Preferences/ and move com.apple.iChat.plist to the Trash.


Check for Network/Firewall Interferences

Since you mentioned turning off Ethernet, check if a deeper network layer is blocking local handshake protocols:

  • Disable VPNs or Custom DNS: If you use a VPN, an app like OpenVPN, or an aggressive ad-blocker (like Pi-hole or AdGuard), completely disable or uninstall them. They block the peer-to-peer connection required for iPhone Mirroring and the activation server handshake for iMessage.
  • Check the Mac Firewall: Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall. Ensure it is not set to "Block all incoming connections", which breaks the local Wi-Fi handshake between the Mac Mini and your iPhone 13



roadsider Author
User level: Level 1 (15 points)

Oct 9, 2026 8:23 AM in response to roadsider

It seems that the only way I can log into iMessage is to restart my system. There's gotta be a better solution.

roadsider Author
User level: Level 1 (15 points)

Sep 23, 2026 6:23 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Apparently a good night's rest (for the M1) seemed to solve the problem. All's working now.

roadsider Author
User level: Level 1 (15 points)

Sep 22, 2026 9:34 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I still have both problems, although my iMessages opened for a very brief moment and then locked up again.


My M1 does not list my iPhone in the Bluetooth settings. The iPhone is discoverable.


In my ~/Library/Caches/ directory, there are no folders named com.apple.Messages or com.apple.imfoundation


I was able to delete com.apple.iChat.plist.


Firewall is turned off.


VPN is turned off on both devices.


Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256362778