220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user's iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has an active cellular data plan. The user can send and receive regular SMS text messages, but cannot send iMessages. The recipient's device supports iMessage and other users can message that recipient without issues. The technician has already confirmed that the user's Apple ID is signed in correctly. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the subtle distinction between SMS (which uses cellular signaling and is unaffected by time/date) and iMessage (which uses internet-based Apple services and is critically dependent on accurate time for TLS certificate validation), leading candidates to incorrectly focus on network or account settings.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the date and time settings and ensure they are set automatically
iMessage relies on Apple's push notification service and requires accurate date and time settings to establish a secure TLS connection with Apple's servers. If the date and time are incorrect, the SSL/TLS certificate validation fails, preventing iMessage from activating or sending messages even though SMS (which uses the cellular network's SS7 signaling) works fine. Since the Apple ID is confirmed correct and the recipient's device supports iMessage, the next logical step is to check and set the date and time to automatic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Verify that Do Not Disturb is not enabled
Why it's wrong here
Do Not Disturb (or a Focus mode) only suppresses incoming banners, lock-screen alerts, and sounds; it does not change the phone's ability to originate an iMessage transaction. A message sent in DND is still delivered normally, and the recipient can receive it. If the user cannot send at all, DND cannot be the cause, because no iPhone setting in Do Not Disturb blocks outgoing Messages traffic.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that their iPhone does not ring or show notifications for incoming calls or messages, but they can send messages manually. The technician should verify Do Not Disturb is not enabled.
- ✓
Check the date and time settings and ensure they are set automatically
Why this is correct
iPhone's iMessage authentication relies on TLS certificates and Apple Push Notification service (APNs). When the system date or time is significantly off, certificate validity checks fail, so the phone cannot complete the iMessage activation/registration handshake and outgoing messages are rejected. Setting Date & Time to Set Automatically forces the device to sync with network time servers, which eliminates certificate-validity skew. This is the first-line fix for iMessage that "won't send" while data/Wi-Fi appear functional.
- ✗
Inspect the blocked contacts list in the Messages app
Why it's wrong here
The Messages blocked contacts list is a per-recipient filter: a blocked number cannot send the user messages, and the user cannot send iMessages to that number either. The scenario states the failure affects all recipients, not one specific conversation. If only certain contacts were blocked, the user would still successfully send iMessages to everyone else, so inspecting that list would be a red herring for a universal send failure.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that they cannot send messages to a specific contact, but other contacts work fine. The technician has verified the recipient's device supports iMessage and other users can message them. In this scenario, inspecting the blocked contacts list would be the next step.
- ✗
Update the APN settings for the cellular data connection
Why it's wrong here
APN (Access Point Name) settings govern whether the iPhone can establish cellular data sessions with the carrier. A corrupted APN could kill LTE/5G internet, but iMessage is designed to work over any IP network, including the Wi-Fi connection the user is currently on. Moreover, iOS normally pulls APNs automatically from the carrier bundle, and user-editable APN fields are hidden unless a carrier profile exposes them. Since the symptom persists even with Wi-Fi available, an APN issue is not the correct primary suspect.
When this WOULD be correct
A user cannot send or receive MMS or group messages, but SMS works. The technician has verified cellular data is on. In that case, checking/updating APN settings would be the next step.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Check the date and time settings and ensure they are set automaticallyCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
iPhone's iMessage authentication relies on TLS certificates and Apple Push Notification service (APNs). When the system date or time is significantly off, certificate validity checks fail, so the phone cannot complete the iMessage activation/registration handshake and outgoing messages are rejected. Setting Date & Time to Set Automatically forces the device to sync with network time servers, which eliminates certificate-validity skew. This is the first-line fix for iMessage that "won't send" while data/Wi-Fi appear functional.
✗Verify that Do Not Disturb is not enabledWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Do Not Disturb silences notifications but does not prevent iMessage sending; it would not cause a scenario where SMS works but iMessage fails.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that their iPhone does not ring or show notifications for incoming calls or messages, but they can send messages manually. The technician should verify Do Not Disturb is not enabled.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Do Not Disturb with a messaging failure, thinking it blocks message delivery, but it only affects alerts, not actual sending/receiving.
✗Inspect the blocked contacts list in the Messages appWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The user can send SMS but not iMessages, and other users can message the recipient, so the recipient is not blocked. The issue is with iMessage activation, not with blocked contacts.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that they cannot send messages to a specific contact, but other contacts work fine. The technician has verified the recipient's device supports iMessage and other users can message them. In this scenario, inspecting the blocked contacts list would be the next step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse general messaging issues with iMessage-specific problems, or assume that a blocked contact could prevent iMessage delivery while allowing SMS.
✗Update the APN settings for the cellular data connectionWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
APN settings are used for cellular data connectivity (MMS, internet), not for iMessage. Since the user can send SMS and has active cellular data, APN settings are not the cause of iMessage failure.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user cannot send or receive MMS or group messages, but SMS works. The technician has verified cellular data is on. In that case, checking/updating APN settings would be the next step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse iMessage's reliance on data with APN configuration, thinking incorrect APN could block iMessage, but iMessage uses Apple's servers and is independent of APN.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Cellular Radio Technologies: 3G, 4G LTE, 5G
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts data between a web browser and a website using SSL/TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
Key term
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure, encrypted communication between two devices over a network, such as between a web browser and a server.
About these practice questions
One of 896 original 220-1101 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.