Not getting text messages can happen for several common reasons. Here are practical steps to diagnose and fix the issue, organized by likely causes. First, quick checks
- Confirm you have cellular service. If signal bars are very low or you’re in an area with poor coverage, messages may delay or fail to deliver. If possible, move to an area with better reception and try again.
- Check that Do Not Disturb or Focus modes aren’t silencing notifications or blocking messages.
- Verify that your device isn’t in Airplane Mode and that Wi‑Fi is not being used exclusively for messaging if your carrier relies on cellular data for SMS in your region.
Device settings and messaging apps
- iPhone:
- Ensure iMessage, MMS Messaging, and Group Messaging are enabled: Settings > Messages > iMessage, MMS Messaging, Group Messaging.
- If texts appear to come from an email address, set Start New Conversations From to your phone number: Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
- Android:
- Open your Messages app > Settings. Make sure SMS/MMS is enabled, and if you have RCS, ensure Chat features are on if supported.
- If you use a carrier messaging app, confirm it’s allowed to handle SMS/MMS and isn’t blocked or restricted.
SIM and network checks
- Reinsert or reseat the SIM card. If it looks damaged or loose, replace it via your carrier.
- Restart your phone to refresh the network connection.
- If your carrier uses a special Message Center Number (MCN) setting, verify it with your carrier’s support documentation or customer service.
Blocking, spam, and contacts
- Check if the sender is blocked or filtered into a spam/blocked folder in your messaging app. Remove any unintended blocks.
- Confirm the contact’s number is correct, including country code if you’re communicating internationally.
Messages and account basics
- If you recently changed SIMs, numbers, or carrier plans, verify that your plan includes SMS/MMS and there are no outstanding account restrictions.
- If you’re trying to receive verification codes or two-factor codes, ensure messages aren’t blocked by any security app or firewall on the device.
Troubleshooting steps by platform (quick guides)
- If you’re using iPhone and still not receiving, try:
- Restart, check network, and confirm Start New Conversations From is set to your number.
- Sign out and back into iMessage if needed, or reset network settings if issues persist (note that resets can affect saved networks and passwords).
- If you’re using Android and still not receiving, try:
- Clearing the Messages app cache/data, disabling unused battery-saving optimizations for the app, and turning off any “Protect battery” or optimization features that may suppress background messages.
- Resetting network settings if available (this won’t erase your data but will reset Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular settings).
If the problem persists
- Consider contacting your mobile carrier to check for outages, service restrictions on your account, or issues with your SIM/profile that could block inbound SMS/MMS.
- If possible, test with another SIM card in the same phone, or test your SIM in another phone to determine whether the issue is device-specific or account/SIM-related.
Would you like help tailoring these steps to your exact device (iPhone or Android model) and carrier? If you share your model and carrier, a more precise checklist can be provided.
