iPhone text messages not sending? 9 fixes for Not Delivered

A text that will not send shows a red exclamation mark and “Not Delivered”, or sits on “Sending…” with a progress bar that never finishes. The fix depends on what kind of message it was. Your iPhone sends three kinds: blue iMessages to other Apple users, and green SMS, MMS or RCS messages to everyone else. This guide covers the green ones and general sending problems. If a blue iMessage is the one failing, see why an iMessage says Not Delivered.

Which kind of message failed?

• Green, plain text: SMS. Needs cellular signal or Wi-Fi Calling.
• Green, with a photo, or a group with Android users: MMS. Needs cellular data turned on.
• Green, labeled Text Message • RCS: RCS on iOS 18 and later. Uses data or Wi-Fi, and falls back to SMS if needed.
• Blue: iMessage. Uses data or Wi-Fi.

How to fix iPhone text messages not sending

RCS messages failing

RCS brings typing indicators and full-quality photos to texts with Android users, but it depends on your carrier and a data connection. If RCS messages fail while SMS used to work, turn RCS Messaging off in Settings › Apps › Messages, send the message as SMS, then turn it back on later. Make sure Send as Text Message is on so the iPhone can fall back to SMS when RCS cannot deliver. A carrier settings update often fixes RCS problems, since support is switched on through those updates. See what RCS messaging is.

Texts to one person keep failing

• Check the number in their contact card is complete and current. For US numbers, the 10-digit number is enough; for other countries, use the + and country code.
• If they recently moved from iPhone to Android, their number may still be registered to iMessage. Ask them to deregister it on Apple’s site.
• Delete the conversation and start a new one by typing their number, not their email address.
• If only you cannot reach them, they may have blocked you; there is no notification when that happens.

Settings that can stop texts

• Screen Time Communication Limits: on a child’s iPhone, or your own if set up, texting may be limited to contacts or blocked during Downtime.
• Date & Time: a wrong clock breaks iMessage and RCS. Turn on Set Automatically.
• Full storage: a completely full iPhone may fail to send attachments. Free a few gigabytes.
• VPN or content filter: can block iMessage and RCS traffic; turn it off to test.

Stuck on “Sending…”

A progress bar that stops near the end usually means a weak connection or a large attachment. Move to better signal or a Wi-Fi network, then wait a minute or two. If it is still stuck, press and hold the message and choose Send as Text Message if offered, or delete it and send again. Turning Airplane Mode on and off forces the phone to reconnect, which often releases a stuck message.

Photos and videos will not send

• Turn on MMS Messaging in Settings › Apps › Messages, and cellular data in Settings › Cellular.
• Carriers limit MMS size, so long videos may fail or arrive heavily compressed. Share a link from Photos or iCloud instead.
• Check that your plan includes picture messaging; some basic and prepaid plans do not.
• If Low Data Mode is on for cellular, large attachments may wait for Wi-Fi.

Group texts will not send

A group with even one Android user is sent as MMS or RCS. Turn on MMS Messaging and Group Messaging, and make sure cellular data is on. Very large groups can exceed a carrier’s recipient limit. If one old group keeps failing, start a new group conversation, since removing or adding people in a green group is not supported and old threads can get stuck.

Two lines: sending from the wrong one

With dual SIM or two eSIMs, each conversation uses one line, shown at the top of the conversation or next to the text field. If that line has no service, such as a travel eSIM with data only or a line you switched off, messages fail. Tap the line label and pick the other line, or set your default line in Settings › Cellular › Default Voice Line, which Messages also uses for new conversations.

After an iOS update

Updates sometimes reset message settings or bring a carrier settings update with them. After updating, check that Send as Text Message, MMS Messaging and RCS Messaging are still on, restart the iPhone, and check Settings › General › About for a carrier update. If texts broke right after a major update for many people at once, Apple and carriers usually fix it within days; meanwhile, turning RCS off and sending as SMS is a reliable workaround.

Your plan or account may be the problem

• On prepaid plans, an expired plan or empty balance stops texting before it stops data or calls on some carriers.
• Replies to five or six digit short codes can be blocked on some plans; ask your carrier to allow them.
• International texts may not be included, especially on cheaper plans, or may need a roaming add-on. Check with your carrier before you travel.
• A recent number transfer can briefly break texting until the port completes.

No signal? Satellite and Text to 911

On iPhone 14 and later with iOS 18 or later, Messages via satellite lets you send and receive texts outdoors when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, in supported countries including the US. Your iPhone offers it automatically when you are out of range. In an emergency, you can text 911 in many US areas; if Text to 911 is not available where you are, you will get a message telling you to call instead. Emergency SOS via satellite also works on iPhone 14 and later.

“Not Delivered” but the message arrived

Occasionally the other person receives the text even though your iPhone showed an error, usually because the confirmation from the network did not come back in time. SMS in particular does not give reliable delivery reports. If you tap Try Again, they may get the message twice. When in doubt, ask them. Repeated false errors to one number are often an iMessage registration problem on their side, rather than a problem with your iPhone.

Keep texts sending reliably

• Leave Send as Text Message, MMS Messaging and RCS Messaging turned on.
• Turn on Wi-Fi Calling for places with weak signal, so SMS can use Wi-Fi.
• Install carrier settings updates and iOS updates when they appear.
• Keep a few gigabytes of storage free for attachments.

When to call your carrier

If no texts send to anyone after all these steps, and calls also fail, check your carrier’s outage page, then call them. Ask them to confirm texting and picture messaging are active on your line, to refresh your account’s network settings, and to check whether your SIM or eSIM needs replacing. Tell them which kind of message fails, SMS, MMS or RCS, since each is handled differently on their side.