ERROR-A / Search

Start with a symptom, message or error code.

Explore
Menu
ProblemThis guide covers messages that do not send or arrive. A green bubble means RCS or SMS/MMS and can be normal; sending from an email instead of a phone number is a separate setting.

iPhone can’t send or receive messages

Identify whether iMessage or carrier messaging is failing. Check the appropriate connection and phone line before retrying a failed message.

Try this first

1 quick checks · ~4 min

  1. Check connectivity and message typeWorking Wi-Fi does not prove the phone line can send SMS.

Find your situation

See all the clues. Choose the one that matches what you observe.

iMessage fails

Check internet access and that iMessage is enabled.

SMS, MMS or RCS fails

Check the active line and the service supported by your carrier.

Step-by-step solutions

01

Check connectivity and message type

  • Estimated time: 4 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Working Wi-Fi does not prove the phone line can send SMS.

  1. For iMessage, check that a page loads through Wi-Fi or mobile data and that iMessage is enabled in Messages settings.

  2. For SMS, check that the intended line is active and has carrier service. RCS and MMS also depend on service support and configuration; RCS needs a data connection. With multiple lines, check which one is selected.

Sources:
02

Retry only the message marked as failed

  • Estimated time: 3 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Check the recipient and avoid unnecessary duplicate messages.

  1. If Not Delivered appears, check the recipient’s number or email and use the message’s retry option after restoring connectivity.

  2. If considering SMS instead, check that your line and plan support it and any applicable charges. If only one recipient or group fails, do not change every phone setting.

Sources:
03

Restart and check whether the same failure remains

  • Estimated time: 5 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk
  • Restart required

Finish calls and save your work.

  1. Restart the iPhone normally and recheck the line and connection needed for that message type.

  2. Test a short message with a known recipient. If it arrives but the conversation is green, the color alone does not require another repair.

Sources:
Next step

Still not working?

For SMS, MMS or RCS failures, contact the carrier about that line’s service. For persistent iMessage failures with working internet, contact Apple. Do not share passwords or sign-in codes to demonstrate the problem.

Sources

Documentation behind this guide. Editorial recommendations are identified separately.

Source review: . A documentation review, not a physical hardware test.

Related problems

mobile
Problem

iPhone messages appear green instead of blue

Green means the message used RCS or SMS/MMS instead of iMessage. If it is delivered, the color alone does not indicate a problem.

View solution
mobile
Problem

iPhone sends messages from email instead of phone number

Check which address starts your iMessage conversations. Choose your phone number and start a new conversation if the previous one began from email.

View solution
mobile
Problem

iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi

Check the selected network in Settings and distinguish a rejected connection from Wi-Fi connected without internet.

View solution