The best thing about iMessage is that you can communicate endlessly with other Apple users. And, thanks to the encrypted iMessage protocol, it’s totally free too. However, like all other apps, iMessage might not work properly sometimes. So, here is our guide on how to fix Message not working on iPhone & iPad.
Not Delivered Error
The red “Not delivered” error is the most common iMessage problem. In this case, if you use text message, tap on the text and choose “Try Again” to resend it. On the other hand, if your iMessage fails to deliver, repeat the above step or choose the option to resend your text as a regular SMS message instead.
Make Sure Your Device is Connected
This is kind of obvious but checking your phone connection is the first thing you should do when text messages fail to send. With the SMS message, check the top-right corner of your screen to see if you have good cellular signal. On the contrary, if you’re using iMessage, make sure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or LTE network.
Reactivate iMessage Service
By simply toggling iMessage on and off, you’re essentially reactivating the service on your device. Here is how to do it:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Choose Messages.
- Tap on iMessage.
- Then, disable and re-enable the toggle to reactive iMessage.
Enable Send as SMS
This feature automatically sends your text message as SMS, whenever iMessage is unavailable. So, you won’t see “Not Delivered” errors anymore with this feature on. However, it is not enabled by default on your device. Following these steps to enable “Send as SMS”:
Open Settings > Messages > Tap on the toggle to enable “Send as SMS“.
Reset Network Settings
if the problem persists, then try resetting your network settings. Here is how to do this:
- Go to Settings.
- Choose General.
- Scroll to the bottom, and tap on Reset.
- Here, choose “Reset Network Settings” and enter your passcode to finish.
Note: You’ll lose all of your saved Bluetooth connections, Wi-Fi networks, and passwords. This means you need to set up everything from scratch.
Restart your iPhone or iPad
The last thing you’d want to try here is simply restart your device. If you’re using an iPhone or iPad without a physical home button, hold the side button and the volume up button to access the shutdown menu.
On the other hand, if your device has the Home button, just hold the power button instead. Then, wait for your iPhone to turn back on again and re-send the error texts.
Check Apple’s System Status
This is quite rare, but Apple’s servers could go down temporarily sometimes. Therefore, services like iMessage and iCloud could get affected. You can check if iMessage service is still online at Apple’s support page.
Whether it’s iMessage or regular SMS, you could occasionally run into situations where you’re unable to send text messages at any time. And, if none of these methods worked for you, it’s possible that the issue is on the recipient’s end. So, try texting to a different contact and see if it works.
Which method worked for you? Or, do you have other solutions to fix Message not working on iPhone & iPad? Feel free to share them with us in the comments!
