Text Message Not Delivered? 8 Fixes for iPhone & Android (2026)

Why Text Messages Not Delivered - Troubleshooting Guide

Seeing "Not Delivered" next to your text message can be frustrating, especially when you're sending something important. Whether you're using an iPhone or Android, there are several reasons why your messages might not be going through. This guide covers all the common causes and proven fixes to get your messages delivering again.

Why Does My Message Say "Not Delivered"?

When you see "Not Delivered" under your message, it means your phone attempted to send the message but couldn't confirm it reached the recipient. Here are the most common causes:

Network Connection

No Wi-Fi or cellular data for iMessage, or no cellular signal for SMS

Recipient's Phone

Their phone is off, in airplane mode, or has no signal

You're Blocked

If blocked, messages won't show "Delivered" status

iMessage Deregistration

Recipient switched from iPhone to Android but still registered

Software Bugs

iOS or Android bugs affecting message delivery

Carrier Issues

Outages or network problems with your mobile carrier

Fix iMessage Not Delivered (iPhone)

If you're seeing "Not Delivered" on your iPhone, try these solutions in order:

1. Tap "Try Again"

Tap the red exclamation mark (!) next to the failed message and select "Try Again". If that fails, tap "Send as Text Message" to send via SMS instead.

2. Check Your Connection

iMessage requires internet (Wi-Fi or cellular data). SMS requires cellular signal. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset your connection, or switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data.

3. Toggle iMessage Off/On

Go to Settings > Messages
Toggle iMessage off
Wait 10-15 seconds
Toggle iMessage back on

4. Check Send & Receive Settings

Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and make sure your phone number is selected under "Start New Conversations From."

5. Enable "Send as SMS"

Go to Settings > Messages and turn on "Send as SMS". This allows your iPhone to automatically fall back to SMS when iMessage fails.

6. Restart Your iPhone

A simple restart can clear temporary glitches and re-establish network connections. Hold the power button and slide to power off, then turn it back on.

7. Reset Network Settings

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
Tap Reset
Select Reset Network Settings
Enter your passcode if prompted

Note: This will forget saved Wi-Fi passwords.

8. Update iOS

Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. Apple frequently releases bug fixes for iMessage issues.

iOS 26 iMessage Activation Bug (2026)

Known Issue in iOS 26

Apple has acknowledged a bug in iOS 26 where iMessage may not activate properly if you skip eSIM setup during initial iPhone configuration, or when switching carriers with a new eSIM.

Symptoms:

Messages show "Not Delivered" even though they actually go through
Messages appear in green (SMS/RCS) instead of blue (iMessage)
Messages sending from your email instead of phone number

Fix:

Open Settings > Apps > Messages
Toggle iMessage OFF
Wait a few seconds
Toggle iMessage ON
Wait for iMessage to activate (may take a few minutes)

RCS Bug: Some users report RCS messages to Android phones showing "Not Delivered" even when the message is actually received. Enable "Send as SMS" as a workaround until Apple releases a fix.

Fix Text Messages Not Sending (Android)

If your Android phone isn't sending text messages, here are the troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Signal & Airplane Mode

Make sure you have cellular signal and Airplane Mode is off. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset your network connection.

2. Set Default Messaging App

Make sure your messaging app is set as default:

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps
Tap SMS app
Select Messages (Google Messages or Samsung Messages)

3. Clear Messages App Cache

Go to Settings > Apps > Messages
Tap Storage
Tap Clear Cache

4. Turn Off RCS/Chat Features

RCS (Rich Communication Services) can sometimes cause delivery issues. Try disabling it:

Open Google Messages
Tap your profile picture > Messages settings
Tap RCS chats
Toggle Turn on RCS chats off

5. Check Mobile Data for MMS

MMS messages (with pictures/videos) require mobile data. Make sure Mobile Data is enabled in Settings, even if you're on Wi-Fi.

6. Reset Network Settings

Go to Settings > General Management > Reset
Tap Reset Network Settings
Confirm and wait for your phone to restart

7. Check SIM Card

A loose or damaged SIM card can cause messaging issues. Turn off your phone, remove the SIM card, clean it gently, and reinsert it.

Samsung Users: Samsung Messages is being phased out by carriers. If you're having issues, switch to Google Messages for better RCS support.

iPhone to Android Messages Not Delivered

If your messages from iPhone to Android phones specifically aren't going through:

1. Recipient Switched Phones

If the person recently switched from iPhone to Android, their number may still be registered with iMessage. Ask them to go to Apple's Deregister iMessage page and remove their phone number.

2. Enable SMS

Make sure SMS and MMS Messaging are enabled on your iPhone: Settings > Messages > turn on both options.

3. Turn Off iMessage for That Contact

Open the conversation, tap the contact name at top, and look for an option to "Send as SMS" or delete the conversation and start fresh to force SMS.

RCS Message Delivery Issues

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the successor to SMS, offering features like read receipts and high-quality media sharing. However, RCS can sometimes cause delivery problems:

Common RCS Issues:

Messages show "Not Delivered" but actually go through
Delayed delivery status updates
Messages stuck as "Sending..."
Incompatibility between different carrier RCS implementations

Fix RCS Problems:

Disable RCS and use standard SMS/MMS as a workaround
Update your messaging app to the latest version
Clear the Messages app cache
Check if both you and the recipient have RCS enabled
Contact your carrier if issues persist—RCS is carrier-dependent

Carrier & Network Issues

Sometimes message delivery problems are outside your control:

Check for Carrier Outages

Visit your carrier's website or check DownDetector to see if there are known outages affecting messaging services.

Contact Your Carrier

If you've tried everything and messages still won't send, contact your carrier's support. They can check for account issues, SIM problems, or network restrictions.

Check Your Plan

Ensure you have sufficient credit or an active plan that includes SMS/MMS messaging. Prepaid plans may run out of messaging credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iMessage not say "Delivered"?

If your iMessage doesn't show "Delivered," the recipient's phone may be off, they have no internet connection, or you might be blocked. It could also indicate iMessage activation issues on your end. Try tapping the message to resend or send as SMS.

Does "Not Delivered" mean I'm blocked?

Not necessarily. While being blocked can cause "Not Delivered" messages, so can network issues, the recipient's phone being off, or technical problems. If you can still call them or see their profile picture updates, you're likely not blocked.

Why do my texts to Android phones fail?

Texts to Android phones use SMS (or RCS), which requires cellular signal. Common causes include weak signal, the recipient recently switching from iPhone (iMessage deregistration issue), or carrier problems. Enable "Send as SMS" in your iPhone settings.

Why are my group messages not delivering?

Group messages require MMS or iMessage. Go to Settings > Messages and enable MMS Messaging and Group Messaging. Also ensure you have mobile data enabled, as MMS doesn't work over Wi-Fi alone.

How do I know if my text was actually delivered?

On iPhone, iMessages show "Delivered" under the message when received. SMS messages don't show delivery status by default. On Android with RCS, you'll see delivery and read receipts if both parties have RCS enabled.

Why do my messages say "Not Delivered" but the person received them?

This is a known bug, especially with RCS messages in iOS 26. The message actually sends, but the delivery confirmation fails. It's a display issue, not an actual delivery failure. Apple is working on a fix.

Related Guides

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Schedule Text on iPhone

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Call Forwarding on iPhone

Set up call forwarding on iOS devices

Call Forwarding on Android

Enable call forwarding on Android phones

3-Way Call on Android

Make conference calls on Android devices

WiFi Calling Apps

Best apps for calling over WiFi

Auto Reply Text iPhone

Set up automatic text responses

Forward a Text on Android

Forward texts using Google Messages and Samsung Messages

Get Your Messages Delivering Again

Most "Not Delivered" issues can be resolved by checking your network connection, toggling iMessage or RCS off and on, or resetting network settings. If messages consistently fail to one specific person, the issue may be on their end or related to iMessage deregistration.

For reliable messaging across all devices, consider using a VoIP service like BubblyPhone—it works over any internet connection and doesn't depend on carrier SMS services.