iPhone not sending or receiving texts? 8 fixes to try
2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Check that you have signal or Wi-Fi, restart the iPhone, then tap the red exclamation mark next to the message and choose Try Again or Send as Text Message. Then open Settings, Apps, Messages and check iMessage, Send as Text Message and Send & Receive.
Blue bubbles are iMessages, sent over Wi-Fi or mobile data between Apple devices. Green bubbles are ordinary text messages (SMS, MMS or RCS) sent through your mobile network, and they need a text plan. Knowing which kind is failing tells you where to look.
Step by step
Check your connection
An iMessage needs Wi-Fi or mobile data. A green text message needs mobile signal. Look at the top of the screen for signal bars or the Wi-Fi symbol.
Restart the iPhone
Turn the phone off, wait 30 seconds and turn it on again. Then send the message once more.
Resend a failed message
If you see a red exclamation mark and "Not Delivered", tap the mark and tap Try Again. If it fails again, tap the mark and choose Send as Text Message. Your network may charge for texts.
Turn on Send as Text Message
Open Settings, Apps, Messages and switch on Send as Text Message. The iPhone then falls back to an ordinary text when iMessage is not available.
Turn iMessage off and on
In Settings, Apps, Messages, switch iMessage off, wait a moment and switch it back on.
Check Send & Receive
In the same place, tap Send & Receive and make sure your phone number is ticked. This also fixes messages that arrive on an iPad or Mac but not on the iPhone.
Check the line and the contact
Open Settings, Mobile Service and make sure your line is switched on. Then check that you are using the correct phone number or email address for the person.
Free up space for photos and videos
Picture and video messages cannot arrive when the iPhone is full. Check the space left under Settings, General, iPhone Storage.
Good to know
If green texts or picture messages never go through, ask your mobile network whether SMS, MMS and RCS are included in your plan.
After updating to iOS 26, iMessage may fail to activate if the iPhone holds an inactive SIM with the same number as your active one. Apple says to update to iOS 26.1 or later, or remove the inactive SIM under Settings, Mobile Service.
If you left a group conversation, you stop receiving its messages. Someone in the group has to add you back.
On iOS 17 and earlier, the Messages settings are under Settings, Messages, without the Apps step.
In short: Check signal, restart, Try Again or Send as Text Message, then Settings, Apps, Messages.
- Apple Support: If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone or iPad
- Apple Support: If you can't activate iMessage with your phone number in iOS 26
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