Top 11 Ways to Fix Text Messages Not Sending on Android

Does an error message that reads ‘Message not sent’ pop up in your Android device’s notification tray when you send SMS or multimedia messages? It can be quite frustrating if text messages are not sending on your Android device – and if you’ve been in this situation recently and can’t figure out a way around it, we’ll help you eliminate the issues.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of tried and tested ways to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Before we get to that, let us first understand all the possible reasons why this issue occurs on your Android device, so that you have a good idea of the problem before you proceed to fix it.

Also Read: How to fix Android not receiving texts from iPhone.

Why Won’t My Text Messages Send on My Android

Here are some of the reasons why your Android device is not sending text messages, and you see the ‘Can’t send message’ error :

• There are problems with your network connection.
• Your cellular plan is not active anymore.
• You may have exceeded the text message limit as per your plan.
• You might be running out of account balance.
• You are exceeding the character limit for text messages on your Android device.
• There are bugs present in the software that are preventing you from sending messages.

These are some of the possible reasons that are preventing you from sending text messages on your Android phone. However, the issue might stem from reasons that aren’t mentioned in the list as well and it can be hard to point out a single one. But what’s easy is to go ahead and fix the problem itself, so here’s how you can do it.

Android Not Sending Text Messages: How to Fix the Issue

Here are eleven easy ways to implement if your Android device is not sending text messages. Let’s begin with contacting your network service provider.

1. Check With Your Network Service Provider Regarding Your SMS Plan

All mobile carrier networks have specified rates that they charge for short message services (SMS). Check your account balance and ensure you have sufficient funds to cover the SMS cost.

You should also note that SMS fees are charged per message segment and sometimes by the number of characters. So, if you’re trying to send a lengthy text that exceeds the one-message character limit of your mobile carrier, make sure you have sufficient funds in your carrier account to cover the cost of the entire SMS.

If you are on a special/dedicated SMS plan, ensure that the plan is active, i.e., hasn’t been canceled or expired.

A downtime or service outage on your carrier’s end could also cause the ‘Message not sent’ error on your Android device.

If you have sufficient funds in your account, try out other solutions listed below. And if the error persists, you should also reach out to your mobile carrier.

2. Check Network Connectivity

Make sure that the network strength in your surroundings is good enough to let you send text messages on your Android phone. If you find that there are no network issues in your surroundings and suspect a problem with your phone, try reinserting the SIM card.

If that doesn’t work too – you can take a look at the next set of methods.

3. Check If the Reciever Is Allowed Incoming Messages

Make sure that the contact or the phone number you are trying to send text messages to support incoming messages. If not, there are chances that you see an error on your end. You can try sending another contact a text message to see if the issue is isolated with just one contact/phone number.

If you can’t send messages to anyone – take a look at the next method.

4. Enable Permissions for Messaging App

You also want to check that Messages or your default messaging app has permission to send and receive SMS and MMS messages on your Android device. While this permission is always enabled by default on the official Messages app (by Google) that ships with your Android device, you might have to grant third-party SMS apps this permission manually.

Follow the steps below to check if the affected Messages app has SMS permissions.

Step 1: Long-press the Messages icon on the home screen or app tray and tap the enclosed (i) icon on the context menu.

Step 2: On the Messages app info page, select Permissions.

Step 3: Select SMS.

Step 4: Make sure the SMS Access for the app is set to Allow

5. Check RCS Settings

If you are trying to send a message over the internet connection to another Android device, make sure you have enabled the RCS functionality.

Step 1: Open the Messages app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Tap on your profile icon at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Messages Settings.

Step 4: Tap on RCS Chats.

Step 5: Tap the toggle next to Turn On RCS Chats to enable it, if disabled.

Also Read : Fix Android RCS not working.

6. Toggle Airplane Mode

A glitch in cellular connectivity on your Android device could prevent messages from going through to the recipient(s). Enabling Airplane mode and turning it off after some seconds will refresh your mobile networks and fix connectivity-related issues causing the ‘Messages not sent’ error.

7. Force Stop Messages

Like every other Android application, it’s normal for Messages to occasionally malfunction or stop responding to certain commands. When this happens with Messages (or other apps on your device), force-stopping the app is a quick and easy fix that’ll restore its functionality to normal.

Follow the steps below to force-stop Messages on your Android device.

Step 1: Launch the Settings menu and select ‘Apps and Notifications’.

Step 2: Select App info or All Apps—this option will vary depending on your phone brand and OS.

Step 3: Scroll through the list of applications and select Messages.

Step 4: Next, tap the Force Stop icon and select OK on the confirmation prompt.

8. Clear Messages App Cache

The Messages app could also malfunction if there are corrupt files in its cache directory. Clear the app cache, resend the message, and check if it goes through. Close the Messages app and follow the steps below.

Step 1: Long-press the Messages icon on the home screen or app tray and tap the enclosed (i) icon on the context menu to reveal the Messages app info menu.

Step 2: Select ‘Storage & cache.’

Step 3: Finally, tap the Clear cache icon to delete the Messages app’s cache.

9. Restart Phone

If the text messaging service is affected by a bug, restarting your Android device can help. Shutting down your phone closes all the running elements – including the bug. Once it is turned back on, it is unlikely that the bug will pop up on a fresh session.

Almost all Android devices show up the power on/off menu as you long-press the power button. You can use the Reboot option to restart your device.

10. Update Android Version

If several users find that the messaging is not working on their device, the device manufacturer will take note of all the complaints. A software update fixing the issue will be launched soon. Hence, make sure you check for any available updates on your device.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on About device.

Step 3: Tap on Software Version.

Step 4: Ensure that the software version is up to date. If not, you will get an option to update the software.

11. Reset Android Phone

As a last resort, you can try resetting your Android device. This resets all the configurations to their default states. This can correct any misconfiguration preventing you from sending text messages on Android.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Additional Settings.

Step 3: Tap on ‘Back up and reset’.

Step 4: Tap on Reset phone.

Step 4: Select ‘Reset all settings’.

There you go – those are all the ways that you can try if your Android device is not sending text messages. If you have any further questions, take a look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Android Not Sending Texts

Send Messages Without a Problem on Android

We hope this article helps you fix the issue with sending messages on your Android device. However, you can always resort to online messaging – like WhatsApp or Telegram. But as mentioned earlier, if the problem occurs often or if it persists, you can contact your network service provider and they will be able to guide you to fix the problem.