Cannot Receive Text
Cannot Receive Text Messages
If you are having any issues with receiving text messages, please follow the troubleshooting steps below.
Step 1: Restart your phone
Try turning your phone off and waiting for 30 seconds before turning it back on. Sometimes this can help.
Step 2: Check if the number is blocked.
Check to see if the number is blocked on your phone.
Apple iPhone:
- Select Settings.
- Select Messages.
- Select Blocked Contacts.
- Check if the number you are having issues with is there. If so, select Edit.
- Slide the Unblock toggle to the left.
Android:
- Select the Messages App.
- Select the Menu Button. (3 dots at the top right)
- Select Settings.
- Select Block Numbers and Messages.
- Select Block numbers.
Check the list for any numbers. If so, hit the Remove Button to the right.
Note: Every Android is slightly different, but all should follow this basic formula.Step 3: Check the storage space on your phone
Make sure your phone has enough storage.
Apple iPhone:
- Select Settings.
- Select General.
- Select iPhone Storage.
If it says no storage remaining at the top, you may want to delete some pictures or videos you don’t need as that could be causing this issue.
Android:
- Select Settings.
- Select the Device Care (sometimes called Device Management, or Battery and Device Care).
- Select Storage
If it says no storage remaining at the top of your screen, you may want to delete some pictures or videos you don’t need as that could be causing this issue.
Step 4: Check your phone's time and date settings
Apple iPhone:
- Select Settings.
- Select General.
- Select Date & Time
Android:
- Select Settings.
- Select General Management (sometimes called General).
- Select Date & Time.
Make sure the time is correct, and if it is off, toggle on Automatic.
Note: Every Android is slightly different, but all should follow this basic formula.Step 5: Turn off your Wi-Fi
Apple iPhone:
- Select Settings.
- Select Wi-Fi.
- Toggle off the switch beside Wi-Fi so the green is no longer showing.
Android:
- On the main screen, use your finger to pull down from the top of the screen which should show notifications as well as the Quick Settings bar.
- You should see an icon for Wi-Fi highlighted. Tap on the icon to turn off Wi-Fi.
- If you do not have Wi-Fi in the Quick Settings, then you will need to select Settings from your app list.
- Select Connections (sometimes called Network and Internet).
- Toggle Wi-Fi off.
If the problem persists with Wi-Fi turned off, you can turn it back on and continue to the next step.
Step 6: Check your Apple iMessage or Android RCS Messaging status
If the problem you are having is with Apple iMessage (typically in blue message bubbles) or Android RCS Messaging (text messages that use data, typically in dark blue message bubbles), please make sure that your data works on your phone by trying to visit a website.
If your data is working, please follow these steps:
Apple iPhone:
- Select Settings.
- Select Messages
- Toggle iMessage off and check whether text messaging works.
- Toggle iMessage back on.
Android:
- Select the Messages App.
- Select Settings.
- Select the Menu Button (3 dots at top right).
- Select Settings.
- Select Chat Features or Enhanced Features.
- Toggle Chat Features off and check whether text messaging works.
- Toggle Chat Features back on.
If RCS Messaging is still not working but text messaging is working, please continue to the next step.
Updated on: 21/11/2025
Thank you!