15 reasons why SMS messages do not arrive on your phone

SIM card problem

Very often, the reception of messages is interrupted and the mobile device freezes due to incorrect operation of the electronic subscriber identification module used in mobile communications. In this case, even all communication sticks can be displayed on the phone. You can eliminate this nuisance by following these steps: turn on airplane mode for half an hour or completely reboot the device.

If after these steps the messages are still not received by the phone, then the SIM card has simply failed. In some cases, the connection is completely lost, the subscriber cannot make calls or send SMS. However, sometimes voice calls will work as usual, but messages will not arrive.

It is very easy to check if a module is faulty. To do this, you need to take another mobile device that receives SMS without problems, and insert a SIM card into it. If after installing it you still receive SMS messages, then the reason is a malfunction of the phone itself.

However, if messages do not arrive on the other phone, the identification electronic module is faulty. To replace it, you need to contact the nearest office of the company that provides cellular communication services for the phones of its subscribers. To replace, you will need to present your passport and the old module.

To start

First, it’s worth checking and eliminating the most trivial reasons (works on both Android and iOS). SMS messages are often delayed in transit due to:

• Bad connection
• social network or internet banking security systems,
• software problems on a single device.

Is there a network

The first reason is the lack of a mobile network signal. This situation can be found outside the city, where the quality of communication is worse than in a populated area. The signal does not penetrate well into basements or apartments “inside” the house.

Look, if the phone shows 1-2 network bars, while it operates on a standard lower than 3G (for example EDGE), there may be delays in SMS delivery. Moreover, a sharp increase in communication quality will not always lead to prompt sending of a message from the server. Since some operators, after 3-4 unsuccessful delivery attempts (when the phone was out of range), cancel SMS transmission.

Make sure that the corresponding service is activated

In the era of widespread Internet penetration, many organizations on corporate tariffs disable SMS packages in order to save an extra 50-100 rubles per month. On business tariffs, in 95% of cases the ability to send SMS is disabled so that ordinary employees do not spend a fortune on music and ringtones.

This is relevant if text “parcels” do not reach abroad. Check in the chat on your mobile operator’s website which service to enable (even for incoming calls) so as not to be left without communication when leaving the country.

Check settings

Another possible problem is lost SMS center settings. How to set it up correctly will be discussed below.

Reboot

The second reason why the SMS may not arrive is internal failures and glitches in the system, Android or iOS may freeze. In this case, you should force a reboot of the gadget. Restarting the system can be done either from the standard menu or from the hardware keys.

Clear memory

The third reason is the gadget’s memory is full:

1. The main storage of the device is full. You just need to clear your memory of unnecessary photos, video files and other garbage.
2. Saving SMS goes to the memory of the SIM card itself. This method works on older devices.

We recommend clearing your storage of old SMS messages: manually clear out old and unnecessary messages, and don’t forget to empty the sent folder.

Problems with phone settings

The technology for receiving and transmitting short text messages using a cell phone is associated with the SMSC service center. Its tasks are storage, transmission, conversion and delivery of SMS messages. Acting as a buffer, it receives them from some and sends them to other subscribers. In this case, you can specify an individual phone number in the settings of your mobile device. And if you enter even one incorrect digit into the number, the device will not be able to send or receive SMS.

Therefore, to correctly obtain communication elements, you need to check this option. First, ask your mobile operator for the exact number that will be used at the service center. The necessary information can be obtained from the user support operator. After clarification:

• open the “Messages” menu, click on the “Center” window;
• check phone numbers and enter the required numbers.

It is worth knowing that in some smartphones running on the Android platform, it is impossible to adjust the SMSC service center number. Therefore, users of these devices need to dial the combination: *#*#4636#*#*. After opening the service menu, click on the “SMSC” window, enter the required numbers and update the existing mode by clicking on the “Refresh” button.

Other reasons

There are a number of other reasons that do not directly depend on the user’s actions. Most often they are related to settings on the part of the telecom operator. Sometimes problems come from the organization where the subscriber works or from another person who sends the SMS.

The sender entered the number incorrectly

This can also happen. The second subscriber saved the contact incorrectly. Maybe the user himself sent the wrong numbers. Call the person you need or resend your phone number to them. Then ask to resend the message.

It is allowed to be written in two forms:

• 8 *** *** ** **;
• +7 *** *** ** **.

SMS exchange limited by operator

Such restrictions occur for various reasons:

1. The subscriber is limited to one base station. It is overloaded or is under maintenance. Sending and receiving SMS is limited.
2. Preventative work is being carried out within the network. In this case, a notification about temporary malfunctions and communication restrictions should be sent. A very rare occurrence.
3. During mass processions or rallies within the city. Law enforcement agencies may disable communications functions or block certain components of communications.

Try changing your location and leaving the room.

SMS reception blocked

In this case, we are talking about blocking the sending of messages by the intermediary company. This is usually done by the employer, who issues a SIM card to the subscriber. Such actions are explained by several motives:

1. Employee's employment. Corporate plans often deliberately block access to SMS so that employees are not distracted from their duties.
2. Company security. If the employee’s device is connected to any important company services or has access to the corporate network. The employer insures himself against theft of information and the penetration of malware into the company network.
3. Savings on communications. The employer simply cuts communication budgets, considering sending SMS an unnecessary expense line.

You can find out about the restrictions on sending SMS from the company management. Most often, bosses do not hide the tariff conditions from subordinates.

In some cases, messages do not arrive due to the fact that the corresponding setting is not set in the subscriber’s personal account. You need to go to the web version of the mobile operator’s website and log into your personal account. An alternative option is to call the hotline to disable or enable this option remotely.

Virus

Malware can block certain functions on your smartphone. Including receiving and sending SMS messages. Perform a full scan of your smartphone using internal tools or third-party applications. Read the full article on how to remove viruses and other malware.

Memory full

If owners of old push-button devices have stopped receiving messages, this indicates that the device’s memory is simply full. The fact is that such phones were created with a limit on their number. Moreover, each mobile phone of this type has an individual limit, which can be 25 or 125 messages. After it is exhausted, the device will not receive SMS.

This kind of trouble can be resolved quite easily. To do this, you just need to go to the “Received messages” section and delete all or some of them. Usually, the list provided has a “Delete All” function, which will help the user quickly resolve the problem. However, in modern phones this problem practically does not happen. However, in smartphones it is also worth clearing previously received SMS, and then clearing the cache.

To quickly receive an important message when the memory on a smartphone is full, the user can:

• go to the SMS sending menu, delete several dialogs;
• Download the “Clean Master” program from the play market, which will independently monitor the state of the memory.

After the problem is resolved, systematically check the device with a cleaning utility so that it does not happen again. To do this, run the downloaded software once every two weeks, selecting the appropriate message limit for cleaning in the settings.

Clearing the device memory

It's no secret that push-button phones, as a rule, have a limit on the number of SMS messages, not necessarily incoming ones, but even outgoing ones. If the memory is completely full, you will not see the incoming SMS message.

What to do? Of course, you need to clear your memory by deleting unnecessary messages. After this there should be no problems with message delivery.

Conflict with some third party applications

For owners of modern mobile devices, problems with receiving messages may be due to the fact that they are received by mistake not by a standard program, but by a third-party application. When downloading any program onto phones running on the Android platform, a slight malfunction may occur.

In order to check which utility in the operating system is responsible for “Messages”, you need to go to the phone settings, find the “SMS applications” menu. After opening the function, a list of programs that can receive messages will be visible. Selecting the standard “Messages” option, restart the phone.

"Do not disturb"

Your phone may have another Do Not Disturb mode enabled. This option involves disabling notifications displayed on the phone's lock screen when the display is turned off. In this mode, messages can arrive in the Inbox, but the phone does not inform the owner about this.

Option in smartphones:

1. Android is located in the “Settings” - “Sounds” - “Do Not Disturb” section.

2. On the iPhone it is located in the “Settings” - “Do Not Disturb” section.

Viruses on the phone

Modern mobile devices are susceptible to malware. Viruses on Android phones come along with programs that the user easily downloads from official stores. Some of the malware can intercept messages. Usually, applications with malicious code are used by fraudulent hackers to steal money from bank accounts. To get rid of the problem, you need to download and install antivirus software that will catch and eliminate malicious objects.

Such programs are recommended for all users who have virtual wallet applications on their smartphones and remote management of bank accounts using mobile networks via a smartphone. It is worth knowing that any applications should be downloaded only from trusted online markets and reliable developers. After installing the antivirus, you need to scan the operating system.

If a malicious object has deeply penetrated the operating system and the auxiliary utility cannot catch it, you will have to reset the device to factory settings. First, you can try deleting user network settings and applications. However, if this method does not help, you will have to completely format all the data. On devices running on Android, you need to go to “Reset system settings” or to “General-Reset”. The simplest method is to format the recently installed applications one by one, starting with the last installation.

It is worth knowing that some antivirus programs have an additional virus scanner without conflicts with the main antivirus. This utility will also help if the cause of the discrepancy in programs lies in malware.

Invalid center number

The two phones do not exchange SMS with each other directly. All messages are received and transmitted to the desired addressee by the cellular operator. In order for “postman” to work correctly, you must specify the correct SMS center number settings.

This parameter is located in:

1. In the “Messages” application, “Settings” section – “Advanced”.

2. At the end of the list “SMS number- class=”aligncenter” width=”640″ height=”1280″[/img]
3. To make changes, click on the number.

To make the adjustment on iPhones, you need to enter the USSD command **5005*7672*+790********#, where the numbers with asterisks are the SMS center number.
If the number is specified incorrectly, you will not be able to process messages normally. You can find out your operator’s center number on the company’s official website.

Current numbers of SMS centers of different operators:

• Tele2 +79043490000;
• Beeline +79037011111;
• MTS;
• Megafon +79262909090.

Within 5 days from the moment the message is received, the center will continue to attempt to transmit it to the recipient.

Fixing the problem with a normal reboot

If your phone stops receiving messages completely unexpectedly, it can be assumed that the reason for this was a random error associated with a system process. Such a failure can be resolved by standard rebooting the gadget. Reconfiguring data and processes is a good preventive measure against possible errors with messages not being accepted.

Automatic shutdown of all applications that have been launched - this is especially important for those users who do not have the habit of closing them at the end of the usage session. Typically, service engineers and electronics engineers recommend performing a reboot action immediately when a problem occurs.

Question answer

Let's look at special cases.

Why doesn’t it come from banks?

SMS from banks contain important information for the subscriber. They may indicate access passwords, account balances, financial movements, etc. Therefore, if notifications stop coming from banks, then you should immediately sound the alarm.

There may be several reasons:

1. The Economy package is included. In this case, you will not know about the movement of funds in your account.
2. The short number from which the SMS is sent has been classified as spam. For example, Sberbank uses 900 for alerts. To fix the problem, you need to check the blacklist and adjust the spam settings.
3. The delivery is blocked by a virus. This is dangerous because it can steal your data. Check your gadget for threats using an antivirus.
4. When registering in your personal account, you indicated the wrong phone number or made a mistake.

I recently changed my SIM card and it started

After installing a new SIM card or changing mobile operator, you need to change the SMS center number. Each operator has its own set of numbers, for example, for Russia Megafon +79262909090, for Ukraine Kievstar +380672021111.

Comes, but inside is empty

If SMS messages still arrive, but the inside is empty or does not open, then the reason may be:

• a virus on a mobile phone that blocks or steals incoming SMS;
• the antivirus blocks content, cutting out links to suspicious resources to prevent the threat of infection;
• The system protects against spam from an unknown sender;
• Incorrect text encoding (sometimes there are strange and incomprehensible characters inside, similar to hieroglyphs).

Resetting settings (Hard Reset), as the most radical way

Full formatting of a mobile device, “hard reset” or “wipe”, means resetting all data stored in the gadget’s memory. Usually, smartphone owners use this method only as a last resort. However, in a situation where messages do not arrive, the operation may be useful.

It is worth knowing that after completely formatting the phone, the information on it will be deleted from the internal memory. The files located on the Secure Digital Memory card will remain safe and sound. To carry out this radical method you need:

• turn off the device;
• enter recovery mode by pressing and holding a certain set of keys until the display lights up. Depending on the smartphone model, the combinations may be slightly different: “Volume down and power key”; “Volume up and On key; “Volume up, Power key and Home button.

By pressing the corresponding keys, you can move up and down the screen, confirm the selected option with the key to lock and turn on the device. In modern modernized smartphones, the recovery menu is usually touch-sensitive. After completing the steps and turning on “Recovery Mode”, click on the “wipe data/factory reset” window, and then click on “Yes - delete all user data”. After clicking, the user confirms his consent to completely format the internal memory of the device. At the very end of the operation, you need to click on the “reboot system now” window that pops up.

The entire data reset procedure will take two to three minutes. After these steps, the mobile device will reboot itself and restore its factory settings. The gadget's interface will look like it was purchased in a store.

Reboot the device

If the problem is hidden in a software glitch, then simply rebooting the phone may help.

Press and hold the power button until the menu appears on the display.

Select "Reboot" from the menu.

Airplane mode

If you are not receiving SMS messages on your smartphone, you should check if the “Flight” mode is turned on. If the mode is activated, the system is turned off, which means you can neither call nor write.

That's not all - sometimes a large number of subscriber actions carried out simultaneously leads to network overload. In this case, the flight mode can be used for good:

• Swipe down to open the top menu;
• Click on the airplane icon;

• Wait five to ten minutes;
• Disable "Flight" in the same way.

Ready! There is another mode that is also worth checking carefully.