What should I do if I cannot send or receive SMS on my Samsung Phone?

Last Update date : 2024-02-11

It is often a problem with the carrier or its service if you are experiencing difficulties sending or receiving messages or if they appear sluggish. Other times, if you recently moved from an iPhone, iMessage may still be activated, which might cause texts to be lost in the ether. 

Messages app
1 Check the status of your carrier's service.

Check to ensure that your account is in good standing and that your service is operational. You should contact your service provider.

2 Check your signal.

Make sure you have an active data connection to your carrier. Temporarily disable Wi-Fi and check for at least a 3G signal in the status bar. 

3 Clear the Message app's cache.
  • Open Settings, then browse to and tap Apps.
  • Locate and then tap Messages.
  • Tap Storage.
  • Tap Clear cache.
4 Restart your phone.

Rebooting your phone will allow it to reconnect to the mobile network and clear up any temporary app difficulties preventing messages from being sent.

  • Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the phone to access Quick settings.
  • Select the Power icon.
  • Tap Restart twice, then Restart again.
5 Inspect the SIM card.

Check that the SIM card in your phone is properly placed and not damaged. If you need assistance testing your SIM or purchasing a replacement, contact your carrier.

  • If you have another active device on the same network, you may be able to test them by exchanging SIM cards.
  • If you recently switched carriers but continued to use the same phone, you may need to contact your current carrier for help reprogramming the phone for their service.
1 Download updates manually.
  • On your device, navigate to and open Settings.
  • Swipe to and then tap Software update or System updates. It will vary between models.
  • Tap Download and install, or Check for software updates. If an update is available it will begin downloading, though you may need to tap Download now on some devices.
  • When the download is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.
Software update
2 Make sure your device has enough space.

If your phone or tablet doesn't have enough storage space, you may free up space with Device care. You may also back up other files using Smart Switch or your Samsung or Google account.

To perform a factory data reset you have to 

Open the Settings menu on your device, navigate to General Management, select Reset, and choose Factory data reset, then Reset. To complete the reset, follow the on-screen prompts. You may be prompted to enter your Samsung account or Lock screen password. The device will restart.

When the phone or tablet reboots, the factory settings will be restored. To finish setting up the phone or tablet, you must now go through the first setup process. To finish the setup, you may be asked to input your Samsung or Google account credentials.

Note:

  • Make sure to back up your phone or tablet. All data and settings will be erased.
  • Make a note of the username and password for the account you used to backup your data.
  • Because the reset procedure might take up to an hour, we recommend plugging your smartphone into a power charger throughout the process.

Note: If these steps do not resolve your issue or for all other queries or further technical assistance, please call our contact center and our helpful agents will assist you for further information.

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