6 Best Ways to Fix Message Send Failure on iPhone

Seeing a "Message Send Failure" alert on your iPhone can be frustrating, especially when you need to contact family, friends, or colleagues right away. This issue can occur for several reasons, such as poor network connectivity, incorrect messaging settings, carrier problems, or temporary iOS glitches.

If your iPhone keeps failing to send messages, don't worry. In this guide, we'll explain the common causes of the problem and show you how to fix message send failure on iPhone with 6 practical solutions. Follow the methods below to get your messages sending normally again.

What Causes Message Send Failure on iPhone?

A message may fail to send on your iPhone for several reasons. In most cases, the problem is related to your cellular connection, internet connection, messaging settings, or a temporary iOS issue. Here are some of the most common causes:

• 01 Poor or unavailable cellular service. If your iPhone has weak signal, SMS or MMS messages may fail to send.
• 02 No internet connection. iMessage requires an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. If your internet connection is unstable or unavailable, iMessages may not be delivered.
• 03 An incorrect or inactive phone number. If you entered the recipient's number incorrectly or the number is no longer active, your message may not go through.
• 04 Incorrect Messages settings. Features such as iMessage, Send as SMS, or MMS Messaging may be turned off or configured incorrectly.
• 05 Carrier or network issues. Temporary outages with your mobile carrier can prevent messages from being sent.
• 06 Temporary iOS glitches. Software bugs or temporary system errors can occasionally interfere with the Messages app and cause sending failures.

How to Fix Message Send Failure iPhone

If you see a "Message Send Failure" or "Not Delivered" alert on your iPhone, start with the simplest solutions first. The problem may be caused by a temporary network interruption, incorrect Messages settings, carrier issues, or an iOS software glitch. Try the following methods in order.

Way 1: Check the Network Connection and Retry the Message

A poor or unavailable network connection is one of the most common reasons messages fail to send on an iPhone. iMessage, RCS, and MMS require Wi-Fi or cellular data, while SMS usually requires a cellular network connection.

First, check the Wi-Fi and cellular signal indicators in the upper-right corner of your iPhone. If the connection appears weak or unstable, turn Airplane Mode on and off to refresh the network connection.

• Step 1. Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open Control Center.
• Step 2. Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on.
• Step 3. Wait a few seconds, then tap the icon again to turn Airplane Mode off.
• Step 4. Open Messages and try sending the message again. If you see a red exclamation mark next to the failed message, tap it and choose Try Again.

If iMessage still cannot send the message, you may also see an option to send it as a text message.

Way 2: Check Your Messages Settings

Incorrect Messages settings can prevent iMessage, SMS, MMS, or RCS messages from being sent properly. Make sure that the relevant messaging options and your phone number are configured correctly.

• Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
• Step 2. Go to Apps > Messages.
• Step 3. Make sure iMessage is enabled. You can also turn it off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
• Step 4. Tap Send & Receive and make sure your correct phone number is selected.

Step 5. If you want your iPhone to fall back to SMS when iMessage is unavailable, enable Retry as Text Message.

If you are having trouble sending messages only to certain contacts, double-check that their phone number or email address is correct.

Way 3: Restart Your iPhone

Temporary system or network glitches can sometimes interfere with the Messages app. Restarting your iPhone is a simple way to refresh iOS and may resolve the problem without changing any settings.

For iPhones with Face ID:

• Step 1. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power-off slider appears.
• Step 2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
• Step 3. Wait about 30 seconds.
• Step 4. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhones with a Home button, press and hold the Side or Top button until the power-off slider appears, then turn the device off and restart it.

After your iPhone restarts, open Messages and try sending the message again.

Way 4: Update iOS and Carrier Settings

An outdated version of iOS or outdated carrier settings may cause cellular or messaging problems. Keeping both up to date can improve network compatibility and fix known software issues.

Update iOS

• Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Step 2. If an update is available, tap Update Now button.

Update Carrier Settings

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi.
• Step 2. Go to Settings > General > About.
• Step 3. Wait a few seconds. If a carrier settings update is available, a prompt will appear.
• Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

Once the updates are complete, try sending your message again.

Way 5: Reset Network Settings

If the message send failure continues after checking your connection and settings, there may be a problem with your iPhone's network configuration. Resetting network settings can clear incorrect Wi-Fi, cellular, VPN, or APN settings.

• Step 1. Open Settings and tap General.
• Step 2. Scroll down and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Step 3. Tap Reset. Select Reset Network Settings.
• Step 4. Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm the reset.

Your iPhone will restart. Reconnect to Wi-Fi if necessary, then check whether Messages works normally.

Way 6: Repair iOS with TunesKit iOS System Recovery

All these methods above fail to solve your problem? Don't worry. We want to introduce you a professional tool to deal with iPhone message send failure. That is TunesKit iOS System Recovery. It's the best solution for you when you meet such system errors as iPhone message send failure, iPhone not sending picture messages, iPhone screen frozen, etc. To fix your iPhone with this tool, you only need to tap on several buttons, and your problem will be solved instantly without losing your data.

What's more, it can also meet your needs of entering/exiting Recovery mode, resetting your device, and upgrading/downgrading your iPhone. You can experience all these features by clicking on the Download button below.

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Now, let's take a look at how to fix message send failure on iPhone with TunesKit iOS System Recovery.

Step 1. Connect Your iPhone

Download and install TunesKit iOS System Recovery on your Windows PC or Mac. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. Launch the program and choose iOS System Repair, then click Start.

Step 2. Choose Standard Repair

Select Standard Repair first. This mode is designed to repair common iOS issues without deleting existing data.

If Standard Repair does not solve the problem, you can consider Deep Repair. Keep in mind that Deep Repair erases the data on your iPhone, so make sure you have a backup before using it.

Step 3. Download the Firmware Package

Follow the on-screen instructions and confirm that TunesKit has detected the correct iPhone model and firmware information. Click Download to download the matching firmware package.

Step 4. Start Repairing iOS

After the firmware package has been downloaded and verified, click Start Standard Repair. Keep your iPhone connected to the computer during the entire repair process. Once the repair is complete, your iPhone will restart. Open Messages and check whether you can now send messages normally.

FAQs About Message Send Failure on iPhone

Conclusion

In this article, we have introduced you 6 effective and effortless methods for how to fix message send failure on iPhone. Undoubtedly, the best tip to fix your iPhone is using TunesKit iOS System Recovery. Hope that you can solve your problem successfully after using these solutions. Feel free to leave us your problems and opinions in the comments section below, and we will reply to you as soon as possible.