SMS messaging is one of the quickest ways to communicate with family and friends. It is also an excellent way to reach customers through SMS marketing campaigns. Text messaging has a very open and read rate, making it an ideal way to get your message in front of the right people quickly. However, there may be times when a text message is not received. And all your efforts might no avail. In this case, you should troubleshoot why your message was not delivered.
The reasons why your message was not delivered can vary, and the problem could be on either side (sender or recipient). Some of the most common causes could be the recipient’s carrier marking your message as Spam, or the recipient chose not to receive notifications. You must understand each of these reasons to address each problem individually.
This article discusses the usual 12 reasons why SMS messages are not delivered
- You might need a new phone number.
- The recipient’s carrier has marked your message as Spam.
- Your SMS Message was reported to the carrier by the recipient.
- The recipient chose not to receive messages.
- Your phone number was blocked by the receiver.
- Perhaps the phone number is on the Do Not Disturb list.
- You’re messaging to a landline phone.
- Network issues with the recipient’s provider
- You are sending an excessive number of messages.
- On the recipient’s carrier’s side, there is a billing issue
- The message contained unlawful material.
- The number you typed is incorrect.
1. You might need a new phone number.
As the sender, your phone number is the first thing you should check when your messages are not delivered. If you have been using the same number for a long time, it may be in bad standing with SMS providers. Your carrier may have disconnected you from the network. Thus, your messages will only be sent if your phone number is active. To solve this, you can get a new number and try sending messages with it to see if it resolves the issue.
Additionally, if your messages are not delivered to specific recipients on particular networks, that could also mean an issue with your phone number. If this is the case, consider getting a new one.
2. The recipient’s carrier has marked your message as Spam.
Phone carriers have a strict policy to protect their customers from receiving spam messages. If someone sends you an unsolicited message, the carrier will identify it as such and prevent the text from reaching your device.
Sending messages that violate a mobile carrier’s guidelines can result in the recipient marking your message as spam. If you choose to convey an offensive message, it will likely be filtered by the provider without fail. There are different reasons for your text messages are being filtered by the phone carrier. Some of these possible reasons include the following.
- The text message contains suspicious links and URLs.
- The message includes words or phrases in all capital letters, ex. BUY NOW.
- Sending multiple text messages containing the same content to different mobile numbers.
- Very long text messages that exceed the maximum character limit of 160.
3. Your SMS Message was reported to the carrier by the recipient.
If a recipient marks your SMS message as spam, the phone carrier can take action and block your text messages from being sent or received by other users. Occasionally, recipients have reported to their cellular provider that they are receiving spam or inappropriate text messages. As a result, the carrier will take action by blocking both the message and the sender of said communication.
If you ever suspect that a mobile carrier has blocked your SMS, verifying this with just one text is easy. Send out another message, and if the new one is delivered successfully, but the previous one wasn’t, then chances are high that your initial message was flagged as spam or inappropriate.
4. The recipient chose not to receive messages.
Another potential reason your text messages are not being delivered is that the recipient has decided to opt out of receiving messages from you. It could be a deliberate action taken by the user, or it could have been done automatically after several attempts of sending messages without a response.
Furthermore, web-enabled platforms allow recipients to opt out of text messages if they so desire quickly. This system prioritizes the recipient’s comfort and security above all else.
This platform supplies keywords that enable recipients to quickly and easily unsubscribe from future messages sent from the originating number. If the recipient utilizes their keyword, our platform’s users will be blocked from sending them text messages, and it won’t go through.
5. Your phone number was blocked by the receiver.
If your text messages are not being delivered, the most probable reason is that the recipient has blocked your phone number. No matter how hard you try to send them, they will not get through if their device has been set up to prevent receiving texts from you.
We all have reasons for blocking someone’s phone number, whether it be due to personal issues, sneaky telemarketers, malicious scammers, or anonymous callers. As a result of repeated annoyance or no longer wanting to stay in contact, individuals often block phone numbers that bother them.
Want to know if your phone number is blocked? Try dialing the recipient’s phone. If a connection can’t be established, then there’s a good chance you’ve been blocked. To make sure, call from another device or line – if it works this time, then you’re blacklisted!
6. Perhaps the phone number is on the Do Not Disturb list.
Mobile service providers in certain countries allow users to add their phone numbers to a list that will block particular types of messages. Any text sent from an Application-to-Person connection won’t be received if it is on this exclusive directory.
While using a phone number for legitimate business messages such as order or delivery notifications can be an effective solution, issues may arise if the text does not reach the recipient. If this happens, the phone number might be on the Do Not Disturb list and needs to be removed.
7. You’re messaging to a landline phone.
Sending text messages to landlines is not always feasible as they cannot receive them due to technical limitations. A landline cannot receive a text message from an Application-to-Person connection, which is why the message won’t be delivered.
You can only make and receive calls with this device. Be mindful that any text messages you send will not be able to reach the recipient unless they have a mobile phone number—not one for a landline.
8. Network Issues with the recipient’s provider.
Occasionally, network issues with the recipient’s provider can also affect your text message delivery success rate. It could include anything from a congested network to a malfunctioning server. In this case, your message will be delivered once the issue has been resolved.
If your recipient’s phone lacks a signal, then any texts you send may roam off into oblivion. Generally, people lose their mobile signal when they’re too far away from the cell tower of their service provider. It usually occurs while on vacation or in transit.
When you move to a new place, your cell phone may struggle to access the signal tower in that area because it is still searching for connectivity from its previous location. If you’re experiencing difficulties with your device, it may be due to hardware issues. To test this theory out, transfer the SIM card from your phone to another and see if that second device can pick up a signal immediately. If so, then it’s likely time for some repairs on yours.
9. You are sending an excessive number of messages.
If you’re sending too many messages, your texts could be filtered by the recipient’s carrier and marked as spam. To ensure your messages are not blocked or rejected, you should limit the number of messages sent at any given time.
Sending multiple text messages quickly can be blocked, with the message not reaching its intended recipient. Additionally, if you send SMS blasts or frequently utilize this form of communication, there is a risk that your message will become trapped in a spam filter. To help avoid these potential pitfalls, it’s important to remember to only send one text message per second.
To ensure successful SMS delivery, you must check with your mobile carrier regarding the simultaneous number of messages you can send.
10. On the recipient’s carrier’s side, there is a billing issue
Missing your phone bill payments is an all-too-common occurrence. While most mobile carriers provide a window of time to settle their bills, failure can lead to suspended services. Once the overdue amount has been settled in full, users can resume using the service as usual.
If the mobile service for a recipient of your text message is disabled due to unpaid bills, your message will not be successfully delivered. Don’t worry, though – it’s certainly not on you. You will only have luck sending that same note once their number has been reactivated.
11. The message contained unlawful material.
Sending any illicit or illegal material is both unlawful and unethical. Consequently, it’s essential to bear in mind that such messages will not be delivered regardless of the overall message delivery success rate. Texting or sending inappropriate content can also lead to your account being disabled by the carrier. The same applies to violations of terms.
Text messages containing illicit material, such as allusions to drugs, explicit content, and statements of criminal activity, are swiftly blocked by phone carriers. Consequently, the originator might face a formal inquiry or even legal repercussions if they fail to abide by these restrictions. Don’t risk any legal ramifications – be mindful of what you send.
12. The number you typed is incorrect.
When it comes to messaging, always proceed with caution. If you’re a business aiming to distribute hundreds of messages simultaneously, A2P (Application-to-Person) is your answer; however, if you are merely sending personal correspondence from one person to another, then P2P (Person-to-Person) will suffice.
If you attempt to send many messages from an ordinary phone that is only equipped with P2P messaging capabilities. In that case, the local service providers will likely block them, and they won’t be delivered.
For your business to send hundreds of text messages, you must select the ideal type of phone number. Opt for Toll-Free, vanity, and local phone numbers with high-volume messaging capacity and shortcodes to benefit from maximum reach.
How often do SMS Messages not being delivered happen?
SMS messages not being delivered happen more often than one might think. When sending messages, it is crucial to be mindful of potential causes and solutions. According to statistics, about 15-20% of all messages are undelivered for various reasons previously mentioned in this article. Businesses using SMS marketing must be aware of the potential pitfalls and plan accordingly to increase the success rate of their SMS messages.
Why do texts stay undelivered?
Text messages stay undelivered unless the reason why the delivery failed is addressed. An undelivered message may be delivered and sent when network signals are better, or the incorrect number is fixed.
On the other hand, messages sent to numbers that block messages, phones in a DND list, or carry illegal information will remain undelivered and blocked.
How long will Text Messages Stay Undelivered?
Text messages stay undelivered and stored in Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs) for up to 15 days. When the SMS message delivery is unsuccessful, it will remain queued up in the SMSC until it expires or is successfully delivered. After 15 days, the undelivered message will be deleted from the system and cannot be retrieved again.
What to do when SMS Messages are not sent?
When SMS messages are not sent, users should check their internet or device connection. It is also essential to verify that the recipient number is correct and not blocked by service providers. If all else fails, a different messaging platform can be used as an alternative.
Is the Android Message App the reason why your SMS Message is not delivered?
Yes. The Android messaging app can be a possible cause of undelivered messages if it’s not functioning correctly or if there are issues with the user’s device or network connection. You can troubleshoot your device and check your apps to see if they are working correctly.
Can you fix SMS Messages not delivered in Android?
Yes, it is possible to fix SMS messages not delivered in Android. Users can try and troubleshoot their device, restart their mobile network connection or switch from a mobile network to a Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, users can check whether a service provider blocks the recipient’s number or if the message contains illegal content. Users should opt for an alternative messaging platform if all else fails to ensure successful delivery.
Do SMS Marketing also experiencing not delivered messages?
Yes. SMS marketing platforms also experience undelivered marketing messages. If the message content does not comply with regulations, contains spam, or if the recipients have blocked SMS messages from the sender, these messages will remain undelivered. Due to network restrictions, sending messages in bulk may also lead to undelivered messages. It is best to check with the SMS marketing providers to ensure that messages sent in bulk are not blocked. Learn more about What is SMS marketing, its guide and benefits to understand how to use it for your business.
What is the difference between Delivered and Sent in SMS Messaging?
The term sent refers to when a message has been successfully sent from one device to another. In contrast, delivered refers to when the message has been successfully delivered to the recipient’s device. A message that is sent but not delivered means that it has been dispatched from one device but has yet to reach the recipient’s device due to various reasons. In other words, if a message shows as ‘sent’ on the sender’s device, it does not necessarily mean it is ‘delivered’ on the recipient’s device. If a message is sent but not delivered, users should check with their service provider to ensure it has been delivered or is still in transit.