8 Ways to Fix iPhone Not Sending or Receiving Text Messages Problems

Part 1: Fast solution to fix iPhone not receiving text issue

The "iPhone not receiving texts" problem can be caused by a lot of different factors, and if you go through all the possible solutions one by one, you’ll be wasting a lot of time, and you might even risk data loss, with no guarantee of success.

This is why we recommend that before you try out all the regular trial-and-error methods, you should use a third-party tool called Dr.Fone - System Repair. Recognized by Forbes, and with multiple media awards from CNET, Lifehack, PCWorld, and Softonic, they can help you learn new things about your phone.

Dr.Fone is a solution that can help detect whatever the issue may be in your iPhone XR, iPhone XS (Max), or any other iPhone model, and it can fix it without any data loss. You don't need to worry about reinstalling all your apps or backing up iPhone to iTunes.

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How to solve "iPhone not receiving messages" problem using Dr.Fone:

1. Launch Dr.Fone and select "System Repair".

   

2. Connect your iPhone and click on "Start."

   

3. Dr.Fone will automatically detect your iPhone model and then boot your iPhone in DFU mode.

   

4. Once the phone is in DFU mode, Dr.Fone will start to download the firmware. After the download is done, it will continue to diagnose the problem and repair the system.

   

5. After just about 10 minutes, it will be done, and you can continue using your iPhone as if nothing ever went wrong!

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Part 2: Do some checks to fix the "iPhone not receiving texts" problem

If you don’t want to immediately install and use third-party software, there are a lot of different methods you can use in a trial-and-error manner to fix your "iPhone not receiving texts" problem. Below you’ll find all the possible quick fixes:

1. First, check your network connection by looking at the top of the screen.
2. Make sure you have the correct phone number that you are trying to text.
3. Sometimes even if it shows that you have a network connection indeed, that doesn’t mean that it works. Thus you should try to text someone else; maybe there is something wrong with that other person’s phone.
4. If you see a red exclamation mark with a circle around it, and if it says "not delivered" under it, tap the exclamation mark and then tap "try again". If it still doesn’t work, tap on the exclamation mark and tap "send as a text message".

   

5. Sometimes even if it shows that you have indeed a network connection that doesn’t mean that it works, thus you should try to text someone else; maybe there is something wrong with that other person’s phone.
6. An iPhone XS (Max) or any other iPhone model cannot activate if the date and time are not set right, check to see if they are correct.
7. If your iPhone is still not receiving texts, try to call someone, or even check the data connection, there might be something wrong with the Sim-card if your carrier requires one to work of course.

Part 3: Fix "iPhone not receiving texts" problem via Reboot

1. Press and hold the on/off button.
2. Press and hold the home button.
3. Do this until the screen goes dark and back on displaying the Apple logo.

Part 4: Fix "iPhone not receiving texts" issue by turning off LTE

Some carriers don’t let its users browse the internet and call or text someone at the same time so you should try to turn off LTE:

1. Open the Settings app from the menu.
2. Tap where it says "cellular".
3. Tap on LTE.
4. Now tab where it says "Off" or "Data Only".
5. Turn off the device and back on again.
6. Don’t forget to check if your iPhone is receiving texts.

Part 5: Fix "iPhone not receiving texts" problem by resetting Network Settings

Another thing that you could try is to reset the network settings, in case you or someone else messed about with them, you can do the reset like this:

1. Tap where it says "General".
2. Scroll at the bottom and look for "Reset".
3. Tap on "Reset".
4. You should now see "Reset Network Settings".
5. You will get a pop-up, just confirm.
6. The phone should now reboot, after its back on, try to send a text.

Part 6: Fix "iPhone not receiving texts" problem by turning on/off iMessage

1. Open the Settings app on the menu.
2. Tap on messages.
3. Turn off iMessage.
4. Turn on iMessage.

Part 7: Perform a factory reset to fix the "iPhone not receiving texts" problem

I hoped we didn’t have to get this far, but it’s time for a factory reset. Don’t roll back to a previous backup unless it’s necessary, but in this case, I would advise a reset. Your iPhone XS (Max) or any other iPhone model not receiving texts may be fixed after this procedure. Yes, you will lose all of your apps, but at least you get to feel the joy of installing everything back on. Before you reset, make sure everything is backed up on iCloud.

Now let’s continue with the reset:

1. Open the Settings app from the menu.
2. Scroll at the bottom and look for "Reset".
3. Tap on "General".
4. Look for Reset, then once found, tap it.
5. Then tap on "Erase all content and settings".
6. Type in your passcode if you have one.
7. A pop-up message will appear on the screen with "Erase iPhone" in red letters, tap that.

   

8. You will need the Apple ID password to proceed with the Reset.
9. After this, it will start to remove everything from its storage and make everything look new.
10. When the reset is done, don’t start reinstalling your apps, first check if your iPhone still doesn’t receive texts.

Part 8: Contact Apple

If the "iPhone not receiving texts" problem persists even after using Dr.Fone, then it’s time to contact Apple or the place where you purchased the device because it requires a repair at least if a replacement or refund is not possible.

If none of the previously mentioned methods work, then the problem is likely hardware-related. You will have to go in for a repair. Hopefully, you have AppleCare or at least some type of insurance on it.