Top 11 Ways to Fix Samsung Phones Not Receiving Text Messages

Samsung Galaxy phones include a dedicated Messages app. While it works great, there are often times when you wait for verification or OTP codes to complete a transaction or sign into a service. Surely you would be unaware along with other Samsung phone users who are facing the issue of not receiving messages. In this post, we will tell you eleven fixes to fix the problem.

Solutions for Samsung phones not receiving messages range from checking cellular networks to resetting app preferences. We have also addressed issues with iMessage on Samsung phones.

Let’s check the solutions in detail.

1. Reboot Phone

You should start the troubleshooting process by restarting your phone. So stop whatever you are doing on your phone and restart your Galaxy phone.

2. Check Cellular Network

Next, make sure you have a working cellular network on your phone. Check if you can search for it. Similarly, try sending an SMS from your phone. If all is well, check other fixes. However, if you are unable to make calls/SMS, you should check your cellular plan and network first. We recommend calling your service provider.

Fly: If you are not receiving MMS, verify if you have a data balance linked to your mobile number.

3. Remove SIM Card

This is a very old trick that you should definitely try. Basically, remove the SIM card from its slot. Clean using a microfiber cloth and Isopropyl Alcohol solution. Then plug it back in. Alternatively, if you have a dual SIM Samsung phone, try the SIM in another slot. This should rule out SIM slot related issues.

Another similar fix is ​​to insert the SIM card into a different Android phone. Wait until your cellular provider configures the SIM card. Then remove the SIM Card and insert it into the original phone.

4. Clear Cache for Messaging App

You should also try clearing the cache of the Samsung Messages app. Don’t worry about not deleting your messages or other personal files on your phone.

To clear the cache of Samsung Messages, open Settings on your phone and go to Apps. Tap Messages, then Storage.

Finally, hit the Clear cache button. Restart your phone.

Fly: You can also use the clear data button. Usually this will not delete your messages. However, we still recommend backing up your messages before trying. Find out in detail what happens by clearing data of Android apps.

5. Check Blocked Contacts

If you are not receiving messages from only one or two people on your Samsung phone, you should check the blocked list. You may have accidentally blocked it.

To check this, open the Samsung Messages app on your phone. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select Settings.

Tap on Block numbers and messages and then on Block numbers.

Here you will find a list of blocked contacts. Tap the unblock icon next to the number you want to unblock.

Fly: You can also check the list of blocked numbers from the Phone app. Tap the three-dot icon in the phone app. Go to Settings > Block numbers.

6. Incompatibility with iMessage

If an iPhone user is trying to send you an iMessage on your Samsung phone, they can’t send it and neither will you receive it. This is because Samsung phones do not support iMessage. It is a service that only works between Apple devices. So iPhone users will have to send a regular SMS to your Samsung phone.

Fly: Did you know that Android has its own iMessage-like service? Learn more about RCS on Android.

7. Unregister from iMessage

If you recently switched from iPhone to Samsung Galaxy phone, you may have forgotten to disable iMessage. Therefore, you may not be receiving SMS on your Samsung phone, especially from iPhone users.

Basically, your number is still connected to iMessage. So other iPhone users would send you an iMessage. As mentioned above, Samsung phones do not support iMessage. It is recommended to disable iMessage before switching to an Android phone.

Do not worry. You can still unregister iMessage. If you have your iPhone at hand, insert your SIM card back into the iPhone. Then go to Settings > Messages. Turn off the toggle next to iMessage. Alternatively, you can unenroll from the official Apple site without your iPhone.

8. Free Up Storage

With limited internal storage, your Samsung phone may not receive messages. You can check the available storage in Settings > Device maintenance > Storage. You should delete old messages from your inbox to free up storage space. Also, check other ways to increase internal storage on Samsung phones.

9. Third Party Messaging Apps

Are you using a different messaging app than Samsung Messages? We recommend making Samsung Messages the default app to see if you can receive messages.

If your default app is Samsung Messages, download a third-party messaging app. You can try Android Messages app from Google. Make it the default messaging app. Check our comparison of Samsung Messages and Android Messages.

10. Check in Safe Mode

A few times, the issue of not receiving messages can also occur due to a third-party app. To understand this, you will need to boot your device into Safe Mode. Press the Power button for this. Next, tap and hold the Shut down icon followed by the Safe Mode icon.

Putting your device in Safe Mode will not delete your data. However, third-party apps will not run in Safe Mode. So you can check if your device can receive messages in Safe Mode. If you can receive messages, a third-party app is causing the problem. Check for recently installed third-party apps and uninstall any apps you find suspicious. To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your phone.

11. Reset App Preferences

Finally, if nothing works, you should try resetting the app preferences. This includes app permissions, default apps, etc. Returns most settings to their default values, such as You will need to set them up again. Your data or personal files will not be affected. Check in detail what’s going on by resetting app preferences.

Fly: A similar fix would be to reset the network settings on your Samsung phone.

Old Posts, You’re There

We hope the above fixes will fix your issue. You should be able to receive new messages on your Samsung phone. But once the issue is resolved, you will not receive old messages sent before.

Next: Once all is well with messages on your Samsung phone, check out six tips for Samsung Messages app from the next link.