Top 9 Ways to Fix iPhone Not Receiving Texts

The Apple iPhone is a good example of ‘It just works’. However, its core functions may bother you due to call failed error or whether the phone is sending or receiving texts. It’s pretty annoying when your iPhone doesn’t receive a text message while you’re waiting for an OTP from your bank or a text from someone. Read the post to learn how to fix the problem.

Multiple factors can affect text messaging functionality on iPhone. We’ve compiled a number of solutions to fix this issue. Let’s start.

1. Enable and Disable Airplane Mode

This trick is one of the common ways to fix annoying network related problems on iPhone. Here’s what you need to do.

Stage 1: Go to the iPhone home screen and pull down the Control Center from the top right corner.

Those using an older iPhone model with a physical home button will need to use the bottom-up swipe to access the Control Center.

Step 2: You will find Airplane mode from the menu. Turn it on, wait a few seconds and disable it.

You can now ask the other person to message you again.

2. Restart iPhone

This is another widely used method to fix minor quirks on iPhone. Press and hold the power and volume up/down button at the same time and restart the iPhone.

This trick worked wonders for us when we encountered a text message not getting an iPhone error.

3. Check Network Connection

If you are in a low or no coverage area, you cannot send or receive text messages on iPhone.

Make sure you have good enough bars to represent network connection strength on iPhone. Check the top right corner and check the network strength next to the operator name.

4. Update Carrier Settings

Your local carrier regularly releases updates to ensure flawless call and text functionality on your iPhone. If these carrier settings are out of date, it may affect text messages on iPhone. Follow the steps below to update carrier settings on iPhone.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the General > About menu.

Stage 3: Scroll down to Personal and you will find the Network name and current Network Provider version.

Step 4: Tap on Network Provider and it will be updated to the latest version available.

5. Enable MMS Messaging

If the other person is trying to send a photo or video as a text message, you need to turn on MMS Messaging from the Settings menu. Without it, you cannot receive the message on your iPhone.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Go to Messages.

Stage 3: Go to the SMS/MMS section and enable the MMS Messaging toggle.

6. Reset Network Settings

By using the iPhone’s built-in Reset Network Settings option, you can fix any network issues on the phone. Here’s how to use it.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the General > Reset menu.

Stage 3: Tap on Reset Network Settings and you are ready.

7. Disable/Enable iMessage

This is another trick that has worked for many users who are facing iPhone not receiving text message issues. You can disable iMessage and then enable it again to fix the problem.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to Messages and disable iMessage toggle.

Stage 3: Activate it again.

Now ask the person on the other end to resend the text message.

8. Delete Irrelevant Messages

If your iPhone is low on storage, you should consider deleting old messages from the device.

You don’t need to select messages or conversations to delete manually. Apple provides an elegant way to remove old messages from iPhone.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to Message History > Keep Messages.

Stage 3: By default, it is set to Forever.

Select 30 days or a year and iOS will ask for confirmation to delete old messages. Delete them and make room for new messages to arrive.

9. Update iPhone

Your iPhone is not receiving text messages may be due to a buggy build released by Apple. The company is usually quick to resolve such glaring issues.

You need to update the phone to the latest version available in Settings > General > Software Update.

Start Receiving Text Messages on iPhone

It may be confusing for you that iPhone cannot receive text messages. Follow the steps above and fix the problem immediately. It’s sure to save a trip to the Apple store.

Next: Problems with iPhone hotspot functionality? Read the post below to know why this happens and how to fix the problem.