A lot of people depend on the Messages app as their primary method of communication, so missing texts might mean being shut off from partners, friends, or family. Below, we’ll show you how to fix the problem when your iPhone isn’t receiving texts after iOS 18 update.
How to fix an iPhone not receiving text messages after iOS 18 update
There are a variety of potential solutions explained in this article, and it may be hard to gauge which one will actually fix the problem. If that’s the case, try going through these steps one-by-one — chances are you’ll eventually come across something that resolves your issue.
1. Check your network connection
If you don’t have good cell coverage, you won’t receive text messages, even if your phone is working fine. Here’s what to do:
- See if you have signal. SMS messages require that you have a cellular signal.
- Make sure that you’re in an area with cellular network coverage. Go to another location and try there to get messages.
2. Turn Airplane mode on and off
Turn on Airplane Mode (Settings > Airplane Mode), wait about 30 seconds and then turn it off.
3. Ensure that you have the latest version of iOS 18
Apple may have released a new iOS 18 version to address this problem. You can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update. And if there is an update, you can follow the onscreen instructions to update your iPhone. Updating your iPhone will also update the Messages app if you do not have the latest version installed on your iPhone.
4. Restart your iPhone
Restarting is always a good idea. Restart your iPhone to see if you can fix this issue. Here is how:
- Swipe down from top right of the screen to reveal the Control Center.
- Tap the power button on the top right of the screen.
- Drag the power off slider.
- Wait for your iPhone to turn off. Completely.
- Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
5. Check for a carrier settings update
Especially after major iOS releases, carriers may release updates to ensure that their service is working perfectly with iOS. These types of updates do not occur often. To check this, go to Settings > General > About. If there is an update, a popup will appear. Please ensure that your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, as this requires an active internet connection. If you do not have Wi-Fi, find a Wi-Fi and try this step again.
6. Check blocked contacts
Check to see if you blocked the contact that is trying to send you the SMS message. You can block and unblock contacts or numbers in Messages. To see your blocked contacts, go to Settings > Apps > Messages. Tap Blocked Contacts, under the SMS/MMS section.
7. If you cannot receive the SMS messages containing videos or images
Ensure that your iPhone has enough space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check your storage.
8. Contact your carrier if you still can’t receive SMS messages in iOS 18
If you’re still unable to receive text messages in iOS 18, contact your carrier (Verizon, T Mobile, etc) to ensure that there are no issues with your carrier or account.
Other steps to try
If you are still not getting SMS, then try the tips below:
- If you have a SIM card, ensure that it is properly inserted. Try removing and then reinserting it. Doing so is simple. Simply locate the SIM tray, next to the tray there is a hole, insert your SIM-eject tool (when you bought your iPhone, the packaging included this tool, if you lost it you can use a paperclip) into the hole. The tray will pop up. Then you can remove the SIM card.
- Reset your network settings. Please note that doing so will erase your network-related settings such as your Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, etc will be permanently deleted. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
If the steps above have not resolved the SMS behavior you are experiencing, contact Apple support for further help.
See also: How to fix iPhone not sending texts after iOS 18 update