Messages in green are SMS, while messages in blue are iMessages.

How to Fix iPhone 16 Not Sending Text Messages

Learn why your iPhone 16 won’t send text messages and how to fix the problem

By Moses Johnson - Editor
6 Min Read

Is your iPhone 16 not Sending text messages? Worry not, the problem is easy to fix.

Despite many modern alternatives, SMS messaging apps are still a standard tool. This is why we can understand how frustrating it can be when your iPhone 16 is not sending text messages. Thankfully, most problems can be solved with some troubleshooting, and we’re here to help with that.

Why is My iPhone 16 Not Sending Text Messages?

There are a number of reasons why your iPhone 16 is not sending text messages. Let’s review those possible reasons and then cover some troubleshooting steps.

  • The iPhone has no cellular signal – no SMS text messages can be sent without a traditional cell signal
  • The iPhone has no service – if the iPhone does not have a cellular service plan active, it will not be able to send text messages
  • The cellular reception is so bad that iPhone 16 can’t send a text message – if service is awful (think 1 bar or 1 dot or cycling between “Searching…” and dots), the phone likely won’t be able to send or receive text messages
  • The cell number you are reaching is disconnected – this is often the problem if the recipient has recently changed a phone number or you have multiple contact numbers for the same person, so be sure you are addressing the proper phone number
  • AirPlane mode is enabled, thereby disabling the ability to send messages and text messages – toggling AirPlane mode off will fix this specific issue quickly

It’s pretty obvious when a text message doesn’t send (or iMessage too), you’ll see a little red (!) bang exclamation sign next to the message, usually with a ‘not delivered’ message.

If any of those service related issues are the problem, you’ll need to either regain a stronger cellular signal with the iPhone, or reactivate a cellular service plan if applicable, or insure the proper contact is being messaged. If the cellular connection or service is not the issue, continue on with troubleshooting techniques to fix SMS transmission from iPhones.

If you are not able to send texts on iPhone 16, these troubleshooting steps can help you fix the issue. Before getting started, it’s always a good idea to test your ability to send texts to a few different people, if possible. That could yield some clues as to what the problem might be.

How to fix iPhone 16 not sending text messages issue

Check the phone number

Sending text messages to inactive or unused numbers is a recipe for failure and frustration. When sending an SMS message, make sure you enter the correct number.

This should be no problem when you message a contact stored on your iPhone, but it can require care when entering a new number. So take your time when entering numbers.

If you continue to have trouble, contact your intended recipient by other means to confirm the number.

This last point is important. Sometimes, your contacts may change their numbers, or their mobile operator may disconnect them. The issue may be with someone else’s phone and not yours.

Enable send as SMS

Most iPhone users have iMessage enabled, but some may have accidentally (or intentionally) turned off SMS support. So, make sure that your iPhone can send a message as a regular text message when iMessage isn’t available. You can do this by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings and tap Apps.
  2. Tap on Messages.
  3. Scroll down and then turn on the toggle for Send as SMS.

Check the reception

While very uncommon, there is a chance your carrier network is having an outage. This could be why your iPhone 16 is not sending text messages. Some carriers may have status pages, and they often send announcements when there are any widespread issues.

Another way to check is by using an online tool like DownDetector.com. Just type in the website and search for your carrier name. This website collects user reports and lets you know if there is an outage. You can even check out their live maps, which show if any local outages are going on.

There’s also a chance you have no signal. This is a common issue when driving through country areas or inside a concrete building with no reception.

If you see a few or no bars, step outside or find a higher place indoors. If you’re in your home, you can use a signal booster to improve reception throughout the home.

Is Airplane mode on?

It may seem like a silly suggestion, but you have no idea how often we accidentally switch settings on and off. Maybe you turned Airplane mode on, which will obviously stop iPhone 16 from sending text messages.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Make sure Airplane mode is toggled off. As a bonus, sometimes toggling Airplane Mode on and off can clear up temporary signal hiccups, too.

Now, Check if Your iPhone 16 is sending texts. It should work.

Is Your Mobile Plan Active?

You should next check whether you currently have an active mobile service plan. If you don’t have one, you won’t be able to send text messages.

While the vast majority of phone plans offer standard unlimited texting, you might have exceeded your monthly limit of text messages if you have a limited plan.

In either case, you should contact your network provider to ensure there are no issues with your account services.

Restart the phone to fix iPhone 16 not sending texts problem

This is a very common troubleshooting tip. While it may sound a bit silly, it very often works! We don’t know what kind of magic happens when you restart iPhone, but it’s worth a shot. You can restart your iPhone by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Shut Down.
  4. After a minute, turn on your iPhone and see if you can send messages. The issue will most likely be fixed.

Inspect the SIM card

Sometimes SIM card pins can get out of line. If your iPhone has a physical SIM card, it’s a good idea to inspect it and see if that gets your text messages sending again. Pull it out and reinsert it. Maybe try to clean it a bit? It won’t hurt to try!

If the card was physically out of place, that was likely the reason why your iPhone 16 won’t send text messages.

Update iOS

Install any outstanding operating system updates, even if an update doesn’t seem relevant to the problem you experience. Some bug fixes and other repairs may address operations or features the texting app uses. Wait for any updates to finish before texting.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap on General.
  2. Next, tap on Software Update. If you see a pending update available, tap on Download and Install.

Once the process completes, there is a strong possibility that the iPhone 16 not sending texts issue will be successfully fixed.

Update Carrier settings

Sometimes updating carrier settings may fix any issue that preventing your iPhone 16 from sending text messages. This is because SMS messaging operates directly through your carrier network instead of mobile data. Updating carrier settings will fix minor glitches and undo any discrepancies.

To update your carrier settings, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Select About.

If there is an update available, the option to update will appear here.

Check your cellular provider’s website

If nothing else works, look for any alerts or updates concerning network issues. Network problems may not be immediately obvious to end users, or may only affect certain functions.

Make Sure your iPhone’s Date and Time is correct

Not just text messages, but several applications and services won’t work properly if your iPhone is set to the wrong time zone. To check if your iPhone has the correct time and date, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Date & Time.
  4. turn on the toggle for Set Automatically.

Reset Network Settings on iPhone

If you think that network is the culprit behind the problem of iPhone 16 not sending texts messages, you can Reset Network Settings. Resetting network settings can be a pain because you lose wi-fi passwords and custom DNS, but it can also be a cure-all solution for many common networking issues with iPhone, including the inability to send messages. You can do this by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Transfer or reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Select Reset Network Settings.
  6. Enter your iPhone passcode and confirm.

Reset All Settings

This is an extreme measure, but it fixes most issues, and it might get your iPhone 16 sending text messages again. A factory reset will clean your phone and bring it back to how it was when you first turned it on. All your files and apps will be deleted, so make sure to back up all your important data before proceeding.

You can reset your iPhone to factory settings by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Tap Transfer or reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Erase all content and settings.

Seek professional help

If none of these solutions worked, it’s time to seek professional help. The best option would be to get in touch with your carrier. They will provide both network and hardware support, and also have access to their systems, which probably have more in-depth information that could help in troubleshooting your messaging problem.

You can also contact Apple support, or your insurance provider if you have one.

Conclusion

These are some of the ways to fix iPhone 16 not sending texts Messages issue. I hope one of the solutions helped you out of this problem. Know of any other tricks to resolve an inability to send text messages on iPhone 16? Drop a comment and let us know!

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Moses Johnson is the Editorial Director of GeeksChalk.com, who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. Moses is commonly referred to online as The Professor, with decades of experience in tech under his belt.
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