topic Re: SMS/MMS not working in Get Support

SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 22:39:34 GMT

Hello community, I have an error that is driving me nuts.

My texting, both SMS and MMS, stopped working around Wed night (Dec 2). I noticed my sent texts would sit there trying to be sent out. Here's what I tried:

- rebooting my phone several times

- clearing the messaging app cache

- trying two new messaging apps (Signal Private Messenger & Pulse SMS)

- checking my free space (I have over 10 GB free on my phone)

- voice calling - to and from my phone works fine

- I tested SMS and MMS texts to and from two other phones that I know work (I tested the two other phones texting and calling to each other and they are on different carriers)

- checked and rechecked, deleted and re-entered PM APN settings several times to no avail

This one is a head-scratcher. I'm hoping to get this resolved quickly because I'm currently helping several individuals who are quarantined due to positive Covid-19 by delivering food and giving moral support via texting.

Thanks in advance.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

JK8 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:47:26 GMT

@6500K

Try putting on airplane mode for a few minutes. Take off and reboot.

Did you put the SIM card in the other phones to see if it works?

Re: SMS/MMS not working

Dunkman — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:48:43 GMT

@6500K

Did you try network reset?

Does your data work?

Re: SMS/MMS not working

Triguy — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:50:43 GMT

Try uninstalling and reinstall your messaging apps.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

esjliv — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:53:23 GMT

@6500K ,

You are only mentioning texting issues...so calling in and out are okay?

Ensure you have the latest updates/software installed on your phone.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:53:09 GMT

Hi @JK8 , I did try airplane mode several times over the last few days for many minutes, and then back again. Still didn't work.

Thanks for the suggestion.

The SIM is working fine as I can call and my data works great.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:54:27 GMT

Hi @Dunkman , my data works fine as I can youtube while my wifi is off. I've been using data throughout today with good success outside my house.

What is a network reset?

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:56:39 GMT

Hi @Triguy , I installed two other messaging apps (Signal and Pulse SMS). Android 8.0 requires that your SMS app be the exclusive one so this did not work either.

Thanks.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:58:36 GMT

Hi @esjliv , yes as stated in the OP, I have many cell phones in my family that I can test with and they are on different carriers. My voice calls to and from my phone are flawless.

Thanks.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

Dunkman — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:58:48 GMT

@6500K wrote:
Hi @Dunkman , my data works fine as I can youtube while my wifi is off. I've been using data throughout today with good success outside my house.

What is a network reset?

@6500K

Under your phone general settings, you should be able to do phone network resets.

To reset network settings

Find and tap Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options > Reset network settings

Resets the phone connects to cell network, wifi, etc.

IT will erase any Wifi passwords, bluetooth connections, etc.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

JK8 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:00:39 GMT

@6500K

You might want to contact a moderator if you have exhausted all options.

Get help with your account the easy way by starting a conversation with our virtual assistant, SIMon. It’ll take you to relevant help articles, or if it’s something more urgent, it can help you submit a ticket to the Moderator Team. Click here to get started.
Alternatively, you can send a private message to the Moderators by clicking here. You’ll need to be logged in to your Community account for the link to work.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:02:17 GMT

@Dunkman

Oh boy, this one is going to be a tough one to try as I have many cached wifi settings from people I support. I try not to log them in a database for security reasons, so I've been keeping them in my wifi cache. Do you know of any way to extract this info so I can re-establish them?

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:04:59 GMT

@JK8 , I may have to send the moderators a message for this. I've tried the chatbot and it didn't have anything I hadn't tried already. I did do a search of the forums but I couldn't quite find a satisfying solution.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll wait about an hour for more suggestions before contacting the moderators and logging a ticket.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

Dunkman — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:11:00 GMT

@6500K

@6500K wrote:
@Dunkman

Oh boy, this one is going to be a tough one to try as I have many cached wifi settings from people I support. I try not to log them in a database for security reasons, so I've been keeping them in my wifi cache. Do you know of any way to extract this info so I can re-establish them?

Good question. Beyond my technical knowledge. May others may know.

Just did a quick google search

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/smartphones/how-to-find-your-wifi-password-on-an-android-device/

Have you tried your Public mobile SIM card in another working phone? Does texts work with another phone? It helps determine whether hardware setup issue versus PM service problem.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

gpixel — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:19:39 GMT

@6500K what's the make and model of the device?

go into your phone's wifi settings
scroll down to all your saved networks
tap on a saved network
tap on share wifi and you will see a QR code and the password beneath it

reset your network settings and restart, leave the APN settings alone
disable "automatically select network"
do a search and select the public mobile network to try and reset your message center number

delete all those extra messaging apps you've downloaded. go into your default messaging app settings where you can delete the cache etc. and make sure it has all the permissions it needs to send sms

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:32:39 GMT

Hi @gpixel , thanks for your suggestions.

I have a Sony Xperia Ultra XA1 that is about 2.5 years old.

I tried to tap on a saved network but all I get is a window that says the security type (WPA/WPA2 PSK) and a choice to "forget" or to "cancel". I have a lot of BELL devices on there since a lot of them are Bell routers and getting the passwords for each one will be problematic. For some of them it will be easy when I visit the people I support, like my relatives (once I retire I'm hoping to do a better job of organizing all this info).

I'll try transplanting the SIM card to another phone I used to use for PM and let you know, as well as the person who suggested this earlier.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

gpixel — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 19:39:32 GMT

@6500K

Go to the phone application.
From the phone application, press *#*#4636#*#*. (You will have to press the Call or Send button after entering this code in for some Android devices).
Tap on Phone Information
Scroll to the bottom to where it says SMSC tap refresh and tell us the number showing

Re: SMS/MMS not working

benfatto — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 20:10:21 GMT

@6500K

When you have trouble sending or receiving SMS, it's possible that a ”force" change of your SMS settings may solve the issue.

Go to Settings
Then go to Mobile networks and select a network other than Public Mobile, Telus, or Koodo
When you exit the menu the phone should lose the network.
Repeat the process and select Public Mobile as your mobile network.

This procedure will force the update of the message centre number. You can verify it in your message settings.

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 20:36:12 GMT

Hi @gpixel , I tried what you said and the number that pops up is 16475800172.

That's the same number that shows up in the messaging app's settings under "SIM settings".

Re: SMS/MMS not working

6500K — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 20:39:21 GMT

Hi @benfatto , I tried what you said but the "Search networks" button does not return any other networks/providers, so I cannot proceed further.

Thanks for the suggestion - I understood what this would do and I agree that it may have worked if I could do it.