How to Fix iMessage Not Sending on iPhone

Can’t figure out why your iMessage is not sending on your iPhone?

iMessage is an instant messaging service made for Apple devices. It was launched in 2011 and has become the primary means of communication among iPhone users. However, it’s also available on iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. 

If you rely on iMessage, it can be frustrating to know that your messages are not sending or getting delivered. 

There are various reasons why your iMessage is not sending on your iPhone. For one, it’s possible that you don’t have a stable connection, which is needed by the service. It can also be due to outdated software, corrupted data, or improper configurations. 

In this guide, we will show you what to do if your iMessage is not sending to your recipients on your iPhone. 

Let’s jump right in!

1. Restart Your Device. 

As a standard procedure, you can try restarting your device first if you encounter issues sending iMessage. This way, you can rule out temporary bugs and errors that may have occurred during use. 

For iPhone X, 11, 12, or later: 

  1. Hold down the Volume Down button and Side button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears. 
  2. Now, drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds. 
  3. Press the Side button afterward to turn on your device. 
imessage not sending on iphone

For iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE: 

  1. Locate the Power button on your device. 
  2. Now, hold the button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt shows up.
  3. Drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds before turning on your device. 
Force Restart

Go back to iMessage afterward and see if you can now send messages. 

2. Check the Service. 

Since you are using an online messaging platform, you can encounter problems if there’s something wrong with the servers. To confirm this, you can visit Apple’s status page to see if there’s an issue with iMessage and related services. 

Apple Status

Sadly, server-related issues can’t be resolved on your end. Due to this, the only option you have, if the servers are down, is to wait. 

On the other hand, you can head to the next solution if the servers are working fine. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

One of the main reasons why you can’t send iMessages is the lack of internet connectivity. Without an active internet connection, iMessage can’t function correctly since it relies on the internet to communicate. 

To check if your network is the culprit, perform a test using Fast.com to measure your network’s upload and download speed. 

Fast.com

If the result indicates a problem with your network, power cycle your modem or router to refresh the link with your ISP. Unplug your router’s power cable and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before plugging it back in. 

Restart Router

Once done, re-run the test to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your service provider and ask them to fix the issue. 

You can also try using cellular data if you are connected to a public network or if your ISP is experiencing issues at the moment. 

4. Check iMessage Settings. 

Another reason for iMessage not sending on your iPhone is if it’s not configured correctly. Before using the service, ensure that your settings are set properly. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Head to Settings and tap on Messages
  2. Now, look for iMessage and ensure that the option is enabled. 
Enable iMessage

Restart your device afterward and see if you can now send messages via iMessage. 

5. Check Your Recipient. 

Sometimes, iMessages may not send due to an error in the recipient’s contact information. 

Ensure that the recipient’s phone number or email address is entered correctly, including the country code, area code, and the appropriate extension. 

If you have previously had a conversation with the recipient, you can check their contact information by going to “Messages,” selecting the conversation with the recipient and then tapping on their name or number at the top of the screen.

6. Check for Software Updates. 

You can also try updating your iPhone if you continue to experience issues with iMessage. There might be an issue with the version of iOS you are using that causes iMessage not to work. 

Check out the steps below to update your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device. 
  2. After that, go to General > Software Update
  3. Finally, go to Automatic Updates and enable all the options under it. Head back to the previous page and tap on Download and Install
imessage not sending on iphone

After updating your device, head back to iMessage and try sending a few messages to your friends or family. 

7. Reset Network Settings. 

If you still encounter issues with sending iMessages on your iPhone, we suggest that you reset your network settings. This way, you can ensure that there’s nothing wrong with your network configurations. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Access your home screen and go to Settings
  2. Next, tap on General and go to Transfer or Reset iPhone tab. 
  3. Finally, tap on Reset and choose Reset Network Settings
imessage not sending on iphone

Depending on the model of your device, resetting your network configurations may take several minutes. 

Once done, reconnect to your network and check if the problem is solved. 

8. Contact Apple Support. 

If none of the solutions above worked, the last thing you can do is report the issue to Apple’s team. There might be a problem with your account that needs attention on their end. 

Head to Apple’s support page and get in touch with a representative to report the issue you’ve been experiencing. When asking for help, make sure to provide all the necessary details to help their team assess the situation faster. 

imessage not sending on iphone

You can also check the other guides on their page while waiting for a response and see if you can find viable solutions. 

That wraps up our guide for fixing iMessage not sending on your iPhone. If you have questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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