Getting an “iMessage not delivered” error on your iPhone? Here are some troubleshooting tips and fixes for when iMessages won’t deliver.
Why is iMessage not delivering?
There are few problems as frustrating as when an iMessage doesn’t say Delivered. In most cases, it fails to show the Not Delivered message at all. You can experience this problem with multiple contacts or one specific person.
It’s more annoying when the message says Delivered but the recipient didn’t actually receive it. In this article, I’ll show you how to fix it when your iMessage is not being delivered on iPhone.
What Does “Delivered” Mean On IMessage?
First of all, we need to understand the difference between Delivered and Read.
Delivered means the other person received the message on their iPhone. Read means the recipient has tapped on it. Please note, this doesn’t mean they’ve actually read it—it only means the message has been opened. Don’t who’s home if you don’t get the feedback immediately; they may have selected it but subsequently got distracted.
You can toggle read receipts for yourself by heading to Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts. In fact, this subsection of Settings will prove helpful if you have any issues with iMessage.
Why Does IMessage Read “Delivered” When It’s Not?
At times, a message will say it’s been received, but the other person will maintain they never received it. You shouldn’t automatically draw a conclusion they’re lying: there are many reasons this might happen.
It could be a
If an iMessage doesn’t say Delivered, the recipient might have simply turned their iPhone off. Your message will arrive when they turn on their device again. Be patient.
Even if you think the person is unlikely to turn off their phone, they might have activated Airplane Mode. This cuts off all connections, so they won’t receive iMessages, SMS, or calls.
If you normally receive read receipts from your contact, or it shows Delivered but you don’t have a reply, there’s another possibility. Their device might be set to Do Not Disturb, which silences alerts.
If it’s an emergency, you can call them instead. At first, you won’t get a response. But call again within three minutes and, if your contact hasn’t changed the default settings, your repeated call will bypass Do Not Disturb mode.
IMessage Won’t Deliver: Troubleshooting steps
It’s challenging to figure out why iMessages won’t deliver without some trial and error. One of the solutions below should work; you may have to try them all to resolve the issue.
- Turn off and turn on automatic network selection: To do this, Open the Settings app on your iPhone then tap Cellular or Mobile Data. Here, tap on Network Selection, then turn Off Automatic and wait for 30 seconds. Now, turn it back ON.
- Turn ON and turn OFF airplane mode: To do this, launch the Control Center then enable Airplane Mode. Wait for a minute. Now unlock your iphone and disable Airplane Mode.
- Turn off and turn on iMessage: To do this, launch the Settings app on your iPhone. Next tap on Messages. Now, turn off iMessage and wait for 30 seconds then turn it back ON. Also, make sure that Send as SMS is turned on. If it’s already turned on, turn it off and turn it back on.
- Reset network settings: Please note: resetting network settings will reset your Wi-Fi networks passwords, VPN settings and cellular settings. To do this, Launch the Settings app on your iPhone. Next, tap on General. Now scroll down all the way to the bottom and tap on Reset. Here, tap on Reset Network Settings. Next, enter the passcode of your iPhone, then tap Reset Network Settings to confirm this process.
- Update your iPhone to latest version of iOS: First, make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Once connected, open the Settings app then find and tap on General. Next, tap on Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Are you also experiencing iMessage not delivered error on your iPhone? Let us know if the above troubleshooting tips fixed your problem in the comments section below.
