Why is an iMessage not delivering? There are few problems every bit annoying equally when an iMessage doesn't say Delivered. Frequently, information technology doesn't even show the Non Delivered status either.

This tin touch on multiple contacts or i specific person. It's more than infuriating when the message says Delivered but the recipient didn't really receive it.

Hither are a few tricks to try when your iMessage is not existence delivered properly.

What Does "Delivered" Mean on iMessage?

We need to first differentiate between Delivered and Read. Delivered means the other person received the message on their device. Read means the recipient has tapped on it. Of class, this doesn't hateful they've really read information technology—it only means the bulletin has been opened.

Don't panic if you don't hear back immediately; they might have selected information technology just afterward gotten distracted. You tin toggle read receipts for yourself by going to Settings > Messages > Ship Read Receipts. In fact, this subsection of Settings will show essential if you have whatsoever bug with iMessage.

Why Does iMessage Say "Delivered" When It's Not?

Sometimes, a message will say information technology's Delivered, but the recipient volition insist they never got information technology. Y'all shouldn't automatically think they're lying: there are numerous reasons this might happen. Information technology could be a quirk of iMessage, but information technology could also be that the message was delivered to another device.

If your contact has an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all signed in with the same Apple tree ID, your bulletin could've appeared on one of these other devices, not their smartphone. In theory, this shouldn't cause a problem—your bulletin should show across all devices. However, iMessage is far from perfect in this regard.

Common Reasons iMessage Won't Deliver

throw catch apple device smartphone

Not everyone keeps their phone turned on all the time, especially around bedtime. And then, what does it hateful when iMessage doesn't say Delivered?

If an iMessage doesn't say Delivered, the recipient might have only turned their phone off. Your bulletin will arrive when they turn on their device again. Be patient.

Fifty-fifty if y'all think the person is unlikely to plow off their phone, they might have activated Airplane Way. This cuts off all connections, and then 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 accept a respond, in that location'due south another possibility. Their device might be gear up to Do Not Disturb, which silences alerts. If it's an emergency, call them instead. At commencement, you lot won't get a response. Merely call again within three minutes and, if your contact hasn't changed the default settings, your repeated call volition featherbed Do Not Disturb fashion.

iMessage Won't Deliver: Troubleshooting

It's tough to narrow down why iMessages won't deliver without some trial and error. I of the post-obit solutions should piece of work. You may have to try them all to get to the lesser of the problem.

Practice Yous Take Internet Access?

The obvious reason your message won't evangelize is because the recipient has no service. iMessage relies on an internet connexion, then if no Wi-Fi or cellular data is available, it won't appear until their phone gets a connection. This is a particular concern in rural or underground areas without free online access, or if the recipient is abroad on vacation.

If your iPhone says Not Delivered, you're probably the one without an internet connection. Check this by going to Settings > Wi-Fi, where you tin can come across any networks y'all've joined. You tin turn Wi-Fi off and on once more (then rejoin networks) to articulate potential issues.

Review the options at Settings > Cellular if you're relying on mobile information. If you practice take service, you lot'll only accept to wait until the recipient connects too.

Practice You Take iMessage Turned On?

This could be a quick fix to your problem that'southward easy to overlook. Navigate to Settings > Messages. iMessage should already be turned on; if non, change this now. Even if iMessage is already on, it'southward worth toggling off then back on again. You'll need to wait a few moments while it reactivates.

Ship as Text Message Instead of iMessage

If the person you're contacting doesn't take an Apple product, iMessage won't work. You demand to rely on SMS to send to Android devices, for example. In these instances, your letters will say Sent as Text Message, not Delivered, and appear in green bubbles.

Simply texts aren't only useful when sending between dissimilar operating systems. You can revert iMessages to SMS if your internet connection is weak. Go to Settings > Messages > Send as SMS to enable this. iPhones default to iMessage when chatting between Apple tree devices.

Messages will but ship as traditional texts if in that location'southward no internet. You can't disable iMessage on cellular data while keeping it enabled for Wi-Fi connections, so it's an all-or-null service. However, iMessage may fail to transport if you've exceeded your cellular data limit.

You can resend a message via SMS if it reads Not Delivered by tapping the assertion point by the message. Alternatively, switch to some other popular messaging app. Major options like WhatsApp and Telegram piece of work on all platforms and offer secure messaging. Of course, the recipient has to have the aforementioned app installed...

Try a Force Restart

This is an of import step in all sorts of troubleshooting. A forced restart reboots your iPhone, stopping any problematic processes running in the background. Crucially, it doesn't delete whatever information. Acquire how to force restart your iPhone for full instructions.

No matter which model you have, the screen will turn black until the Apple logo appears. You tin let go of the buttons at this betoken and your iPhone volition power on as usual.

Is iOS Upward to Date?

Apple regularly releases patches to minor issues through iOS updates. This could include problems with iMessage. Check whether yous're running the latest version of iOS by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

This will automatically check if your software is updated and, if not, suggest an installation. You won't lose any photos or messages, although some apps may inquire you to log in again later updating.

Apple ID: Sign Out and Dorsum In

This is one of the about common fixes for iMessage trouble: yous just need to sign out of your Apple ID and dorsum in over again. Become to Settings > Messages > Ship & Receive and tap your ID. You should then Sign Out, after which all your details, except the telephone number, will disappear. Select Use your Apple tree ID for iMessage and sign back in. This may take a few moments.

You tin ship an iMessage via both phone numbers and email addresses. If there'south but 1 person you lot're having trouble sending to, bank check which e-mail address you accept listed for them. Practice yous have any details listed for their contact? Mayhap their Apple ID uses a different address? Inquire them in person or via another messaging service if possible.

To add an e-mail address, go to Contacts, select a name, and choose Edit.

Should You Delete Previous Messages?

Accept you ever tried sending an email that was likewise large? It stays in your outbox, attempting to send again and once more. Eventually, you lot accept to give up and delete information technology. That's what you should endeavour here likewise. This primarily applies when iMessages won't deliver to only one or two contacts.

Yous can delete a whole conversation and kickoff again past swiping left on it and choosing Delete. That's the nuclear option, and i you lot probable won't want to take. But you shouldn't need to. Get to the chat with the person you're struggling to keep in touch with. Hold your most recent bulletin (Re-create it into Notes or Pages if you lot don't want to completely lose your text). Then, striking More than and select all the messages you lot've sent since the problem occurred—anything since they stopped responding—then hitting the Trash symbol at the bottom.

There could be only one message causing the issue, then this clears the excess and lets you endeavor once again.

Swap Your SIM Menu

SIM cards are fickle; it's possible yours has decided it doesn't like a particular number. Head to the store of your service provider if you've exhausted the above steps.

Yous'll likely have to clinch the staff that yous've performed the above troubleshooting steps. Talk to them about swapping to a new SIM bill of fare. If you lot're on a contract, they should do this for gratuitous. You'll yet use the same device, and shouldn't lose any data.

They'll activate a new SIM and yous'll have to expect until your quondam one has no service earlier swapping to the new card. Transferring between SIMs tin take upwards to 24 hours. Fortunately, it rarely takes longer than an hour before carrier settings are restored.

Reset All Settings

This should really be your last resort because y'all'll need to sign into accounts and gear up network settings like Wi-Fi and VPNs again. Virtually chiefly, this does not delete your information.

Get to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings—careful you don't select annihilation else, as at that place's also the option to erase everything. You may need to sign back into your Apple ID afterwards. This should patch any Settings-related glitches, so information technology's worth remembering in case you take further issues with your iPhone.

iMessages Won't Deliver: Is My Telephone Number Blocked?

Don't immediately think that someone'southward blocked you lot. In most situations, your number won't be blocked. However, it is a possibility. If you have been blocked, iMessage could still say Delivered. Nonetheless, it won't actually appear on the recipient'southward device.

This idea volition trouble you, but if you can contact that person elsewhere (on Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat, for instance) then they're unlikely to have blocked your phone number.

Why Is My iMessage Still Not Delivering?

If you lot've tried everything above and iMessage still won't deliver, there are farther possibilities to entertain. The first is that in that location's nothing wrong with your phone; the problem is with the recipient'south device. This is likely if letters to your other contacts deliver correctly, although that's non always the case.

Y'all should advise your contacts to take the same steps you already have by sending them this guide. Another possibility is that they've switched numbers and haven't alerted you nonetheless.

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