How to Fix iMessage “Not Delivered” Error on iPhones

Messaging your friends and family on an iPhone is usually pretty simple: open a chat in the Messages app, type it, and you’re all set once you tap Send. But like everything in the world of technology, even basic actions are sometimes subject to annoying bugs.

If that important message you need to send right away isn’t delivered, don’t give up just yet. When you see the “Undelivered” error when sending a message from your iPhone, there are a few workarounds you can try.

But first, it’s worth noting that the iPhone’s Messages app is more complex than it seems. That’s because it runs not one, but three different services. The most popular is iMessage, the one with the blue bubbles. This is proprietary to Apple and works automatically when you send a message to someone who also has an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The other two protocols are RCS and SMS – the green bubbles. They are integrated into the Messages app and also work to send messages to Android users. This is important because this could be the reason why your message is not being sent.

The first workaround when you get an “Undelivered” error in Messages is to tap the red exclamation mark that appears next to your message. This will give you the opportunity to try sending the message again. And while it seems obvious, sometimes fixing a failed message is as simple as trying again. Perhaps you are in an area with poor signal coverage. Since iMessage (and RCS) relies on the Internet, not being connected means your message won’t be delivered. The same goes for regular text messages in an area with poor reception. Turning Airplane Mode on and then turning it off again can sometimes help your iPhone reconnect to the cellular network.

If you don’t have internet access but still have cell reception, trying to send the message via text increases its chances of being sent. To do this, long-press your failed message, then select Send by text message. Your blue bubble turns green and is sent over the cellular network, without Wi-Fi or 5G. To make this process even easier, enable Try again as a text message below Settings > Applications > Messages. With this, your iPhone will automatically resend messages as SMS when iMessage or RCS fails.

It’s also worth checking to make sure iMessage is enabled. Although it shouldn’t happen, iMessage sometimes fails to activate when you switch to a new iPhone. In the same Messages settings, find the iMessage switch and make sure it’s on. If you continue to have problems, it’s worth turning off iMessage, waiting a minute, then turning it back on to refresh your connection to the servers. Also check the Send and receive to ensure your correct phone number or email address is selected.

Other external factors may prevent your messages from being sent or delivered. Although rare, iMessage can crash due to the instability of Apple servers. The good news is that you can check Apple’s System Status page for any performance issues. Turn it on MMS messaging switch into the Messages The settings mentioned above are also a good way to avoid problems. Without MMS, you can’t send photos or videos via regular text messages to Android users unless they have RCS enabled.

Restarting your iPhone is always a good idea when you’re having problems, so make sure you’ve done so. Also try sending a message to another contact. If you’re having trouble sending a message to just one person, their phone may not have a connection or is turned off, or they may have blocked your number.

Of course, make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS, as older software that isn’t maintained is more likely to have issues with online services. In the Settings application, go to General and then Software update. If an update is available, download and install it. And if your iPhone is no longer receiving software updates, it might be a good time to try the Apple Upgrade plan.