If your text messages are failing to send or are not arriving, this guide will help you find out why. Most issues come down to the number you are sending from, the recipient, or the content of the message.
Quick checks
- Is the number you are sending from set up for texting?
- Is the recipient's number correct and a mobile number?
- Has the recipient replied STOP to you in the past?
- Is your account in good standing (no billing hold)?
Is your number text-enabled?
Not every phone number can send texts. Open Phone Numbers → Your Numbers and check whether the number is enabled for messaging. If it is not, you may be able to turn on texting for it, or you can send from a different text-enabled number.
The recipient replied STOP
By law, once someone replies STOP to your messages, we stop delivering texts to them until they opt back in. If your messages to one particular person silently fail, they may have opted out. You can review opted-out numbers under Phone System → Opt-Out Registry (if bulk messaging is enabled on your account). There is no way to override an opt-out - the person must text START to resume.
The message did not arrive
Sometimes a message sends from your side but never reaches the recipient. Common reasons:
- The content looked like spam. Messages that are all capitals, packed with symbols, or built around a shortened link are often filtered out. Write naturally and use full web addresses.
- The recipient blocked the number on their own phone.
- It is not a mobile number. Landlines usually cannot receive texts.
Try sending a short, plain test message to your own mobile to confirm your setup is working.
Business texting registration (US)
To send business text messages to US numbers, the phone industry requires your business and your messaging use case to be registered first. Until that registration is approved, texts to US numbers may be blocked or heavily limited. If you are set up for texting but US messages are not getting through, contact support to check your registration status.
Message length
A single text is about 160 characters. Longer messages are split into segments and sent together, which can be billed as more than one message. Shorter, simpler messages are the most reliable.
Still failing?
Note the number you sent from, the number you sent to, and the time, then contact support. See Before You Contact Support for the full list.