What is Error 38 when sending SMS? How do you resolve it?
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Error 38 is an error that occurs exclusively on Vodafone network carriers when your network operator is unable to send SMS. The error code goes as “Error 38: Unable to send SMS”.

According to the information we’ve gathered from public forums, Error 38 can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

  • There is a lack of or a poor understanding of network provider policy in the specific area from which the SMS was sent.
  • As a result of a conflict between the preset system configurations and network provider settings, the situation has gotten into this state of affairs.
  • It appears that there is an issue with all of the SIM card requirements.

 

How to resolve Error 38 when sending an SMS?

Below we have enlisted four ways you can solve Error 38 on a Vodafone sim when sending an SMS:

Solution #1 – Restart your device

The act of turning away from your computer and onto your phone may appear to be a simple tech support repair; however, it will work more often than not in most cases. It’s possible that simply restarting the phone will be sufficient to resolve the problem permanently.

  • It is necessary to press and hold the Power button on your phone for several seconds before the boot screen appears.
  • Select the Restart or Reboot button, depending on the manufacturer of your mobile device, and then wait patiently.
  • As soon as the system has been rebooted, check to see if the SMS support issue has been resolved.

Solution #2 – Manually select Vodafone network

The Preferences menu provides you with a number of options for dealing with the issue of low connectivity, and it may be able to resolve the Vodafone error 38 for you. The ability to select the system operator manually may resolve the issue almost immediately.

  • Navigate to the Settings menu on your device.
  • Navigate to the Preferences > Discover the SIM & Network or Connections tab.
  • If your phone only has two SIM cards, select the Vodafone SIM to change the system style.
  • Begin by looking for the Network operators tab in the list and clicking on it.
  • To turn it off, tap the toggle button next to Pick automatically.
  • Wait for the device to search for available programmes before selecting Vodafone as the network provider.

Solution #3 – Set the SMSC manually

Despite the fact that this procedure is usually handled at the conclusion of the network provider, you may be required to manually enter the SMSC (SMS service centre number). You’ll need to get in touch with the network operator in order to have the correct SMSC number delivered to your location.

  • Your cellular device’s dialer or phone programme should now be visible.
  • Then, tapping on the knob, enter the code “*#4636#*” into it.
  • Start Phone info on a different screen and scroll down until you see SMSC in the list. Click OK.
  • To see the current number, press the Refresh button.
  • The SMSC amount you obtained from the system operator should be entered here, and then you should press Update to complete the operation.

Solution #4 – Reset Network Settings

If you have tried every possible repair option and none of them have worked, the only thing left to do is to reset the system settings to their default values. This option allows you to delete all of the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile network configurations that have been previously saved. In the event that nothing else could be done to resolve the Vodafone error 38, perform a community reset on the phone.

  • Navigate to the Settings menu on your phone
  • Scroll down until you find the Backup & Combine option.
  • Locate the Network configurations reset open and tab and click on it to open it.
  • Once you have pressed the Reset Settings button, you must wait for the procedure to be completed.
  • Once the system settings for your device have been uninstalled, restart your Android device to bring everything back to life and start over.

 

How to fix error code 17?

The Error Code 17 may also appear when you try to send a text message on your phone. When a user is sending a message, the issue is said to appear a few minutes after the message is shown as ‘Sending’. Users are met with an error message that reads “Can’t send. Please try again. (Error code 17)”.

When you’re disconnected from a WiFi network, the intended message appears to be sent, with the mileage varying from network to network. This however seems to be only a temporary workaround.

To fix the error code 17, you must unlock your phone and turn off your phone’s WiFi connection. By disabling the WiFi toggle in Quick Settings, you can accomplish this.

It’s also possible to go into the Settings app and disable ‘Wi-Fi’ by swiping the toggle next to it.

An update from your device manufacturer should include a permanent fix for the problem if it has been reported widely. As soon as a fix is released, you can simply update your device to the latest software version to fix the problem.

Other Ways To Fix “SMS Not Sending” Error Code 17 On Android

  • The first step in resolving a failed Android message send is to ensure that the messaging app you’re using has the most recent version installed.
  • Your default texting app should be a messaging application.
  • To double-check that the SIM card is properly inserted, simply remove it and re-insert it.
  • Use the Project Fi app if you have Fi.
  • To solve the problem of not being able to send a message, you must also check that your phone’s carrier supports SMS.
  • If your phone doesn’t have a signal, you may get an error code, so check your phone’s reception before trying again.
  • As a precaution, you should also check your mobile phone’s balance to see if your plan has expired.
  • Send the message after checking to see if you’ve activated aeroplane mode.
  • Make sure that you have deactivated iMessage for your phone number if you recently switched from an iPhone to an Android device.
  • Try sending a text message again if this error occurs only with a select group of contacts.
  • When a user blocks a contact and then forgets about it, they receive an error message when they try to send a message to them. So, check to see if you or they have blocked the number/contact.
  • Make sure the phone number you’re using to send the text message is correct before sending it.

 

How to Fix SMS Fails to Send in Android?

There are a number of reasons why Android’s SMS messages may not be delivered (or be received, but this article will focus on the failure to send). Please visit Phone Not Receiving Texts for more information.

It’s possible that your SMSC number is to blame if you’re unable to send or receive texts despite being able to receive them fine.

Solution 1: Setting SMSC Through Secret Phone Menu

  • Open your phone dialer and dial *#4636#*.
  • A menu will appear. Select “Phone Information.”
  • Scroll down to SMSC and press the ‘Refresh’ button. This should attempt to correctly set your SMSC number automatically.
  • If it fails (‘Refresh error’), you can try setting it manually.
  • Enter your carrier’s SMSC number in the SMSC field.
  • After you’ve entered the SMSC number, hit the ‘Update’ button.
  • If you don’t know what SMSC your carrier uses, you can look up a list of global SMSC numbers for the most popular carriers by country. These lists, however, may be out of date; it is best to contact your carrier to obtain the correct SMSC number.

Many users recommend converting the SMSC number to PDU format if you receive an ‘Update error’ when manually adding the SMSC. Below we have described how you can convert the SMSC number to PDU format:

  • Go to the Online PDU Encoder and Decoder website.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page, where there is a field for SMSC conversion.
  • Remove any text from the “Receiver” and “Message Box” fields above the “Convert” button.
  • Enter your SMSC number in the SMSC field and press the convert button.
  • A string of letters and numbers will be generated by the right side box. The first 16 digits of the second line are required (highlighted in our screenshot).
  • Enter this PDU number into the SMSC field and hit “Update” once more. If that doesn’t work, try appending a + sign to the beginning of the PDU number. If it still doesn’t work, try the next method.

Solution 2: Setting SMSC in Default Messaging App

It’s not uncommon for people to prefer a different texting app to the one that comes pre-installed on their devices. Apps like Textra, Chomp, EvolveSMS, and even the SMS feature in Facebook Messenger appear to be fancier than the stock app.

In order to keep your phone from becoming bloated, root users often disable the default SMS app. For some reason, most third-party SMS apps don’t have a way to set the SMSC number, whereas the default app usually does.

Due to the fact that the default SMS app has access to the SMSC, while third-party apps aren’t, this is typical.

If any of this describes your situation, try the steps below:

  • SMSC configuration in the default SMS app.
  • Navigate to Settings > Apps and locate your stock SMS app (the one that came pre-installed on your phone).
  • Check that it is not disabled by tapping it. If it is, turn it on.
  • Now, open the SMS app and look for the SMSC option. It was found in the app’s Settings > SMS settings > SMS service centre on my device.
  • Enter your SMSC, save it, and then attempt to send a text message.
  • The problem is solved if it is sent! You can now return to your preferred SMS app, but do not disable the default SMS app. Third-party apps may actually rely on the configuration of the default SMS app.

Solution 3: Resetting the SMSC in Another Phone

If nothing else has worked, some people report that they were able to fix the problem by setting the SMSC in a different phone, then putting the SIM card back in the one that was having problems.

  • Remove the SIM card from your device and insert it into a different phone. Even an old Nokia should suffice.
  • Locate and configure the SMS / SMSC settings on the other phone. It’s important to remember that SMSC settings are saved to the SIM card rather than the phone itself. As a result, when you switch back to your regular phone, the correct SMSC configuration will be retained.

 

How to Fix ‘Error 98 SMS Termination Denied’ Error on Android?

One billion people use Android, making it one of the most popular mobile operating systems. Customizability options and fast speeds make it a popular choice. Almost everyone has a mobile phone with SMS capabilities, which lets them communicate with friends and family via text message. “Error 97:SMS Origination Denied” Error has been plaguing Android users recently.

Below are a few reasons that could trigger Error 97:SMS Origination Denied when sending an SMS:

Corrupt Data: In some cases, the problem may have been caused by corrupt data in the messages app. Sending and receiving messages may be hindered due to corrupt data.

Corrupt Cache: For faster loading and a better user experience, the messages application stores certain launch configurations and other data in a cache. However, this cached data may become corrupted over time, causing the error.

Once you have a basic understanding of the problem, we can now move on to the solutions. Make sure to follow the order in which they are presented in order to avoid a misunderstanding.

Solution 1: Clearing Cache

If the messages application’s cached data is corrupted, the messages may not be delivered. As a result, in this step, we will only clear the cache, which will not delete any of the messages. Follow the steps below:

  • Drag down the notifications panel and click the “settings” icon.
  • Scroll down and click on “Applications.”
  • Selecting the “Applications” option
  • Click on “Apps,” then select the “Messages” app from the list.
  • Note: If you don’t see the messaging app, click the three dots in the top right corner and select “Show System Apps.”
  • Select the “Clear Cache” option under “Storage.”
  • Clicking “Clear Cache”
  • Wait for the cache to be cleared before checking to see if the problem persists.

Solution 2: Clearing Data

If clearing the cache does not resolve the problem, we will clear the data for the Messages app in this step. Ensure that important messages are backed up in case they are accidentally deleted. Clearing the data for the Messages app does not delete messages on some phones, but it does on others. To do so, follow the same steps as in the previous method, but this time select the “Clear Data” option rather than the “Clear Cache” option.