[Fixed] Can’t Send Text Message to One Person (Android)

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If you’re having trouble sending a text message to a single contact on an Android device, this article will show you how to do so. Keep reading to find out how to handle these sticky situations with ease. Here’s all you need to know about Android’s single-contact texting problem.

Preliminary Checks To Do Before Troubleshooting The Error

If you’re having issues sending and receiving texts on your Android device, try these solutions.

• In case you’re worried about airtime, checking the phone plan should help. Perhaps you don’t have enough minutes left in your plan to facilitate sending lengthy messages.
• If you’re having trouble sending or receiving calls or texts, it may be due to poor reception. Find a better reception area in your house or invest in a booster to improve your signal.
• If your cell phone isn’t working, see if there have been any modifications made by your service provider.
• Verify the recipient’s phone number is active and correct before sending any messages. It’s possible that you dialed the wrong number or used the wrong code, and now your message is being sent to an invalid recipient.
• Determine if your mobile service provider allows you to send and receive SMS, MMS, and RCS messages.
• Make sure that Messages is set as the primary SMS client on your device.
• Check if the SIM Card is intact in the right slot. If yes, proceed by examining your phone’s notification shade or status to see if there are issues with the mobile network. If you find the ‘No SIM Card’ warning reappearing after you’ve removed the SIM Card from the slot and re-inserted it, contact the network operator.
• In case of an infinite loop or similar malfunctions, the best option is to restart the phone. You can also try updating the Messages app and the operating system.
• You need to turn off the Airplane Mode. This is because all wireless functions, including calls and text message features, are shut down when the Airplane Mode is on. To turn the Airplane Mode off, navigate to Settings, followed by Connections, and tap the toggle button on the Flight Mode option.
• The text message feature may be malfunctioning due to issues with memory management. If this is the case, try to close and re-open the Messages app.
• If the text messaging issue still persists, try updating your Android OS. For that, navigate to Settings followed by the Software Update option and make necessary updates. Based on your phone model, you can update Android OS by visiting Settings, followed by System, Advanced, and System Update options.
• Finally, bugs and other related issues may also lead to the malfunctioning of the text messaging feature. This can be fixed by updating the messaging software.

Soft Reset Your Device

A soft reset is a feature built into every Android device. If the problem lies with the phone’s software, you may have to restore the device to its factory settings.

Software issues may arise due to numerous reasons, some of them including loss of password, virus attack, phone freezing, and app operation shut-down, among others. A hard reset of the device is performed after each incident, with the degree of difficulty taken into account. However, there are various other reset options to choose from, such as factory resets, soft resets, second-level resets, master clears, and master resets.

If your mobile device is functioning erratically or seems to be running slowly, a reboot or reset may be in order. If you notice any of those signs, simply restart your device by holding down the power button. Restarting in this fashion is also referred to as a “soft” restart.

You can perform a “hard” reboot. In most cases, this can be accomplished by pushing a few buttons on your gadget. The standard Android procedure involves holding down the power and volume down buttons at the same time for 5 seconds. It ought to function on all stock Android gadgets, including the Google Nexus and Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and LG smartphones.

In a few variants, such as the vast majority of Motorola phones, the volume up button is used instead of the volume down button to accomplish the same result.

Clear Cache On Your Messaging App

Saving frequently accessed information in a device’s cache can help it run more quickly. Instead of having to constantly download data, it is kept locally and made available as needed. The only catch is that cached information, especially older files, can get damaged. Regularly erasing all stored information and cache is recommended. Because of this, your message program will start again from scratch. The one and only drawback is that you will need to set it up once more.

If you’re using Android, here’s how to clear the cache:

• Start by visiting the System Preferences menu.
• Access your apps.
• Select See all apps and then search for “Messages.”
• Select Cache and storage from the menu.
• Select the Clear Cache option.
• If you want to start fresh, choose Clear storage.

Check If The Number You Are Trying To Text Is Blocked

Another possible explanation for why you’re unable to send texts to a particular person is if their number is blocked. To check if this is the case, follow the steps below –

• Open your phone’s Contacts and click on the specific contact’s Name. Now, check if the contact is blocked by looking for the Block icon (represented by a circle and a diagonal line).
• To enable text messaging to this contact, you need to unblock. Tap on the three dots or menu available on the top right-hand side of the screen.
• It’s important to note that it may be possible that the other person has blocked you too. If this is the case, they will not receive your message. So, you’re not receiving any messages as no one is responding.
• Finally, make sure Read Receipts are turned on so that your text messages can be read. For this, navigate to the three dots or Menu icon followed by Settings. Now, go to the Text Messages option to toggle the switch for Delivery Reports.

Turn Off Airplane Mode

You have no clue how often we turn things on and off by accident. Maybe you’re using Airplane mode, which disables Messages along with every other program.

• Launch the system’s settings menu to deactivate the feature.
• Enter the Network and Internet menu.
• Flip off the airplane setting.

Check Only SMS/MMS Settings

• Simply launch “Messages” on your Android device.
• Consider reading a message delivered to you by the individual who is blocking your communications.
• A pull-down menu with three dots can be accessed from the upper right corner of the screen.
• To view specifics, click “Details.”
• Mark the box labeled “Only send MMS and SMS” Activating this option could also involve flipping a switch.

Sadly, not all Android devices come with this option.

Check If Your Messaging App Is Down Or Buggy

Although it’s quite unlikely, there is a chance that your carrier’s network is experiencing an outage. This may be the cause of the troubles you’re experiencing with your instant messaging program. Even if your carrier doesn’t have a dedicated status website, you can usually expect a notice if there is a problem affecting a large portion of your customers.

Another option is to use a website checker such as DownDetector.com. Enter the site and look for the name of your carrier. If there is an outage, this website will have collected reports from users and informed you. You may also view live maps to see if there are any outages in your area right now.

There’s a possibility that there is no signal at all. In rural locations or inside a concrete building with poor reception, this is a regular problem.

Check If You Have Invalid Message Center Settings

Similar to how you require an Access Point Name (APN) to connect to the internet from your mobile device, you’ll need a Message Center Number (SMSC) to connect to the internet from your cellphone. The Short Message Service Center (SMSC) is what allows you to send texts through a certain network provider.

• Open the Messages app, and then hit the menu button (three vertical dots) in the upper right corner of the screen to access the app’s settings.
• Select “More Settings”
• Select Text Messages thereafter.
• The number to your carrier’s message center can be found in the “Message Centre” section at the very bottom.

Note: You can also verify the message center number on your phone with the operator’s website. You can change or add your own in the Message Centre section and then touch OK to store it.

Contact your service provider if you are still having trouble sending texts from Android after attempting the aforementioned solutions.

Mobile phone networks have a dedicated hub for managing text message tasks known as the short message service center (SMSC). This hub is responsible for receiving, routing, storing, and forwarding any messages sent from a smartphone. This facility is called the Short Message Service – Service Center or SMSC-SC.

Every SMS message passes through one or more SMSCs. It is the handset’s responsibility to transmit the message to the short message service center (SMSC) in a normal message flow. The SMSC will send a short message back to the handset to let it know it received the SMS.

When it detects that the intended recipient is not on the same network, it sends the message on to the appropriate Short Message Service Center (SMSC). The SMSC then checks to see if the target phone is online and able to receive the message. The SMSC will queue the message for later retrieval if it cannot be sent immediately. The message will be delivered at the next available time the recipient is online.

The SMSC coordinates with the rest of the mobile network to check if the intended receiver is currently accessible. These are the mobile switching center (MSC), the visiting location register (VLR), and the home location register (HLR) (MSC).

SMSC can also be connected via SMS gateways. SMS gateways facilitate the transmission of text messages across networks and into various software platforms. This enables the sending and receiving of SMS messages via email, as well as the automatic sending of such messages by applications. In addition, this facilitates the incorporation of SMS into LOB programs.

The SMSC is also responsible for establishing the maximum retention time for the message. An SMSC can hold a message for as long as the sending device requests. The retention policy is determined by the carrier configuration and enforced by the SMSC, therefore making this request is completely voluntary. If the SMSC is unable to send the message before the expiration of the validity period, it will remove the message from its database.

Examine If The SIM Card Is Inserted Properly

• The steps below apply to both iOS and Android devices. In case you’re facing issues with your device’s SIM card, apply the steps mentioned below:
• Put down that Android or iOS gadget and turn off the power.
• A device ejection pin tool is included with the phone booth’s contents when you make your purchase. To remove the sim tray, simply insert the tool into the tiny hole located next to it.

Note: If you don’t have an ejection tool, a paper clip will suffice in a pinch.

• You can hear and feel a click when you insert this tool perpendicular to the device hole.
• Slowly extend the tray by pulling it outward.
• Take out the SIM card to see whether it is damaged. If not, insert it back into its respective slot.
• Problems with both texting and calling may result from a SIM card that is either broken or not being read properly. Your network provider should replace it at this point.

Perform A Software Update

The problem is that your gadget will stop working properly if you’re still on an older OS. Furthermore, if you don’t update to the most recent version of the software on your device, you’ll lose access to many of its functions. Next, we’ll take a look at how to perform software updates on Android and iOS devices.

• Start by accessing the ‘Settings’ menu.
• Then type “Update” into the search bar on the Settings tab.
• Await the device’s update to be installed after selecting System update and tapping Check for updates. To send a text message, reopen your Android phone’s Messages app.

Perform A Factory Reset

The Settings app is where you’ll want to go if you’ve decided to wipe your Android device.

The steps to perform a factory reset on an Android device are as follows:

• Make sure there is enough battery life or that the device is connected before attempting a reset.
• Bring up the system preferences menu.
• The System Choice.
• Navigate to the “Reset” menu.
• Select Permanently Delete All Records (factory reset).
• Select the All Data button.
• When prompted, type in your PIN.
• To completely wipe your phone, choose the Delete everything option.

If your Android handset still isn’t able to send texts after you’ve performed the above checks and solutions, you should either take it in for repair or contact your mobile carrier for further assistance.

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