AT&T-branded Galaxy S9 getting delayed texts when used on Verizon network

We sometimes take for granted common or ordinary things that seem to be there with us everyday. For instance, many of us actually don’t see the value of text messaging until they stop working. In today’s troubleshooting episode, we bring you one case that talks about delayed messages. As usual, we also tell you what are its possible solutions. If you’re having problems with your own text messages keep getting delayed or missing, this short troubleshooting article might help.

Problem #1: AT&T-branded Galaxy S9 getting delayed texts when used on Verizon network

My wife and I have 2 new Samsung S9 cell phones and they both are doing the same thing. We just switched from AT&T and never had this issue with them but now that we’re on Verizon, we’re getting some texts from 12-36 hours late. I had all my texts cleared out, like I always have, and just did a system update and when my phone came back on line, it showed that I had 7 texts. When I checked, I saw no new texts so I scrolled back a few days and found all 7 texts up to 3 days ago that I had never gotten. Strange thing (or maybe not), all these texts were ads or offers from companies like Sonic. I think Verizon is “throttling” texts (especially commercial texts) to make memory room on their undersized text servers, but you’ll never get them to admit it. So I guess I’ll just have to live with it or go back to AT&T. — Jimphillipstpc

Solution: Hi Jimphillipstpc. There are other S9 owners who jumped from one carrier to another without experiencing text problems like yours so either it’s an isolated case with Verizon network, or there’s a firmware bug that’s not working properly with Verizon’s system. To try to fix the issue, these are the steps that you want to do:

Force reboot

Many smartphone users overlook restart as an effective bug counter. Before you jump into doing more advanced troubleshooting, be sure that you’ve already restarted your device with these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons for approximately 10 seconds or until the device power cycles. Allow several seconds for the Maintenance Boot Mode screen to appear.
2. From the Maintenance Boot Mode screen, select Normal Boot. You can use the volume buttons to cycle through the available options and the lower left button (below the volume buttons) to select. Wait for up to 90 seconds for the reset to complete.

Ensure system date and time are correct

Carriers understand that SMS has become an important part of people’s digital lives today so they always strive to deliver them promptly. Sometimes though, a device’s time and date may not be set correctly. While this may seem harmless to you, it can actually cause problems to a lot of apps, including messaging ones since they won’t be able to sort messages correctly. This is often the reason why recent messages may be sorted incorrectly or inserted among old messages. To ensure that you phone has the right system time and date, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap General management.
3. Tap Date and time.
4. Enable Automatic date and time by moving the slider to the right.
5. Restart your device and check for the problem.

Wipe text messaging app data

Should enabling Automatic date and time won’t work, or if it’s been enabled on your phone all along, the next troubleshooting step that you must do is to deal with the messaging app itself. You have two ways to do that — one is by wiping its cache and the other is by wiping its data.

To wipe the messaging app’s cache:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap your app.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear Cache button.
8. Restart your S9 and check for the problem.

Wipe text messaging app data

Another way to troubleshoot the messaging app is by wiping its data. By doing this, you are basically returning the app to its factory version. If you don’t want to lose your messages, be sure to back them up first before wiping your messaging app’s data. You can use Samsung Smart Switch for that.

Afterwards, follow these steps to wipe the app’s data:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap your app.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear Data button.
8. Restart your S9 and check for the problem.

Reset network settings

Some users were able to fix texting issues in the past by resetting their phone’s network settings. If you haven’t it yet, here’s how it’s done:

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap General Management > Reset > Reset network settings.
3. Tap Reset settings.
4. If you have set up a PIN, enter it.
5. Tap Reset settings. Once complete a confirmation window will appear.

Report the issue to Verizon

If nothing has helped so far, the best thing that you can do is to contact Verizon and let them know of the problem. There may be a network issue on their end that disrupts texting service in your area. You’re a paying customer who does not get the service you’re supposed to get so you are entitled full support from them. Make sure to tell them that you have an AT&T-branded device so they can take that into consideration. Remember, by using Verizon’s network services, you do not change the firmware version running on your device. Because it’s designed to work with AT&T system, which is a GSM network, there may be a bug when that firmware interacts with Verizon’s, which is a CDMA network. It’s difficult to know if this the cause of your problem but it’s worth mentioning to Verizon technical support team in case other users with similar circumstances also contacted them about it.

Problem #2: Galaxy S9 won’t show message notifications after installing update for Oreo

Hi I have a Samsung S9 smartphone. About a week ago the phone updated to the Oreo OS system. Since then I do not get notifications via the LED light in the notification or status bar that I have a text message. I have checked all of my notification settings; and put them on and then off; cleared cache; rebooted the phone, etc. I still do not get the blue LED light notification, in the notification bar, that I have a text message. I do get a green light “missed call” notification. Also, I do not use sound or vibration notification, never have. I just want the light which has been my phone’s configuration since May 2016. Thank you for any help. In your drop down menu the phone I had to select is incorrect. — Smartchick

Solution: Hi Smartchick. Try wiping the cache partition first. This is a mandatory troubleshooting step if the problem occurs after a system update. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Android logo displays, release all three keys.
4. An ‘Installing system update’ message will show for 30 – 60 seconds before the Android system recovery menu options appear.
5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight wipe cache partition.
6. Press Power key to select.
7. Press the Volume down key to highlight yes, them and press the Power key to select.
8. When the wipe cache partition is complete, Reboot system now is highlighted.
9. Press the Power key to restart the device.
10. Check for the problem.

If wiping your phone’s cache partition won’t work, the next thing that you want to do is to ensure that all apps are up-to-date. This is especially important if you set Play Store app not to download and install updates automatically.

To check for updates for apps, you can use the Play Store app. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Play Store app.
2. Tap More settings at the upper right.
3. Tap My apps & games.
4. Tap UPDATE ALL button if you have multiple updates.

Make sure to always keep all apps up-to-date in order to minimize the chance of another app causing problems in the system.

If all of your apps are already updated, or if nothing changes after you installed app updates, make sure to factory reset the device. This is another necessary troubleshooting step and potential solution to your problem.

Before you reset, make sure to back your files up to a computer or to a cloud service. Once you’re ready, follow these steps to factory reset your S9:

1. Create a backup of your data.
2. Turn off the device.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
4. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’.
6. Press Power button to select.
7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
9. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Problem #3: No one can hear when using Galaxy S9 during calls (microphone not working)

No one can hear me when I either receive a call or make one, this happens probably 80% of the time. I have closed all apps and restarted, didn’t make a difference. Restarted my phone in safe mode, same thing, didn’t make a difference. I’ve tried researching the problem and no one has quite the exact same problem. Android version 8.1.0 Carrier is Bell Mobility. — Cndewindt

Solution: Hi Cndewindt. There’s probably a problem with your phone’s microphone. To check, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Home screen and tap Apps.
2. Look for Voice Recorder app. If you can’t find it, look for Samsung folder and open Voice Recorder from there.
3. Press the red button at the bottom.
4. Record a short clip of yourself talking just like when you’re in a call.
5. After 30 seconds, hit the Stop button and save the file.
6. Then, listen to the recorded file.

If there’s static or if you can’t hear your voice at all, that means that your phone’s microphone is not working for some reason. In this case, you want to send the phone to Samsung so they can repair it.

Before sending the device to Samsung, make sure that you factory reset it to double check that there’s no software issue involved. Follow the steps above on how to do it.

 

---