Our post today answers some of the questions shared by our community regarding their new #GalaxyNote5. This article provides solutions and directions in resolving texting-related issues. These are the topics covered in this post:

Galaxy Note 5 can send MMS but receiver can’t see it
Image does not show when sending text message on Galaxy Note 5
“Failed to send” error on Galaxy Note 5 when sending SMS
Galaxy Note 5 does not show SMS notification icon
Galaxy Note 5 is not detected by a computer and won’t send text messages
Keyboard not working on Galaxy Note 5
Delayed SMS and MMS on Galaxy Note 5

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 5 can send MMS but receiver can’t see it

I just got the Samsung Note 5 about a week ago. My texting is fine except that when clicking on pictures it doesn’t give me an option to write anything at all. I can deal with that , but my main issue is that when I am trying to send my friend pictures, I see them go through but he cannot see them. He has an iPhone 4. His carrier is AT&T and mine is T-Mobile. I haven’t had any problems sending pictures to anyone else. Everyone has been able to see them, except for him. If you know what would be causing this, I would appreciate it a lot. — Marie

Solution: Hi Marie. This issue is not a problem on your end so you must tell your friend that he should troubleshoot his phone instead. The most likely reason is incorrect MMS configuration on his phone. If he doesn’t know what the correct settings are, he can call his carrier for help. He also needs to ensure that MMS is enabled on his phone. If he can send MMS but cannot receive them, you can walk him through the steps by following these steps on his iPhone 4:

Find and tap Messages.
Tap Settings.
Tap Messages.
Turn MMS on.

MMS takes memory space so he must also ensure that there is enough for the function to work. If his iPhone is full, MMS will not be forwarded to his phone. If he has a lot of MMS saved, ask him to delete some of them to make room for more incoming messages.

Keep in mind that MMS needs data in order to work. Make sure that his iPhone 4 has internet connectivity so his carrier can forward MMS to it.

There are other factors that may affect MMS service. Don’t forget to ask him to call AT&T to help him check possible MMS issue on his end.

Problem #2: Image does not show when sending text message on Galaxy Note 5

When using the S-pen /Action memo/ screen shot/share /text message, the image is no longer showing in the body of the text. I can get it to work by hitting back several times.

Also, I figure a way around it. After selecting the image/ choose write/ share/ text message, the image will then appear to send.

I don’t feel I should have to do all these tasks for it to work. I would like just to screen select then share the image in text how it was working.

I appreciate your assistance. — Steven

Solution: Hi Steven. We are not aware of any major changes to Android, particularly for Note 5s, that might affect how SMS or MMS behaves so the issue is probably due to a third party application, or a corrupt firmware.

Try to do a factory reset and check how SMS and MMS works. Do not install any third party application after a factory reset unless you have tested SMS and MMS functions. To do a factory reset, just follow these steps:

Turn off your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 completely.
Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home buttons first, and then press and hold the Power key.
Keep the three buttons pressed and when ‘Samsung Galaxy Note5’ shows, release the Power key but continue holding the other two.
Once the Android logo shows, release both the Volume Up and Home buttons.
The notice ‘Installing system update’ will show on the screen for 30 to 60 seconds before the Android system recovery screen is shown with its options.
Use the Volume Down key to highlight the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ and press the Power key to select it.
When the process is complete, use the Volume Down key to highlight the option ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.
The reboot may take a little longer to complete but don’t worry and wait for the device to become active.

IMPORTANT: Factory reset will erase everything on your phone’s internal storage so try to create a backup of your personal data (photos, videos, contacts, etc) before you proceed.

Problem #3: “Failed to send” error on Galaxy Note 5 when sending SMS

Unable to send text (SMS, I believe). The error says “Failed to send” or if it does send, it take 30 seconds or more. The issues started today (10/29). However I am able to send MMS text with no issue. Called AT&T and they stated that many Note 5 users are having issues with text if they are on version 5.1. Do you know if this is true? Also, are you able to help? — Yia

Solution: Hi Yia. Android 5.1 seems to have a tarnished reputation but among the many issues it brings, yours is not one of them. There’s a chance though that not many have reported this issue so it has been under our radar until this time. As far as we are concerned, this is the first issue of its kind from our own TheDroidGuy community so we really can’t say if it’s prevalent among Note 5 users.

Because the issue is Android update related, the best course of action is to do the basic software troubleshooting. The first is clearing the system cache. Here’s how to do it:

Turn off your Samsung Galaxy Note 5 completely.
Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home buttons first, and then press and hold the Power key.
Keep the three buttons pressed and when ‘Samsung Galaxy Note5’ shows, release the Power key but continue holding the other two.
Once the Android logo shows, release both the Volume Up and Home buttons.
The notice ‘Installing system update’ will show on the screen for 30 to 60 seconds before the Android system recovery screen is shown with its options.
Use the Volume Down key to highlight the option ‘wipe cache partition’ and press the Power key to select it.
When the process is complete, use the Volume Down key to highlight the option ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.
The reboot may take a little longer to complete but don’t worry and wait for the device to become active.

Wiping the cache partition can only do so much so if nothing changes, try deleting the cache and data of the messaging app you’re using. Clearing the data of a messaging app will delete your messages. Make sure to back them up before proceeding. Here’s how to wipe the cache and data:

Go to Settings.
Proceed to Applications.
Select Manage Applications.
Tap the All tab.
Look for the messaging app and tap it.
From there, you will see the Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons.

Problem #4: Galaxy Note 5 does not show SMS notification icon

When my screen is off and I receive a text message the device just vibrates and lights up but all I can see on the top of the screen is “ATT”. It does not have a text message icon on the top left as my previous phone (Samsung Galaxy S3). I can see the text message icon only after I swipe to unlock the phone.

Also, I would expect to be able to see a preview of the message as a the Galaxy S3 also used to provide while the device is locked, but there is none. Is there any way to have these features? — Chris

Solution: Hi Chris. Most Samsung Galaxy S3s run Android Jelly Bean while some may have KitKat. Notification system for both of these Android versions work differently compared to the newer Android Lollipop, which is the operating system of your Note 5. Carriers like AT&T can further customize the stock Android operating system by adding or removing features.

Unlike the more simple notification system of Jelly Bean, Android Lollipop offers a richer way to customize your notification. Because options for notifications may vary by carrier, we recommend that you invest more time playing around with your phone to get what you want. To start, head over to Settings then Sound and notification.

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 5 is not detected by a computer and won’t send text messages

Two problems.

1) I have had trouble connecting to my PC with the Verizon software loaded. Now when I go to messages, I get a screen saying that my firmware on the device is not allowing my connection…the Samsung reps at Best Buy couldn’t help me because they say the firmware on the phone is more upgraded than their laptops. Hence my problem in connecting to my laptop.

2) I can’t get messaging to work. When I go to messages I get a screen:

MESSAGES, Change Messaging app? Do you want to change your default messaging app to Samsung Messaging? Yes, No.

I click NO and get sent to the familiar messaging application.

Now the problem. Whenever I click someone to message, I get a “Unable to send messages” in the text entry field. Nothing helps. — Victor

Solution: Hi Victor. These two posts written for the Galaxy S6 may help you fix your first issue:

Make sure to follow all the suggested troubleshooting. If the issue persists, call Samsung and request for a replacement phone.

For the second issue, since you did not mention what messaging app you are using, we assume that it is the built-in one. We know you have more than one messaging apps installed because of the error you mentioned. To fix whatever issue that messaging app has, you must first clear the cache and data, then wipe the cache partition if nothing changes.

Inserting your SIM card to another phone will help you verify if the SIM is working or not. Make sure not to skip this step.

You also have to call your carrier and inform them about this trouble because there’s a chance that the issue is caused by their network. Outages, maintenance, infrastructure changes, among other things can cause SMS and MMS problems. Asking help from your network provider is often an effective means of resolving this type of problem.

Problem #6: Keyboard not working on Galaxy Note 5

Dear sir, My phone is a Samsung Note 5. From few weeks the keyboard would freeze and I would have to refresh the phone for so many times to type on any app. But since today morning the keyboard didn’t show up in any app. I tried rebooting the phone for so many times as the refreshing didn’t help. But had no difference. I was so bored and moved SIM card to another normal phone.

After I changed my SIM card to my new phone, I tried to type in my Android and realized that the problem is solved. Then I inserted the SIM card again and came across that problem again with the keyboard. Please be kind enough to help. Best regards. — Lahiruka

Solution: Hi Lahiruka. The reason for the trouble may a bad system cache so make sure that you delete the cache partition (steps provided above) first. After that, clear the cache and data of the apps you are trying to use and that of the keyboard. These two solutions should fix the issue.

Problem #7: Delayed SMS and MMS on Galaxy Note 5

I have a Galaxy Note 5 and have not been receiving regular text messages – only a couple were MMS, the rest were regular texts. I have tried getting a new SIM card, T-Mobile sent me a new phone and I’m still having trouble.

I have called them EIGHT times regarding this. No one seems to know if it’s a phone issue or network issue. They told me to try swapping my SIM card with a different phone – which I would prefer not to do, but will if I have to. The only way I’ve been able to figure out that I’m not receiving them is if someone asks me “Didn’t you get my text?”, which happened with my boss today, or if I get just a partial text and then realize the whole thing didn’t come through. Do you have any idea if this is a network issue or nexus 6 issue??? Help is greatly appreciated! — Laura

Solution: Hi Laura. Looks like the issue is network-related in nature. We know that this is your second phone already but just to check if our hunch is right, you can do a factory reset on the phone and let it run that way for a few days without installing any other apps. This is to ensure that no third party is blocking or causing delays to your SMS or MMS.

Delayed SMS or MMS can be caused by several factors but the most common reason for it is network-related. Current SMS and MMS technology depends on how efficient your network’s messages center is in forwarding messages to subscribers’ phones. Network downtimes and congestion can happen anytime and service providers don’t usually tell their customers about such events unless they inquire or report a problem. Try to talk to your carrier’s technical support team so they can help you further.

If you can, try to insert the SIM card to another phone for a few days so you can observe how your network delivers messages.

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

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“Failed to send” error on Galaxy Note 5 when sending SMS, other texting issues