How to fix a Galaxy Note9 that won’t send text messages

Are you having trouble sending out SMS or text messages on your Galaxy Note9? Check out the solutions below.

Why your Note9 may not send text messages

There’s a lot of possible causes for this problem. Among the common ones we usually encounter includes the following:

• incorrect Message Center Number (MCN)
• lack of space in messaging app
• corrupted messaging app
• messaging app bug
• third party app
• SIM card issue
• account with your carrier has a problem
• unknown network outage
• software bug

How to fix a Galaxy Note9 that won’t send text messages

In order to fix your problem, you need to do a series of troubleshooting steps.

Verify MCN is correct

One of the common reasons why SMS may fail to send is because of an incorrect Message Center number. Get the correct Message Center number from your carrier and make sure that you input it manually on your device (if it’s showing a different number).

To get to your phone’s Message Center number:

1. Open your Messages app.
2. Tap More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap More settings.
5. Tap Text Messages.
6. Tap Message center.
7. Enter the correct number.
8. Tap Set.

Ensure there’s enough space in messaging app

In Samsung Messages app, both incoming and outgoing messages occupy the same storage space so naturally, any outgoing text messages may fail to send or the messaging app may trigger an error about insufficient storage. To limit the chance of incoming and outgoing messages failing to work, always keep your inbox available to store them. You can do that by limiting the number of conversations that are stored, or by deleting old ones, especially those that contain media like photos, videos, or music. Try to delete as many as you can and see if that will allow you to send.

Clear messaging app data

In some cases, a bug with the messaging app may lead to problems with sending or receiving text messages. Try to return the messaging app to its defaults and see what happens. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Find and tap your messaging app.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Tap Clear Data button.
6. Restart your Note9 and check for the problem.

NOTE: clearing your messaging app’s data will erase all your text messages. Be sure to back them up if you don’t want to lose them. You can back your data up using Samsng Smart Switch.

Observe in safe mode

Sometimes, other apps may interfere with Android. To check if a downloaded app is preventing the system from sending out a text message, boot your Note9 to safe mode.

1. Turn the device off.
2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen appearing on the screen.
3. When SAMSUNG appears on the screen, release the Power key.
4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
6. When Safe mode appears in the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume down key.
7. Check for the problem.

If you are able to send out a text message on safe mode, that means you have a problem app. To identify which of your apps is causing the trouble, you should boot the phone back to safe mode and follow these steps:

1. Boot to safe mode.
2. Check for the problem.
3. Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
4. After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
5. If your Note9 is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.

Disconnect the SIM card

A SIM card bug may sometimes affect basic network functions. To check if there’s an issue with the SIM card, try to take it out for a few seconds then put it back in. Be sure to turn off the phone first before you remove it. Once you’ve reinserted it, your phone will reconfigure its cellular settings.

If you can, try using your SIM card in another device. If the problem remains and you are still unable to send text messages, that can mean the problem is with the SIM or with your account.

If sending of SMS works in a second phone, that tells you to continue troubleshooting your Note9.

Clear network settings

Another good troubleshooting step that you can try in this case is to reset the network settings on your device. Some texting and connectivity bugs can sometimes be caused by incorrect or corrupted network settings. To check if this the cause of your issue, here are the steps to clear the network settings on your Note9:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap General management.
3. Tap Reset.
4. Tap Reset network settings.
5. Tap RESET SETTINGS button.
6. Restart your Note9 and check for the problem.

Perform a factory reset

This is the last troubleshooting step that you can do on your device. It clears everything — personal data, downloaded apps, and other user customizations. In other words, all software settings of your Note9 will be brought back to their defaults. If a software bug is to blame, factory reset will most likely help.

To factory reset your Note9:

1. Make a backup of your personal 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.

Report the issue to your network operator

Getting your carrier involved is the best thing that you can do in this situation. As an end user, there’s only so much that you can do to troubleshoot this kind of problem. If factory reset won’t fix the issue at all, there must be external factors that prevents your Note9 from sending out. It’s your network operator’s job to help you figure out the cause.

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