Over the last few weeks, we have been receiving #GalaxyNote5 SMS-related problems. Some of the issues are more or less similar so the solutions provided below may also work on them. If you don’t find your own texting problem in this post, kindly do the basic troubleshooting detailed below to see if they can help you fix it.

1. Galaxy Note 5 mobile connectivity problem after updating to Android 5.1.1
2. Verizon Note 5 not receiving texts from non-Verizon users
3. T-Mobile Galaxy S5 video size limit issue
4. Galaxy Note 5 receiving delayed text messages
5. Galaxy Note 5 keyboard app freezing when typing a message

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 mobile connectivity problem after updating to Android 5.1.1

It seems this issue really started perpetuating after I upgraded my 5.0 software to 5.1.1 OTA.

Some background information: my carrier is US Cellular, I am from Wisconsin, but go to school in Minnesota. US Cellular does not have towers in Minnesota, so they are partnered with Verizon. I have been out here for three years and had spotty connection at times but never like this. I am considered to be roaming, and always have zero bars. However, If I go to make a phone call, after a few seconds it will connect and make the call: at which point any texts or missed calls I may have received since the last time I made a phone call will come in… this has me dialing my voicemail box multiple times an hour. It is quite frustrating. The signal drops to nothing a minute after I end my phone call.

I downloaded an app “Network Signal Info” that always shows my cell connection as non-existent (“0” for “station ID”, “System ID”, and “Network ID”.)  I have tried other apps that run repeating scripts to maintain connection to the network, but it seems all the apps will improve data connection but yield no results (which they may not be designed to do) for cellular network (calling and texting, not internet).

The issue was not nearly this bad when I was using a Galaxy S4 out here in Minneapolis. The Note 5 that I am using is less than two weeks old, and I don’t believe the problem was this bad until I installed 5.1.1.

I’ve been reading a lot of forums and troubleshooting but I can’t find anyone with the same situation.

I am trying to first determine if it is a problem with the phone, the carrier, the fact I am always roaming, software update, or if I need to perform a PRL update (I don’t have access to the account so I need to go through multiple steps to perform this–the phone is under my father’s name). 

I think I have included all the important details that I have taken note of. Please help. Thanks — Jeff

Solution: Hi Jeff. We’ve been receiving similar reports from other members since the last couple of weeks so the issue may be triggered by the Android 5.1.1 update. Not all updates go as planned so we can assume that something in this firmware is messing with other functions. The only potential solutions that you can do is to wipe the system cache and perform a factory reset. The rest of the support should come from your carrier, assuming that they are monitoring the situation and working on a patch at this time.

Problem #2: Verizon Note 5 not receiving texts from non-Verizon users

I had the Note 3, and everything was working well until I went online to obtain a new phone number.

I can send texts to any phones and not receive an error message, but I can only receive texts from other Verizon customers. I don’t receive texts from any iPhones, or other Androids that have a different carrier than I do.

I figured I’d upgrade to the Note 5 since Verizon told me a new SIM card would help, but I’m still having the same issues. The iPhone users and the other carriers can send texts to me, and it’ll reflect that it goes through on their phone, but I don’t receive anything. Would you be able to provide guidance please? — Ashton

Solution: Hi Ashton. The problem may spring from the messaging app you’re using. Try to use the stock Samsung messaging app and see if it makes any difference. Otherwise, kindly contact Verizon and ask direct assistance from them. We know that they had a similar update issue way back over a year though we believe it was already fixed. Letting them know about the situation will certainly help them pinpoint where the point of failure starts, especially if other users are reporting the same issue.

Problem #3: T-Mobile Galaxy S5 video size limit issue

I recently did software update to my phone to the 5.1.1. Now when I try to send videos via MMS it makes me trim them down and the resolution is so HORRIBLE you can barely see the video! I NEVER had this problem BEFORE the update.

Crazy thing is I can send huge videos that were made BEFORE the update! I can send them TODAY, but videos made since update even 8sec long the resolution is horrible after sending.

Please Help! I’ve called T-Mobile & Galaxy they keep referring me back to each other! My daughter has the same exact phone on the same system and she can send me videos NO problem and GREAT resolution. — Monica

Solution: Hi Monica. T-Mobile may have changed the size limit of a video message that can be sent on their network after the update. As far as we know, T-Mobile has not changed their 1MB maximum video message limit for a few years now. Their system will compress a video message if it goes over the allowed file size limit sacrificing the quality in return.

If you want to send larger videos, consider using third party messaging apps like Facebook’s Messenger, Google’s Hangouts, etc.

Problem #4: Galaxy Note 5 receiving delayed text messages

Lately, I don’t receive texts right when people send them. I’ll get them later along with like ten other texts from other people that sent me texts but that I didn’t receive either. And usually it’s when I answer the phone and then I hear like ten ‘dings’ of text messages coming in.

I’m not sure if as soon as I answer a phone call it triggers all the texts to come in or what but it’s frustrating because I’m not receiving texts when I need them. — Jackie

Solution: Hi Jackie. The source of the problem can either be a glitch on the phone, or some network-specific problem like congestion and message center malfunction. To see if the problem is on your device, try to do the basic software troubleshooting like wiping the messaging app’s cache and data, deleting the cache partition, and doing a factory reset. Here are steps to do them:

How to wipe an app’s cache and data on Galaxy Note 5

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

Deleting an app’s data is the virtual equivalent or uninstalling and reinstalling it. Make sure to backup important messages before you proceed.

How to delete the cache partition of Galaxy Note 5

• 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.

How to perform a factory reset on Galaxy Note 5

• 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.

If nothing changes after doing all these procedures, that’s an indication that there might be a network-specific issue behind the trouble. Call your wireless carrier and ask for more assistance.

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 5 keyboard app freezing when typing a message

I just got the Lollipop 5.1.1 update. I’d been having trouble with my keyboard crashing prior to the update. Freezing mid sentence, delays, stopping all together and closing with an error message and had hoped the update would correct the issue.

Now, when I tap the text message icon it lags on opening the application. The keyboard is even slower. Stalling out on each letter. It only behaves this way in the text messaging app.

I’ve cleared the keyboard cache and data. I’ve also cleared the text messaging cache but not the data yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! — Carol

Solution: Hi Carol. Try to clear the phone’s system cache (cache partition) first to see the difference. If that won’t help, try to delete the messaging app’s data as corrupted files may be intertwined with how the  keyboard app operates as well. Most of the time, issues after a system update is due to a bad cache so doing these solutions may fix the issue. Otherwise, consider doing a master or factory reset.

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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. 

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