Iphone 4 Not receiving text messages

[jenbutton]

I have been unable to recieve text message for the past 36 hours.  I can however recieve calls, emails and MMS messages. I contacted AT&T and was advised this was a nationwide issue and they are working on it. However I have several friends with Iphone 4 phones and are not having this issue.

Any ideas?

[dwill05]

You can try rebooting the phone or resetting network settings.

[Lp4eyes]

Same here. Exactly. The iPhone 4 is fully functional except for SMS.

I have performed soft resets and multiple hard resets. I've also reset network settings. Regardless, the problem persists. 

Oddly, my wife has an iPhone 4 as well, though she is not having the same problem. Same location, same tower, same network, but she is receiving SMS and I am not.

[Donintpafl]

Same issue. One of my 2 iPhones has this issue, the other doesn't. AT&T support said they are working on it but no time of repair and they have told me there is nothing(reset, sim swap, restore settings, etc) that will correct the issue. It is a network problem, not a phone hardware or software issue. Very annoying though. I do most of my communication via text than any other way. I'd rather not be able to send calls than not be able to send texts...

[Lp4eyes]

This appears to be an epidemic. 

Is it AT&T? Apple? At the moment is seems a nasty combo.

[MrCairo]

Same exact issue here: 1 iPhone works, the other does not. No ETA for fix but AT&T is "aware". They just have no idea how to fix it. I wonder if people demanded new replacement phones if it would make them solve this a little quicker.

[AnarchyNeo]

Same exact issue. A coworker's iphone has no problem at all. I've had this problem since yesterday morning... I'm not too happy that it's still a problem today. I'm having to utilize WhatsApp.

[picoso]

from los angeles county, california;

been having the same problem as well, my sister which also has an iphone 4 in the next room does not have any issues, nor does my mom that has a blackberry with at&t as well.

i have tried doing a reset network settings, ive done a complete restore, restored backup to a last known good date, reset the chip and same problem. cant receive sms texts, sending seems to be off/on or delayed, can receive/send mms texts. calling works for outgoing and incoming, internet works fine, email, all apps. just no receiving of sms texts! :\

been using textfree app to get around this

[dwill05]

It sounds like some kind of AT&T database problem with what IMEIs are authorized for SMS. It doesn't sound like a problem with the phone or software. If a reboot or resetting network settings doesn't work, they you'll probably have to wait until they fix the problem, which they admit they have. Restoring the phone or more exotic solutions that completely wipe the phone likely aren't going to do anything.

[Donintpafl]

From what I've been reading in multiple forums, this seems to be a purely AT&T network problem. Some people have gone to an apple store, got a new phone and new sim card, still having the problem. So sounds like AT&T simply isn't sending text messages to certain phone numbers. I would hope that anyone that works for AT&T and is reading this will be issuing a credit to those people affected by this..... And more importantly light a fire under some backsides of some people to get this fixed. All I hear from tech support is that we know of the issue, but don't know what it is or when it will get fixed. For what I pay a month for service, you think I could get a better answer..... :-/

[RizzoFamily]

I have had this problem for over 24 hours now. I've tried everything everyone else has, plus having tech support "reset my phone on the network". Nothing works. Texting is my main form of communication with my teenager who is currently out of state at a drama camp. I'm just a little livid. AT&T cannot provide an ETA for a fix. They aren't issuing credits (I asked) and I don't want to try and wrangle a replacement phone out of them or Apple yet, but I just might if this continues. I have several friends with the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS and none of them are having problems. It's like I'm the only one in Reno, NV with this issue. I hope that AT&T will provide an ETA soon, in the very least, and comes up with a satisfactory way to compensate users with this issue.

[ldowdy25]

I am in Fort Worth, TX and I have not been receiving text messages since Tuesday 6/21.  I have also tried everything, so guess where I am going after work!?  Yes, AT&T, if they cannot help me, I will demand either a credit or a new phone from Apple.  This is a tad bit ridiculous.  Let's see what they will do when I let them know I'll be switching to VERIZON!

[Donintpafl]

Well I just started receiving text messages again out of the blue. Didn't occur after a reset or reboot, so hopefully at&t has fixed the issue. Good luck to everyone, hope yours is fixed too....

[picoso]

i started to receive sms text's as well. appears to be working again.

good luck

[AnarchyNeo]

It's back and working again, but this is unacceptable. I agree wholeheartedly that some type of reimbursement is due; otherwise I'm going to cancel my contract and move over to Verizon with a new phone. I received no notification from AT&T about this issue and spent much of my time restoring my phone and taking other measures until finding out that it was their fault; then to just receive new messages without an apology. There is absolutely no excuse for this.

I do not pay what I pay monthly to get half-effort service.

[SLIKRICK]

For those who seem to think their threatening to switch to Verizon is an end-all, try surfing on a few pages of Verizon's user site. See if their subscribers think Verizon has no problems, and if its as la-la land as many of you seem to think it is. 

I've had Verizon's cellular service. I can tell you the AT&T experience, including their customer service, is exceedingly better in many respects. I'd never go back to Verizon, and there are a whole lot of former customers of theirs who'll tell you the same.

If your answer to every perceived slight with a company is to change providers, you're going to be a very busy person.

[jlfourni]

This thread is two weeks old, but this describes exactly what is happening to me today.

My husband sent me at least 20 texts today - I got none of them.  The last text I received was 24 hours ago.

I sent myself a pic message from his phone just now as a test & it came through. (I don't get many MMS messages without a corresponding SMS.)

Was there any actual fix for anyone here?  Did all the old messages come through when it was finally fixed?

[enthusiastmvs]

I just discovered that my iPhone 4 hasn't been sending or receiving messages since late June, which is a great big bummer because I thought there were no replies to some important text messages in the meantime. I also have a BlackBerry Torch that I use primarily, which has worked flawlessly on a separate account and that’s why I didn’t notice that the iPhone wasn’t working properly. Since making the discovery I have tried everything recommended to solve the problem, but without success.

Some of these posts refer to credit for lost service, but I am much more concerned about the missing messages that have resulted in a loss of $5,125 to me so far and counting plus attorney fees. AT&T, are you listening?