Users have been complaining about delayed text messages on the iPhone for years. Indeed, it’s very annoying to send a text through iMessage, and for it to just sit there on your screen, without being delivered to the recipient.
So, I went through forums in search of a solution to this annoying problem. I managed to find something, but it’s probably not enough. However, it won’t hurt to try these solutions, as I assume you’ll want to deal with this issue sooner rather than later.
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Delayed text messages on iPhone? Here’s what to do
I’m just going to say it right away. I haven’t found a universal solution for delayed messages on iPhone. The only thing that can be remotely considered an actual solution is resetting the network settings, which some users confirmed is helpful when dealing with this issue. But I can’t guarantee it will work for everyone. As far as other options go, you’ll either have to wait for an update or contact Apple support for additional assistance.
Nevertheless, I’m going to throw in a few additional solutions just in case. So, try them out, and if you’re out of luck, make sure to let Apple know about your problem.
Check your internet connection
You won’t be able to properly send messages if you’re not connected to the internet. That goes for both Wi-Fi and cellular data. So, if you’re out of a Wi-Fi range, and your data plan has expired, your messages will stay put until you connect to the internet.
If you notice there’s something wrong with your internet connection, check out this article for additional solutions.
Update iOS
iOS updates are generally good for your iPhone. They deliver new features and improve the overall stability and security of your device. However, some updates may also cause various problems due to a potential bug. That’s why it’s a good idea to always keep your iPhone up to date. Because if the problem was caused by the previous update, the next one will likely fix it. The obvious downside here is that you’ll have to wait for Apple to do something, instead of having the ability to deal with the problem yourself.
To check for updates, head over to Settings > General > Software Update. If the new update is available, install it and check if the problem persists.
Reset Network Settings
As I said above, resetting Network Settings is the only solution at least one user confirmed resolved the issue, so you can try it as well. Just keep in mind that this will completely wipe all your network settings, including your Wi-Fi network and data plan settings, and you’ll have to set up everything from scratch again. If you still wish to proceed, here’s how to reset Network Settings on your iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your password or PIN and then confirm the selection.
As you can see, there aren’t many things you can do about delayed text messages on your iPhone. Judging by the number of complaints on the forums, this has been a widespread problem for years. And unfortunately, we still don’t have a viable solution. So, if you still don’t know what to do, contact Apple Support, perhaps they’ll tell you what’s best in this situation.
If you have any comments, questions, or an actual solution to this problem, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in April 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
