Fix: Galaxy S22 not receiving text messages

The Galaxy S22 series is the pinnacle of the Android smartphone market and the absolute best in many regards. However, they are not bug-free and there are some bugs that users just can’t ignore. While roaming Reddit, we found out that many users (mostly from the U.S.) have issues with SMS and RCS. Namely, it seems that Galaxy S22 (all variations) is not receiving text messages for no apparent reason.

A quick restart can kickstart the flood of missing text messages but it doesn’t solve the problem. Luckily, we have a few solutions to recommend thanks to users from Reddit and Samsung Support forum. Check them out below.

Table of contents:

1. Force stop Messages and restart your S22
2. Remove the SIM card and place it again
3. Update the firmware on your S22
4. Disable RCS and Spam protection and enable them again
5. Clear data or uninstall updates from Messages
6. Reset Network settings on your Samsung Galaxy S22
7. Use Google Messages instead
8. Contact your carrier
9. Reset the device to factory settings

Why is my Samsung phone not receiving text messages?

If your Samsung Galaxy phone is not receiving text messages, we recommend force-stopping the Messages app, removing and placing the SIM card back into the tray, and resetting RCS and Spam protection.

You should also get the latest OneUI update and reset the Messages app. Also, try switching to Google Messages. Finally, you can reset network settings and app preferences or, ultimately, reset the Samsung Galaxy S22 to factory settings.

1. Force stop Messages and restart your S22

The first action you should take is to force stop the Messages app and restart the phone. This seemingly brought up a lot of undelivered messages to affected users so brace yourself for a salvo of SMS and RCS messages.

To force close the Samsung Messages app (or Google Messages), open Settings > Apps > Messages and tap Force stop. After that, restart your Samsung Galaxy S22. If your Power button is reserved for Bixby instead of the Power menu, swipe down the Quick Access/Notification shade and tap on the Power icon at the top. Choose Restart.

2. Remove the SIM card and place it again

Before you remove the SIM card physically, you can try resetting it in the system settings. We run into a Reddit thread that confirms that disabling and re-enabling SIM fixed issues with Chat features RCS messages and SMS messages for many Verizon/T Mobile.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Connections.
3. Tap SIM manager.
4. Toggle off the default SIM card. If you have two SIM cards, do the same for the second one.
5. Wait for 10 seconds or so and re-enable the SIM card. Your phone should get network coverage after 5-10 seconds.

If you can’t do that, remove the SIM card physically from the SIM tray. Place it again and wait for the missing messages to start incoming.

3. Update the firmware on your S22

Most reports claim that the issues with Galaxy S22 not receiving messages stopped after recent updates (Autumn 2022). Therefore, we suggest updating your device in hope that the carrier and Samsung provided a definitive solution for what is, seemingly, a widespread issue. Especially in North America.

Here’s how to check for updates on your Samsung Galaxy device:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Software update.
3. Choose Download and install.
4. Install available updates and check for improvements.

If your Samsung Galaxy S22 is still not receiving text messages, check RCS and Spam protection settings in the Messages app.

4. Disable RCS and Spam protection and enable them again

The problem at hand is most likely related to RCS issues and that’s something that’s not only on Samsung but your carrier, as well. If you enabled Chat features in Messages and the problem concerns RCS, make sure to disable the option and enable it again. Hopefully, this will fix the problem and new text messages will start going through.

In addition, you can disable Caller ID and spam protections and enable the feature again. We recommend disabling the automatic blocking of spam and scam calls.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open Samsung Messages.
2. Tap on the 3-dots menu and select Settings.
3. Tap Chat settings.
4. Disable Chat features and enable them again. You might need to wait for some time until your number gets enrolled again. If you just want to use standard SMS messages, consider disabling this option completely.
5. Go back to Settings and select Block numbers and spam.
6. Choose Caller ID and spam protection.
7. Disable the Block spam and scam calls option.
8. After that, turn off the top toggle and check for improvements. You can re-enable this option later.

5. Clear data or uninstall updates from Messages

The next step you can try is resetting the Samsung Messages app by clearing the local data. If that does nothing, you can uninstall updates from the app and reset it to factory values. Some users report that this resolved the problem and text messages (and/or RCS messages) started coming in.

Here’s how to clear data or uninstall updates from Samsung Messages:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Open Messages from the list of available apps.
4. Choose Storage.
5. Clear data and check for improvements.
6. If that did nothing, get back to Settings > Apps > Messages and tap on the 3-dots menu.
7. Uninstall updates and restart your phone.

6. Reset Network settings on your Samsung Galaxy S22

Some users suggest resetting network settings fixed the problem for them so you can give it a try. Have in mind that resetting network settings deletes Bluetooth pairings and saved Wi-Fi networks. Other than that, it won’t delete any app data.

Here’s how to reset network settings on your Samsung Galaxy S22:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General management.
3. Select Reset.
4. Choose Reset network settings.
5. Tap Reset settings and confirm.

If that didn’t help, you can also try resetting App preferences in App Settings. This will restore all app settings to their defaults and, hopefully, address the problem with Samsung Messages. Here’s how to reset App preferences on your Galaxy phone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Tap on the 3-dots menu in the top right corner.
4. Select Reset app preferences.
5. Tap Reset.

7. Use Google Messages instead

Google Messages are the default SMS app on many Android devices and they are often preinstalled on Samsung devices, along with Samsung Messages. Based on reports, chat features (RCS) work best in the Google-made solution. Now, if you can’t make Samsung Messages work, you can switch to Google Messages (Android Messages) and check if your Galaxy S22 starts receiving text messages again.

On the other hand, if you have issues while using Google Messages, all the aforementioned troubleshooting steps apply to Google Messages as well as Samsung Messages. In this scenario, try switching to Samsung Messages and check if RCS starts working.

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8. Contact your carrier

Most users who reported the problem are from the United States which leads us to believe that issues are on the carrier side. Since this is most likely related to the implementation of RCS or a text messages center, we recommend contacting your carrier.

If that does nothing, the only remaining solution is to restore your Galaxy S22 to factory settings.

9. Reset the device to factory settings

If none of the previous steps worked for you, you can back up everything and reset the device to factory settings. This is especially advised if you recently updated to a newer Android version. Samsung did improve in the software support department significantly but their transitions from one major Android version to a new one rarely come without any problems.

With that said, here’s how to reset your Samsung Galaxy S22 to factory settings:

1. Back up everything to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive. Or you can save your files externally. Sadly, there’s no SD card available on Galaxy S22.
2. Open Settings.
3. Tap General management.
4. Select Reset.
5. Choose Factory data reset.
6. Tap Reset at the bottom and confirm.

And, on that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions with us and other readers. You can do that in the comments below.