Can't receive text messages from iphone users

Have this great phone I like, but I can't receive text messages from iphones. Tried several "fixes" including unregistering my old phone & number with apple. Verizon says I can't get a replacement, so i'm stuck with this phone that I can't receive texts from my colleagues and family. This is just crazy. Anybody found a solution?

Accepted answers

AustinBB

have the iphone users also delete their text history. they shouldn't have to turn off imessage if you unregistered your apple account. However it may be stored in their phone that you have imessage. have them start from scratch also.

All comments

duane534

The problem is Apple, not your phone.

http://www.berryreview.com/2013/06/14/apples-imessage-servers-decide-whether-you-get-your-sms-or-not-if-you-switched-to-blackberry-10/

The bottom of the page has instructions to (hopefully) fix it. Unfortunately, the ball is in Apple's court.

JenSchanze

I did unregister my phone with Apple a few days ago. That didn't make a difference, still no texts from iphone.

Just FYI.

Verizon_Support

Hi JenSchanze

Let's end that frustration and get those text messages working! Thanks for all the troubleshooting you've done. Please try deleting all old messages on your device. Then power the device all the way off and on and retest.

Please let me know if the issue persists.

JoeL_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

duane534

I know that it isn't ideal, but you could have your iPhone-carrying friends and family disable iMessage in the short term.

Pudelpr

Verizon CS...

I am having the same problem and not receiving any text from any iphone users after I switched from an iphone 4s to a Note 3.. I unregistered with apple and am still having the same issue of no text from iphones which includes work. If I am unable to get text, the phone is useless to me. I find this ridiculous! Is switching phone numbers a fix for this problem?

duane534

Switching phone numbers would do it. You could also get your iPhone people to use BBM. It is free, better than texting, and wouldn't require a number change.

Verizon_Support

Pudelpr, I can understand how frustrating it can be not to have text messaging work properly. What software version are you running? If you are not up to date, click on this link to for the steps: http://vz.to/16wf5jj .

SammuelP

VZW Support

JenSchanze

Update- I have made some progress. I am getting texts from some iphone users. I did have to unregister my old phone with apple and clear my messages out like suggested above.

It seems that if SMS is turned on from the iphone that is texting me I can receive; however if not, I don't. I'm still missing texts daily because I work for a national organization and text is a very common communication practice. I've asked all colleagues to change settings on their phones, but it is not practical nor did it happen.

It's frustrating, but family and close friends can text me now so that's a plus. I'm only looking bad at work, colleagues, members, customers do not think this is their problem or that they should have to change settings on their phone.

finsup317

Duane534, I understand the problem is with iPhone but if I buy a BMW and the cruise control wont work, would BMW tell me to contact some company in China? Verizon has known this is a problem and still continues to sell these phones every day. I'm thinking BBB or Consumer Fraud needs to be contacted.

duane534

I don't know if fraud would be applicable, but the BBB does need to be on Apple about this. It is bad business.

RickinSD

Indeed, this is not Verizon's fault nor is it BlackBerry's. It is Apple's and the people who use them. Even if you "unregistered" your phone number from Apple's servers, if people continue to use an old text/iMessage thread to send you messages, the Apple server is still going to deliver it as an iMessage, not a text because it remembered it from the previous times it was sent.

Why on earth do people keep long strings of texts anyway? I delete them after the "conversation" is over. Who wants to see a bunch of "When are you coming over?" "I'm leaving right now" "Cool, see you soon" messages in your inbox? People are lazy.

fore_

I just got my Note 3, have had it 3 days, and . . . I can't receive iphone text messages, only to find out this is an ongoing issue? Please let me know what is happening and what is the fix now?

Thank you!

RickinSD

You might want to read all of the messages in this post. This is an Apple problem. You must have had an iPhone before your Note. You have to "de-register" your phone number with Apple. I have no idea how to do this because I've never owned an iPhone.

Once you de-register the number, your friends who text you must delete any old text conversations that they started with you when you had the iPhone. Once they do that, any new texts should go through just fine.

The reason your friends need to delete the old texts, even though you may have unregistered you phone number, is because their stupid iPhones still think YOU have an iPhone when they add additional texts to an existing text. The old text still tries to send via iMessage instead of the normal text system.

AOB

I have this problem too and I've NEVER owned an iPhone. I changed from Sprint using Galaxy SII to Verizon using Galaxy Legend and I can't receive texts from two impotant people. NEVER had probs with my Galaxy SII with Sprint. One has an iPhone and the other has a prepaid smart phone. Both people deleted their text threads with me. I now get texts from the prepaid smart phone user but NOT the iPhone user. Looks like a Verizon problem to me!!!

PJnWil

Definitely not a VZW issue. I just switched to a Windows phone and am having the same issue. I got my phone 2 weeks ago and am still having the issue. I unregistered my phone and all that jazz, but no success. I just called apple support (didn't need serial number, just phone number and email address) and the have record of my phone being unregistered but they weren't sure why it was taking so long. They gave me a case number and said that the problem should be resolved in 24-48 hours. We will see.

I would definitely call Apple and at least report the case if you are still having the issue.

RickinSD

DickLewis

From what I have read, most problems getting texts from iPhone users is

caused by iMessage being enabled. Disable, messages go through.

TIKK1099

This has gone to class action. I believe Apple and Verizon deserve to take a hit here. First, I switched from the Iphone 4s to an Android. The sales person made no mention that I would not be able to receive messages from Iphone users, took the phone from me, set up my Android and off I was sent. I use my phone for business, I receive texts for jobs and 2 months later after deactivating, removing stuff from Icloud and Itunes I still am not receiving Imessages. Why was I not warned of this issue that has been ongoing for years? I paid for a product that does not work and actually hurts my business. And then you have the big, bad Apple hoarding peoples messages, storing them and who knows who has access to all that information. Imessage should be able to automatically be able to figure out who doesn't have an Iphone and push the messages through manually. Going to each person in my contact list and pretending to be a tech support guy is ludicrous. Time to lawyer up. I'm paying for unlimited texts yet I'm also not receiving that service, who's gonna pay me back?