Why can't my device receive text messages?

Day 1 of using my Galaxy S7(upgraded from Note 2) I encountered a strange issue where I can easily send texts, using stock Message app, but I can't receive them. I've tried rebooting phone, clearing cache/data, deleting old messages, double checking message spam filter, double checking signal, doing a rain dance, and switching to Verizon message + app. No luck! Any suggestions/advice would help before I go to Verizon store soon.Thanks.

Accepted answers

Lougratz

Solution: Called Tech support and had them deactivate and reactivate, then I shut off phone and restarted now texts are coming in!

All comments

CP23

Has your text messaging problem been resolved? I just upgraded to the S7 today and not receiving text messages either. I can send out but not receive them. Did all the troubleshooting you mentioned too.

mikkid319

I'm having the exact same issue too! I just activated my phone today and I tried every single messaging app that was on the phone (even turning off or deleting the other versions before trying the next). I've tried the Samsung/stock messaging, google hangouts, google messaging, and Verizon+. And on all of them I can send the text message, see that it's delivered, I check with who I sent it to and they confirmed they received it (as well as confirming they replied), and then NOTHING. I just switched from the Motorola Droid phone (not sure if that makes a difference or not).

CP23

I tried all those things too! Spent over a half hour on the phone with a Verizon representative and he couldn't figure it out either. He recommended going to Verizon store tomorrow and switching devices, that's if they even have anymore S7's in stock. But since there is multiple of us having this problem, it's definitely not a device issue. Not sure what to do. :-(

ZackAshe

So far no luck. Tried chatting with tech support and an hour or so later she couldn't figure it out either stating that it was affecting many S7 users and that Verizon is working to resolve the issue. but that could be a generalized cop out. I just simply want to text properly. I'll try the store tomorrow and probably another S7. Good luck and I'll update when a fix is made.

ZackAshe

Just noticed something this morning as fumbling with factory reset and such.Maybe it is SIM card related. Mine said already active, which maybe from my very first activation(which failed many times before finally completing.) but the strange thing is 'My Phone Number' is listed as (000)000-0000. I can make calls, get them, send texts, use data/wifi, gps, but not get texts. Despite all of this, the customer service rep from last night said that my phone was showing up as not activated.

deloused

That must be the cause, a partial activation, good catch! Are you able to try it with a different sim, like from a former phone with your number, or have them deactivate the new sim and let it activate again? It sounds like the original activation may have occurred when Verizon had some system outages so that's likely the cause.

CP23

That is weird. My phone does state my correct phone # and Rep said it is active. Only thing he recommended to do was try a factory shutdown and start over. Haven't tried that yet as I'm going to go into the store first.

Lougratz

Same issues here.

mikkid319

That might be possible about the partial activation. I received my phone through pre-order so I don't know if some of it was activated before I got it. I took it into the store anyway and the store rep said that it showed that it was already activated for some reason and he had to go on his computer to set things up for my phone. Maybe between the set-up at Verizon and what the store rep did, something didn't take.

If I look at the section "About Phone" it does show my cell number. Is there another section for the SIM card? This is my first Samsung phone so I have no idea where they have things hidden. Unfortunately I can't go back to the store today and won't be able to have them take a look at it until tomorrow. Hopefully *WE* (apparently Verizon customer service has not a clue!) can figure it out or at least narrow it down. I'd really hate to have to reset my phone and/or get a new one.

CP23

I'm going into the store in 2 hours when they open and will let you all know what they say.

deloused

It's definitely weird, if the previous activation failed to properly complete it may be something similar causing your texting issue also, even though you're seeing your correct phone number. For example the wireless carriers use both the telephone number you and your contacts know (MDN- mobile directory number) and also another number (MIN- mobile identification number).

Both would need to be auto programmed correctly for all services to securely work, and the MIN is a different sequence than your 'real' number if it was previously ported in from another carrier since porting is like fancy call forwarding, so it sounds like a similar issue but slightly different exact cause.

If both numbers are not correct/matching Verizon's network the SMS gateway wouldn't be able to authenticate that it's actually that device to deliver the messages to, in order to also make sure no one else gets your texts without your knowledge.

Since you're planning on going to the store, if they activate a new sim, destroy the old one, and then power cycle the phone it can usually clear those issues up, as they pretty rarely have system outages like that.

CP23

One thing I forgot to mention is that I am getting MMS texts (pictures). So my husband and I are communicating that way. He'll attach a pic to the message and write whatever content in the body. So it's only the SMS messages I'm not receiving.

deloused

I have owned 2 Samsung's, most recently the GS3 which did work well for me, so I don't recall exactly if/how/where the MIN might be viewable on the handset since its been a while.

Alternatively, for anyone that spoke with support, had they tried to just deactivate the SIM card serial number in their system, and then reactivating it? That may allow a fresh activation do over, and save a trip if you prefer not to go to the store. The reps may not have suspected the activation didn't properly complete since the SIM/device show active since it partially completed.

When reading the issues in the post I was thinking perhaps software, an app or a setting was incorrectly intercepting the SMS, but then the incorrect # post moved me away from that idea, plus the recent system outage.

I've also read that some have reported MMS working even though SMS wasn't, which could also make sense if there was a MDN/MIN mismatch as MMS uses Internet protocol to authenticate/deliver, rather than the gateway/voice network SMS uses.

Best of luck with the call/visit, thanks for the updates!

ZackAshe

Sadly my previous phone used a bigger SIM card so hopefully today in about an hour I'll be getting a new one from the store.

Edit 1: Rep from last did attempt to reactivate sim but couldn't either due to faulty card and/or my rural area reception. When I go to the store(Which has a tower behind the building) I'll try to get them to activate phone there. Will update when I return.

Lougratz

Solution: Called Tech support and had them deactivate and reactivate, then I shut off phone and restarted now texts are coming in!

bj22

Had same issue with the 000-000-000. Called Verizon tech support. They fixed it by deactivate/reactivate and also did some other work on it to get it working.