S4 not always sending text messages

[justsendthetext]

Just upgraded from a Samsung Intensity II to a Galaxy S4 around New Years. It was working fine and then I started getting "message failed" errors on some of the text messages that I tried to send.

From scanning the discussion boards there seem to be others with a similar issue with no good answers. So obviously, I'm pretty ticked that my new "smart" phone can't send simple texts consistently.

Details

Sometimes when I go to send a text message the message will hang/spin for a while. After a few seconds, the phone goes to sleep and I assume that the message got sent because I was not told otherwise. Then it could be hours later or whenever the next time I unlock the phone I get a message that says that the text failed.

These failures don't seem to be tied to anything specific. They happen both when I am connected to Wifi and when using data. It happens in my apt, where I have decent service and a good wifi connection. Recently, I started restarting the phone after the message failed a few times and sending the message (as a fresh text) again after the reboot. Every time I've done that (including twice today) the message has sent without delay.

The intervals between failed messages seems to be getting shorter which doesn't bode well for my phone actually being able to reliable send texts after another few month or so which is unacceptable for a phone released 5 years ago let alone a phone that way considered the cutting edge last year.

So what? when the phone is on too long it just decided to stop sending texts? I would love a concrete answer on this. Or a new phone that works.

[vzw_customer_support]

Let's ensure you're able to send out all text messages. Are you familar with what type phones other users have that the text messages fails to? I would suggest heading into Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > All > Message app > Force Stop and Clear data. After completing please retest.

YosefT_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWsupport

[justsendthetext]

I have done as you requested. The problem is that the failures are

inconsistent.

As I said in the original post. If the text doesn't send, I restart the

phone and texts will send again.

As for the type of phones I'm sending to, one in a Galaxy Note II, and the

other is Android phone of some kind.

On Sat, Feb 1, 2014 at 9:05 AM, Verizon Wireless Customer Support <

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks for trying the suggested troubleshooting steps justsendthetext. Are you experiencing difficulites with sending text anywhere you go or only in a certain area? Can you try http://vz.to/1gawS2X then test the messages on your device.

Thank You,
MichelleL_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSUPPORT

[miked55]

I have the exact same problem that this person is reporting.  I am so sick of it.  I am about ready to throw my phone through a window.  It was happening with my other s4 as well and I even went as far as to bring it back to costco, and exchange it for a brand new phone.  Now I feel bad about that because I know it wasn't the phone - it was happening with the old one and is also happening with this one.  I am so damn sick of it.  screw you verizon.  This happens to me like 5 times a day.  I should not have to deal with this BS on a brand new phone - FIX IT!!!!!

[miked55]

And to add:  I've already done a hard reset on the phone, taken out the battery, switched the network to global, spent like 4 hours on the phone with verizon customer service.  It still is not fixed.  I am so pissed about all of this.  Seriously - fix it.  Whether you need to release a service pack or whatever fix this damn problem.  It is absolutely ridiculous.

[StreetDocRN]

Hi,

Have you tried a new Sim card? Just a thought.

Doc

[oliveheads]

I too, am having this issue every so often. Not all of the time. VERY FRUSTRATING

[thomp_bt]

I am having the same issues and I'm on my second s4. It happens every where and to different types of phones. Please help

[tinkeringtj]

I'm having the same issues but it only started happening after I upgraded to 4.4.2. Now it is randomly not sending text messages and is really starting to piss me off. I have restarted the phone by software restart which will help the problem for a day or so. I have deleted old text messages, which helped only one time. And I've done a hard reboot by taking out the battery, which for 2 or 3 days seemed to work. But I'm not going to hard reboot every time I want to send a message. My last option that I know of is a phone reset, which I'd rather not do. Please help me fix this issue.

[gssieg]

I too am having the same issue ever since the upgrade to NC5 this started.  I keep having to reboot the phone so I can send messages.

[vzw_customer_support]

tinkerringtj,

I am so sorry about the issues you are having with sending text messages. Are you having issues sending message to all numbers or just a few? Have you tried to force close and clear data/cache on the text application? http://vz.to/1pSqova

LindseyT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[tac11tac]

I am having the same problem.  Also no 4glte since update.

[ljordan119]

Verizon knows what the problems is, so does Smasung and so does google. It is the 4.4.2 KitKat update. Everyone knows. The forums are saying the same thing. These issues did nto start until the update was rolled out. Why doesn't Verizon take ownership of the problem and fix it. The S5 does not seem to be having the same problem at the S4 with the 4.4.2 software.

The solution is for Samsung, Verizon and/or Google to make good on their product. It that is a S5, then so be it if they want to keep their customers. The way this is going, this will for sure drive Verizon customers to other sevice providers. These issues and Verizon not working to solve it is very bad customer advertisment and Verizon seems not to be working to solve it. We are all witnessing that for sure.

[BHWinslow]

My S4 started failing to send texts yesterday. Now none will go out. There better be a fix on the way quickly.

[JamieRI]

I have been having this problem for 3 months, starting before the Kit Kat update.

[emtsc]

I am having the same problem as tinkeringtj.  Ever since my phone upgraded the software to 4.4.2, some of my messages do not send and I receive a send failure message.  I am using the messaging app that came with my phone, not one I have downloaded.  I have tried clearing the cache and clearing the data. Neither of these work.  The only thing that works is to turn the phone off, take out the battery for several seconds, then replace and turn the phone back on.  This usually works for a while.  When this first happened, it worked for as long as a week, then for two days.  For the last week, I have to do this once a day but today I have had to do it every time I want to send a text message.  That is ridiculous.  The only thing I have not tried is a reset back to factory defaults. Any other suggestions so that I do not have to take the battery out every time I want to send a text message? I am not very happy with my phone for other reasons as well since this software update.  Any chance to undo the update?

[HeyHank]

I am having the same issue. Started after Kit Kat update. All the rebooting and junk we are told to do doesn't fix it. Verizon needs to come up with a fix for it or give us new phones that work!

[karrielm]

Over 50% of my texts failing, and on some days it was up to 80%.  I was also having issues with calls...they would go straight to my voicemail, never ringing and not showing up on the call log.  After over a month on the phone with Verizon, doing a hard reset, replacing the sim card, deleting apps, using Verizon message, etc....I filed a complaint with BBB.  Someone from Corporate contacted me and offered me a different phone, that was refurbished.  I only purchased this phone in March, so no way was I taking that deal.

I decided to contact Samsung, after spending an hour on the computer with a tech.  I decided to send them my phone, having felt that I was not getting any support from Verizon.  I heard horror stories that it would take a month to get my phone back, but really, it was useless as it was, so it was the best thing for me to try to fix the issue.

I mailed the phone out on a Tuesday, and got MY phone back the next Tuesday (I actually took pictures of the serial number and such).  After activating it, it was determined that I still have the kit kat update on it.  But in the last 24 hours, I haven't had one text fail yet.  I have received all calls made to me (nothing is hiding in my voicemail).  I don't know if it is a different update through Samsung then through Verizon, but it seems to have fixed my phone.  I'll keep you posted.

[#20]

Like I was saying it is the responsibility of the device maker.

Very glad it was fixed for you. One good success story!

[Graftyman]

Karrielm,  please keep us posted.  What version of Android are you currently running?  Is it still 4.4.2?  Did Samsung state what they did to the phone?  Did they change out a chip or the entire internals?

<< Personal comments removed to comply with Verizon Wireless Terms of Service >>