Quick checks first

1. Make sure you have signal

Look at the top of your screen. If you see No Service or Emergency Calls Only, no texts will work. See No service or "Emergency calls only" first.

2. Restart your phone

Hold the power button → Restart. Try sending a text again afterward.

3. Toggle Airplane Mode

Airplane Mode on → wait 10 seconds → off. Refreshes your network connection.

Turn off RCS / Chat Features

This is the single most common fix for "I can receive texts but not send them," or "my messages show up under a different number for the other person."

On Android (Google Messages):

  1. Open Messages.
  2. Tap your profile icon (top right) → Messages settings → RCS Chats.
  3. Turn Turn on RCS chats off.
  4. Power your phone off for at least 15 minutes.
  5. Power back on. If you want RCS back on, go to the same setting and toggle it on — you may be asked to verify your number with Google. Follow the prompts.

I just transferred my number and texts look weird

When you port a number in, your phone may keep using the old number for a few hours. Symptoms:

  • People see messages from your old number, not your new one.
  • You can't reach certain contacts.

Fix:

  1. Anyone with the problem should delete the existing text thread with you and start a fresh one.
  2. If you still have your old phone, turn it off — it can intercept messages.
  3. Follow the Turn off RCS / Chat Features steps above. Wait the full 15 minutes.
  4. If you switched from an iPhone, also follow the iMessage deregistration step in Move your photos, contacts, and apps to your new phone.

Try a different messaging app

Download Google Messages from the Play Store and try sending a text from there. If it works there but not in your usual app, the old app has a problem — try clearing its cache: Settings → Apps → [your messaging app] → Storage → Clear cache.

Check that you haven't blocked the person

Open the Phone or Messages app menu → Blocked numbers — unblock anyone you want to text.

Reset network settings (advanced)

Clears saved Wi-Fi passwords; doesn't touch photos, apps, or contacts.

  • Android: search Settings for Reset network settings.
  • iPhone: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings.

Restart afterward.

Run through this if some texts work and others don't

  • Can't send to anyone — likely an account or carrier issue. Contact support.
  • Can't send to certain people — usually RCS. Follow the RCS steps above.
  • Can't send to short codes (5-digit numbers like banks) — contact support; we may need to enable short-code messaging on your account.
  • Works after restart, then breaks again — software or network glitch. Reset network settings.
  • Works in a different phone — the original phone is the issue.

When to contact support

Reach out if:

  • Nothing above fixes it
  • You can't send to anyone at all
  • Texts to short codes (like 2-factor authentication codes) aren't arriving

Have ready: your Thrive Mobile number, what you've tried, and an example of a number you can't text.