How to Fix Message Not Sent on Android Phones (All Networks)

If you are using an Android phone, tablet or any Android device, and you are unable to send a text message but you can receive incoming text messages, then you have come to the right place. If you can send a text message but whenever you send it you always get the “Message not sent” response, this article is for you too. However, we will be limiting this tutorial to Android only, so, if you are using smartphones running Windows Mobile or iOS, sorry, it won’t help.

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Text messaging is one of the oldest means of communication in existence today. It has exist long before smart mobiles arrived and it is the simplest and the cheapest way to communicate. Unfortunately, today’s social networks and chat apps are slightly replacing this secure and friendly means of communication on mobiles. But then, most people still prefer to text rather than to use Whatsapp or other third-party social apps out there, probably because it feels more private, you know, no prying multimillion companies monitoring your activities.

Among the dangers that today’s popular chat apps such as Whatsapp have created is extreme addiction – pinging and typing without measure throughout a day can be very addictive since you pay virtually nothing for it. How can one de-addict from such “free” advance means of communication? By reverting back to the basic.

Normally, one should be able to send and receive a text message when inserting a SIM card into a phone for the first time, but if suddenly it happens that you can no longer send a text but can receive, then something is out of place. The very first thing that may cause this issue is a missing or an incorrect message center number.

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What is a message center number?

It is a dedicated number that is responsible for the delivery of message sent on a mobile phone, just like APN (Access Point Name) is responsible for the uploading and downloading of packet data. Without configuring the APN on an internet-enabled smartphone one cannot browse the internet. The message center number (SMSC) likewise if not configured properly will hamper text messages sent from delivering.

On Android, configuring the message center number (SMSC) is simple. The problem is each network carrier or provider has its own unique center number. If it happens that your text messages stop delivering and you are getting the “message not sent” notification on your android phone, then you have definitely tamper with your network carrier message center number.

1st Method

How to fix message center number on a single SIM Android phones:

1. Go to “Messages” or “Messaging” (depending on your phone)
2. Click on the menu button and select “Settings” from the options that appeared
3. In the Settings menu, click on “Text Messages” or SMS (depending on your phone)
4. Select “SMS Service Center” or “Service center” (depending on your phone)
5. Enter your network carrier center number in the text field
6. Press “Ok” to save.

How to fix message center number on dual SIM Android phones:

1. Go to “Messages” or “Messaging” (depending on your phone)
2. Click on the menu button and select “Settings” from the options that appeared
3. In the Settings menu, click on “Text Messages” or SMS (depending on your phone)
4. Select “SMS Service Center” or “Service center” (depending on your phone)
5. You will be asked to choose the SIM you want to configure
6. Select the SIM you want to configure its center number
7. Enter your network carrier center number in the text field that will be presented
8. Press “Ok” to save

2nd Method 

Some rare or rather weird Android phones from manufacturers like Samsung, HTC e.t.c may not have the “SMS Center Number” listed under message settings. If you cannot find where you can insert the center number on your device, follow this steps.

1. Go to your phone dial and dial this number *#*#4636#*#*
2. Select “Phone Information” from the menu that will be presented to you
3. Scroll down to the bottom.
4. At the very bottom, you will see “SMSC” and a text box right in front of it
5. Insert your network SMS center number in the text box
6. Click the “Update” button to save

To know your network message center number, you can simply call your network customer supports and ask. However, to save some people the stress we will be providing top U.S, U.K, Canada, and Nigeria network carrier message center numbers. They are as follows:

United States

T-Mobile: +12063130004

Verizon Wireless: +316540951000

AT&T: +13123149810

United Kingdom

Virgin Mobile: +447958879890
Three: +447782000800
Vodafone: +447785016005

TalkTalk: +447785011324
EE: +447958879879

Canada

Bell Mobility: +14382762000
Telus: +16475800172
Rogers Wireless: +17057969300

Nigeria

MTN: +234803000000

Globacom (GLO): +2348050001501

Airtel: +2348020000009

Etisalat (9Mobile): +2348090001518

Update (April 2, 2019)

We noticed that some people were still unable to change or update their phone SMSC using the first method and second method above, so we are providing another method in which you can update your Android phone message center number incase the previous methods does not work for you.

We strongly suggest you applied this method if others failed to work for you.

3rd Method

1. Download GO SMS Pro messaging app from here and install it on your phone (version 5.44)
2. Open the app and set it as your default SMS app
3. Click the menu button at the top left (or simply swipe left) and select “Settings”
4. Click “Send&Receive”
5. Scroll down to the bottom, under the “Advance” menu select “SMS/MMS Advance settings”
6. You will see the “Enable customized SMSC” option, enable this option by tapping the On/Off switch
7. Right underneath the “Enable customized SMSC” click the Customized SMSC number and insert your network SMSC number into the text box
8. Click Ok to save

After applying the following steps, you should be able to successfully send a text message using GO SMS.

Still having trouble sending a text message? Let us know by dropping a message in the comment box.