iPhone troubleshoot--suddenly won't send or receive text msg.

Reba

Reba

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My deaf friend has an iPhone and nothing else for communication (no computer, no VP). All of a sudden the iPhone quit sending and receiving text messages. Any solutions?

The iPhone is less than one year old. The carrier is Sprint.

The location doesn't make a difference, so it's not the reception area that's a problem. We tried it in the same room, with different people, with no change.

It shows fine bar strength.

Friend never powered it off since day one of ownership. I powered it off and on but nothing changed. I don't think it's ever been synched or updated or had any downloads.
 
Reba said:
My deaf friend has an iPhone and nothing else for communication (no computer, no VP). All of a sudden the iPhone quit sending and receiving text messages. Any solutions?

The iPhone is less than one year old. The carrier is Sprint.

The location doesn't make a difference, so it's not the reception area that's a problem. We tried it in the same room, with different people, with no change.

It shows fine bar strength.

Friend never powered it off since day one of ownership. I powered it off and on but nothing changed. I don't think it's ever been synched or updated or had any downloads.
Click to expand...

Reset Network Settings

Settings>General>Reset>Reset Network Settings.
 
If that doesn't work I would try resetting the phone by holding both buttons until the phone powers down and the apple reappears. But the first one should work.
 
:ty:

I'll try that later tonight when we see each other.
 
TXgolfer said:
If that doesn't work I would try resetting the phone by holding both buttons until the phone powers down and the apple reappears. But the first one should work.
Click to expand...
"Both buttons" do you mean the power button and the Home button?
 
A bunch of us had that exact problem about a month ago. Most of us are Verizon. But not all, so we knew it wasn't the carrier. We solved it by Settings > Messages > Send as SMS > ON. (I think the default is OFF, so turn it on.)
 
Be careful with hold both Home button and Power button because it can put in recovery mode or DFU mode, so it means you could be stuck and little chance to escape without third party software.

I noticed that Reba's friend has no computer so put more challenge about fix the iPhone, in case if it is struck.

Worst case - restore the firmware and re-install, however you can restore all apps if you did backup.
 
Foxrac said:
Be careful with hold both Home button and Power button because it can put in recovery mode or DFU mode, so it means you could be stuck and little chance to escape without third party software.
Click to expand...
OK. I'll try that as a last resort.

I think I used that same technique one time on my neighbor's iPad when she had a black screen of death. It fixed it up fine.

I noticed that Reba's friend has no computer so put more challenge about fix the iPhone, in case if it is struck.

Worst case - restore the firmware and re-install, however you can restore all apps if you did backup.
Click to expand...
I doubt my friend has any added apps. I think the iPhone is used only for texting. When I asked about various basic uses, programs, updating, software, etc., my friend seemed unaware of these things.
 
AlleyCat said:
A bunch of us had that exact problem about a month ago. Most of us are Verizon. But not all, so we knew it wasn't the carrier. We solved it by Settings > Messages > Send as SMS > ON. (I think the default is OFF, so turn it on.)
Click to expand...
Interesting.
 
If you see green message - means SMS.

If you see blue message - means iMessage.
 
Reba said:
OK. I'll try that as a last resort.

I think I used that same technique one time on my neighbor's iPad when she had a black screen of death. It fixed it up fine.

I doubt my friend has any added apps. I think the iPhone is used only for texting. When I asked about various basic uses, programs, updating, software, etc., my friend seemed unaware of these things.
Click to expand...

Yes, I used recovery mode and DFU mode when I had to jailbreak my iPhone. In other time, when my iPhone got stuck (under original firmware) until I put in recovery and had to re-install. I did hold Power button and Home button at same time but ended up in recovery mode so I had use third party tool to got out of it.

Oh I see, the backup may worth for contacts and SMS/iMessage data so you can restore it back.
 
Foxrac said:
...Oh I see, the backup may worth for contacts and SMS/iMessage data so you can restore it back.
Click to expand...
Ah, yes, backup for contacts and messages. How do you do that without a sync?
 
Reba said:
Ah, yes, backup for contacts and messages. How do you do that without a sync?
Click to expand...

You means without connect to iTunes?

You can backup with iCloud if enabled.

All backup have to synced every time you connect to computer, or you can use iCloud to automatically synced.
 
Reba said:
Ah, yes, backup for contacts and messages. How do you do that without a sync?
Click to expand...

If you do that with the method I suggested you will not lose those. It is a soft reset.
 
Foxrac said:
You means without connect to iTunes?

You can backup with iCloud if enabled.

All backup have to synced every time you connect to computer, or you can use iCloud to automatically synced.
Click to expand...
That's the problem. My friend never used iCloud, never connected to a computer, and probably not iTunes. :hmm:
 
Reba said:
That's the problem. My friend never used iCloud, never connected to a computer, and probably not iTunes. :hmm:
Click to expand...

Oh wow, it is better to take TXGolfer's advice at first - #2.

If it worked so find way to backup as possible and I hate to lose all contacts, message data. :(
 
Reba said:
Pinkie promise? ;)
Click to expand...

Well, I never have anyway. That was the suggestion from the Apple Store geeks. Anytime my iDevices act strange I reset with that method.

But the first solution works when I have issues with text. I have to reset network settings often due to travel.

What AlleyCat said makes sense too. SMS might be off. It could be both, perhaps SMS is off and she was only getting iMessages before and now that the network settings need updating she is not receiving iMessages.

If it were me I would check what AC said and I would reset network settings regardless. It only takes about 30-60 seconds to reset.
 
Reba said:
Pinkie promise? ;)
Click to expand...

yea it's just a soft reset. a simple reboot.

I had same issue. what I do is "restart" the connection with telephone company.

1. SETTINGS --> CELLULAR DATA --> ON/OFF again
2. SETTINGS --> MESSAGES --> iMESSAGE --> ON/OFF again and do same for SEND as SMS
3. Ensure that there are something in "SEND & RECEIVE"
 
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