If your iPhone 12 is not sending text messages, first make sure your phone has service, as the issue may be with the Wi-Fi or cellular network, not your device itself.
Check in your iPhone’s Settings app that various messaging options are turned on so that your phone can dispatch texts if iMessage fails.
Turning your iPhone off and back on again can usually refresh the software and restore better signal connections, enabling your messages to send once again.
There are few sadder phrases than those two little red words your iPhone 12 displays when a text message fails to send: “Not Delivered.” Those words, along with that exclamation point in a circle, mean your charming photo or witty comment didn’t go through.
Fortunately, as in life, with the iPhone: the simplest answer is usually the correct one. If your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro is not sending messages, first make sure you have a connection to either a Wi-Fi or cellular network, and make sure your iOS device is not set to Airplane Mode.
How to troubleshoot your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro if it isn’t sending messages
There are three easy ways to troubleshoot your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro if your messages aren’t sending. If these quick fixes below don’t do the trick, the solution will be a bit more involved, but you can usually get messages sending again without support from Apple.
Try these fixes to get your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro messages sending smoothly again.
If you find iPhone 12 not sending SMS, try just tapping that exclamation point beside your failed message and then tap “Try Again.”
Check your network settings
1. Check your network connection.
If you don’t have good cell coverage or Wi-Fi service (assuming you use Wi-Fi calling) you won’t be able to send messages, even if your iOS device is working fine.
2. Make sure you’re not in Airplane Mode
Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen and making sure the airplane icon in the upper-left corner is not enabled (highlighted orange).
3. Check your iPhone’s Messages settings
In the Settings app, scroll down and tap Messages, then make sure the switches next to MMS Messaging and Send as SMS are toggled on (to green).
Check the phone number
if you find iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro not sending text messages, make sure that you are texting the right number. If you entered the number incorrectly or the intended recipient now has a new number, you may be prevented from sending the text.
Restart your iPhone
Restart your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro by holding down the power button together with either the Volume button then swiping the power off slider to shut down. When you turn it back on, it may well be able to send messages again.
Reset your network settings
Resetting your network settings is a last-ditch attempt to fix iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro not sending texts issue before seeking help from Apple, but it might be your last chance for getting those messages out.
Navigate through the Settings app to the “General” tab, then press “Reset”, then press “Reset Network Settings.”
See also: iPhone 12 / 12 Pro Not Receiving Calls? Fix
If you find your iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 not sending text messages after performing the above steps, it’s probably a more complicated issue, and likely related to your cellular service. You should contact customer support at your cellular service provider to get additional assistance troubleshooting your issue.