SMS Texts not working

[dlafflitto]

Hey everyone, I had a hard time swapping esim to the new IPhone 14 Pro Max. It took HOURS and multiple attempts chatting with someone to get it done. Unfortunately, now that it’s done I am unable to send or receive SMS texts. This is a big issue as banks, security and others require a code be sent via sms to verify you. I’m stuck trying to chat with support once again but I’m getting really frustrated. I feel like visible really dropped the ball and we’re not properly prepared for the iPhone 14 and esim. Is anyone else having issues with SMS texts? I’m curious if it’s just for people who upgraded or if it’s widespread. Thank you in advance!

[dlafflitto · Accepted solution]

It JUST started working for me, received like 50 texts from last night until now. I’m just glad it’s working 🙂 if you stick to the chat you’ll be able to activate esim. Just don’t leave the chat for any reason. 

[leap4artnyc]

How did you get it to work?

[alanfromeburg]

This happened to me as well. Imessages work but I can't send or receive texts from anyone on Android. Everything else works just fine. I was with support for over an hour but it still hasn't been fixed. It's been elevated to level 2 support. I hope they can fix this. 

[dlafflitto]

Hang in there, it started last night but it randomly started working for me today.  I think a lot of people had similar issues. I didn’t even connect with anyone, it just started working on its own thankfully. 

[alanfromeburg]

it gets even more weird. Everyone I send are receiving my texts but I'm not seeing any that they are sending back??

[dlafflitto]

That is weird! By any chance do you have messages also forwarded to any devices like the Apple Watch or Mac?

[alanfromeburg]

Nope, I don't have it forwarded to another device. It's strange. Kinda annoying. 

[alanfromeburg]

I began to receive text messages at 4:30 am this morning. Everything works for me now. 

[dlafflitto]

Glad to hear it’s working for you! Did you have to chat with anyone or did it start working on its own? 

[Poofy67013]

Me too so what’s going on?

[Hmdma3]

My daughter is having the same issue.  She has an IPhone 15.  She is unable to receive or call out if its an android.  The texts don't go through either.  I had the same problem last week when I switched from Verizon to Visible.  I was in panic mode all day trying to fix it.  I had to redo the ESIM to get it to work. Still trying to fix hers.  She just switched yesterday.

[alanfromeburg]

It just started working on it's own. I know it was escalated when they couldn't figure it out yesterday. 

[Dudkin]

Same issue here. I contacted support already three times. No resolution since Friday.

[Dudkin]

Same issue after an iPhone 12pro to a 14pro eSIM transfer. Since Friday no incoming SMS. I have a tech ticket open with them, with zero communication from Visible. During the weekend, after three times contacting the support through the chat, still no resolution. We already created numerous new eSIMs, and downloaded them, but nothing. If they can not find a solution is 24 hours I have to port out my number to the USMobile. Sadly, SMS is still required for the banks, credit card companies, 2FA backup verifications, etc.

[dlafflitto]

Did you get the SMS to work? Mine started working randomly but no more than 24 hours after the esim activation. 

[RoboH]

On my 4th eSIM re-activation. This isn't a new issue with just the iPhone 14's. This problem goes back to 2021.

[motodiva]

I upgraded my iPhone 8 to a 14.  I performed the online swap in the Visible App as directed.  I discovered I could not send to Android users. Time (wasted) with Visible customer no-service failed, as they simply sent me text and emails and said the problem was fixed.  It wasn't.  After reading online and systematically making changes and attempting to send to Android users the solution was this.  

Go to your Cellular Data>eSim lines.   See which one is labeled with your carrier's name.  One of mine was Visible, the other one was BLANK. In order to send a text message successfully to an Android user I had to turn the "blank" eSim line OFF. After I did that, I was also able to enable WiFi calling too.  It appears that Visible doesn't want to play nice with dual eSim phones. 

[sunshine1221]

So, we were told that some SMS messages for 2FA will never come through now because the company on the other end knows we switched phone providers and it is a security measure.  We will have to go to these sites, unsign up our phone number and then re-sign up with the same phone number.  

We have never had to do this before when switching providers.  We went from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone 14.  This is what we were told after our SMS issue was escalated.  We are able to get SMS texts from some places, but not others.  

[sunshine1221]

So, we were told that some SMS messages for 2FA will never come through now because the company on the other end knows we switched phone providers and it is a security measure on their part.  We will have to go to these sites, unsign up our phone number and then re-sign up with the same phone number.  

We have never had to do this before when switching providers.  We went from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone 14 and ported our number.  This is what we were told after our SMS issue was escalated.  We are able to get SMS texts from some places, but not others.  

[pianomistr]

I am not getting SMS messages from my kids who are all on T-Mobile. I left TM and wonder if this is the issue. When you say you go to "these" sites, which sites are you referring to?

[GDB99]

Go to settings > general > about and see if you have carriers listed. I had T-Mobile as the primary carrier and Visible as the secondary carrier.

SMS text messages did not work for me, but iMessage did work.

I had to back up my phone, Reset back to factory settings, insert Visible sim card, and everything worked including SMS messages.

[tleavesb]

I changed service from my iphone 11 to iPhone 14 pro yesterday morning and realized on the way to work I had no incoming SMS.  After 11 hours on chat yesterday we reset my esim 4 times, completely lost all service for several hours, and finally ended the day where I began...service with no incoming SMS.  As OP mentioned so many apps I use for daily life require texts to verify identity and I also drive for GrubHub and it requires me to have SMS working to interact with the customers.  I am scheduled all weekend and if I don't get it working by Friday I will have to drop all my blocks, losing my second income. Each support specialist says they'll work their magic and be the one to solve my problem and in the end I have spent another 3 hours of my life to be back where I started.  As a tech support problem solver in my day job and generally just a "doer" it kills me that there is NOTHING I can do on my end to help fix this and have no idea what they are trying on their end to fix it. 

[HunterDG]

no SMS for me today, no changes or upgrades.  iPhone XS Max, iOS16, sim

[HunterDG]

no SMS for me today, eSIM iOS16 XS Max, no upgrades/changes

[HunterDG]

turned eSIM on and off, upgraded app, works now

[lalaland94]

Literally just got my iphone 14 pro yesterday and haven’t been able to send or receive texts from my friends on android/google. I can make calls to them but no texts. Very very weird. 

[tramnath]

Same issue here.  I activated new service and ported in number from Xfinity.  Calls work fine and so does data.  Text is a one way street, I dont receive texts from banks etc, non iPhone users (actually non iMessage users).  This is such a hassel.

[wbeldin]

I am having this same issue, just moved from Verizon to Visible and can not send iMessage texts “undeliverable”. Any suggestions?

[tramnath]

Same here.  After new activation no incoming messages from any non iMessage users is working.  This includes Android users, banks, credit card alerts, 2FAs.  This is such an inconvenience and hassel.  

[GDB99]

I'm having the same problem with an iPhone SE.

[GDB99]

OK, texting works for me now. I had to backup my iPhone, and then erase it back to factory. Then inserted the SIM card back in. I had 2 carriers in my settings, T-Mobile and Visible. T-Mobile was the primary. Now my settings just list Visible. 

[dlafflitto]

I had trouble a few times with this but after updating to the latest app version and then deleting my esim completely and restarting then redownloading the esim via the app has fixed the issue and I immediately got all my

sms to work. It’s a bit intimidating but after I did that I’ve experienced no issues for a few weeks now. 

[darsco]

I"m having the same problem with an iphone Xs

[darsco]

Im having the same problem with an iphone Xs

[drehsir]

I have not done anything and my receiving text is not working. This is frustrating because I just had surgery.

[HunterDG]

Turn off e-sim, remove any physical sim, turn e-sim back on.  That worked for me.  Hopefully it will work for you.  

[JustinK2468]

I can chime in here with my experience. So I just activated service on 3/19/23 by porting my old number on my existing iPhone 11. I also wasn't getting text messages. Could only send them, like everyone else. In addition, I noticed my brother was getting and replying messages from me on my work number, which is also an iphone connected to my Apple ID like my personal iPhone 11. More on this in a minute.

Today, 3/20/23, I worked with a chat agent who had me delete the original eSIM, redownload it and also remove the physical SIM card from my previous carrier. After doing all this and restarting my phone, still wasn't getting messages. Could only send.

This afternoon I deleted the eSIM, redownloaded it and ran the setup. Once the configuration completed, the chat rep told me to go to Settings, Messages, and tap Send & Receive. She asked me if my Visible phone number was selected to send and receive messages. Sure enough, it wasn't. But my work number was, hence why my brother could respond to my work number for messages. Once I selected my Visible number to send and receive, I could receive messages. This is definitely not intuitive and should be much more seamless. I suspect this is what is tripping people up, at least for iPhones. I would upload a picture of the Messages setting, but the image tool here sucks. I can't figure out how to upload from my PC.

So check your Messages app, send and receive, that may be the culprit. And YMMV with your Visible chat rep. Some definitely know more than others. The one who helped me was Martina and she was pretty sharp.

[GChisum]

I recently switched from Verizon and ported my original phone number over. I am not receiving SMS messages from my credit union, with an authentication code, so I can't log into my account using a browser.

[SwitchToTwigby]

I have a Samsung A13 and could not receive incoming texts from everyone, although I could for 2 people.  I had Verizon and had no issues receiving texts from anyone before I switched to Visible. After wasting 11+ hours on the phone with Visible agents and doing 2 factory resets, they eventually said the issue was with my phone, not their service.  If you look at this thread, many of us beg to differ.  A friend of mine has an iPhone and an Android and I was unable to receive her texts from either phone.
I realized that I don't use a lot of data (less than 1 gig a month), so I am in the process of switching over to Twigby today for $5 a month (unlimited talk, text, and data for the first 3 months, then $15 a month) and 2 Gigs of high speed data (which I won't fully use any given month). The data remains unlimited after the first 2 gigs, but it's no longer high speed. In my case, that won't make a difference. 
I really liked what Visible had to offer but they really need to get their act together inre to receiving texts. I noticed a lot of people leaving Visible because of this issue and I'm now one of those people. 
For those that are still with Visible, I hope they resolve this issue for you... and don't let them tell you that the issue is with YOUR phone and NOT them!!!