Q: iMessages won't send!! HELP, keep sending as text messages instead

Hello there, haileybaileyhailey.

It sounds like you're having issues with messages being sent as text messages and not receiving messages on your iPhone 5c. The following Knowledge Base article offers up some great information on both of those issues and troubleshooting recommendations:

If you can‘t send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you see a red exclamation point

If you try to send a message and you see with an alert saying Not Delivered, follow these steps. After each step, see if you still need help:

1. Tap and try to send your message again.
   
2. Make sure that you’re connected to the Internet through cellular data or Wi-Fi.
3. Go to Settings > Messages. Check that the type of message that you're trying to send is turned on (iMessage, SMS, MMS, or Group messaging):
   

{...}

If your messages aren't sending, or you aren't getting messages

Check your contact information:

1. Make sure that you're using the right phone number or email address for the contact.
2. Go to Settings > Messages > Blocked and make sure that the contact isn't on your block list.

If messages won't send to a certain person or you need help with group messages

Sometimes your messages won't send to a particular contact, or you might have issues with group messages. For example, you might reply to a group conversation and receive your own message. Or you might get a new phone number and see your old one listed as a recipient in an existing group conversation.Delete the conversation^* that has the issue and start a new conversation:

1. Open Messages and look at your list of conversations.
2. Swipe from right to left on the conversation you want to delete. Then tap Delete.
3. Open Messages, tap , and enter the phone number or email address of your contact or contacts.
4. Write a new message and tap send.

^*When you delete a conversation, you won’t be able to recover it. If you want to save parts of conversations or their attachments, you can take screenshots. You can also touch and hold an attachment or message bubble, then tap More > Save.

Restart your device and check for updates

1. Restart your device.
2. Check for a carrier settings update.
3. Check for an iOS software update.

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

Cheers.