Text messages delayed days on iPhone

I posted on this thread awhile ago with the same issue, and wanted to post an update.

I reached out to my provider, Cricket, with the issue, and they suggested I get a new SIM card. I was already looking to switch providers, so I got a new SIM card with Visible. Since then this issue has only happened once in maybe 2 months (vs every other day prior to making the change). I don't know that it means it was a Cricket issue, since other people seem to have this issue with different providers. But I'd suggest getting a new SIM card as a next step, perhaps! Or reaching out to your provider for other options.

I called AT&T today and not receiving text messages of non-iPhone users had to do with the wifi. Even though I had the wifi icon, it didn’t work. I had to turn off my phone and AT&T did something on their end then I turned my phone back on and saw the word wifi is added (see screenshot) and now I can receive messages from non iPhone users. I hope this helps others.

Ok, thanks for clarifying that they are iMessages. Does this issue happen with all of your iMessage contacts or just a specific one? If it is just one, then the issue may be on their end.

iMessages are sent either by Wi-Fi (thru the Internet) or via your cellular data plan. Are you having any issues with either of these connections when you are seeing these delays? Try sending an iMessage, first with your iPhone connected to your local Wi-Fi network, and then again to the same contact, over a cellular-only connection. Ask the recipient to reply back on both. See if there are any significant delays with either or between delivery types.

Are these delayed text messages, iMessages or SMS messages ... or both? For the latter, you will need to check with your cellular voice provider, as SMS texting is one of their services. It may be possible that they are having issues.

I just did a reset of network settings General->Network Settings->Reset Network Settings. My phone rebooted. I also turned iMessage on and off (Likely not the issue)

About 10 minutes after I did the network settings resent all my messages came through. I then had someone send me an SMS and it was received instantly.

hope this helps someone.

Hey there!

Any luck with the factory reset?

I've had this same issue since updating to iOS 14, around October 2020. It's been a frustrating 6 months lol. I notice that a network reset *sometimes* helps pull in missing messages, but not always. In any case, it hasn't solved the problem. I'm using an iPhone 8 with Cricket as the carrier. This only occurs with iMessages, so I don't think it's an issue with the carrier though.

I've spoken to Apple twice, and they suggested a factory reset; and if that doesn't work, replacing the phone. I've read from other users on this topic that neither of those actions solved the problem. I'm also very hesitant in general to turn my phone into E-Waste if this is a software issue Apple hasn't acknowledged or solved yet.

Hi, so I’ve been having the same problem on delayed messages. I’ve tried shutting off my phone and turning it back on and it works however it’s really annoying. I currently have the IPhone 12 so I find it weird that it’s doing this. However after reading all these comments I see that our similarities are that we all seem to be with the carrier Cricket. When I get the chance im going to go talk to them and see if there’s a way to solve this. If not I’m just going to switch. I’ll keep you guys updated.

We just got identical iPhone XRs and switched to Consumer Cellular (CC). My wife is having the problem (we have a family plan and she is secondary). At first we thought it was related to group texts or texts from non-Apple users, but now see that it was also texts directly from friends that didn't get through. They always seem to come after a hard restart. She does have the phone go into silence mode on an overnight schedule so perhaps the phone goes into sleep mode-- I don't keep my phone by me at night so I just have it plugged in elsewhere. So that could be a difference. I have yet to verify if any of the delayed text that came in after a restart were single texts sent from an iPhone, but I do know that I was able to text her (iPhone to iPhone) prior to the restart (but we were on the same WiFi network, so still don't know if that was the case for other iPhone users). Hopefully, some future update will fix this. I doubt that it is a CC provider issue because so many others are complaining about the problem. For now, I think she just needs to do a full restart every morning after she gets up.

• Reset Network Settings

I am also having the same problem. Iphone 8 plus on CRICKET wireless. That is the problem. I have been having this problem for like 6 months. Time to switch carriers

I’ve been having the same issues! I’m up to date as of today on software, I have the iPhone 11, also with cricket.. I miss texts on iMessage that come in days later, and I miss calls. Like the call won’t even show up on my end. Would really love a solution to this.

Man! I just got my wife a new iPhone 12 thinking that was why iMessages were delayed or not received. But it did NOT make a difference. We are also on Cricket. What’s even more puzzle is that we are on the same account and my iPhone 12 does not have this problem 🤪

I have an 8 SE with Verizon and had this same issue this week. These aren't iMessages but texts, and even one voicemail from other Verizon Android users. After I rebooted the phone I received about 20 texts, all dated today. Even though they were sent between 6/7 & this morning. This certainly seems more like an Apple issue than a provider issue. I had similar issues with an X, but attributed it to living in a rural area. After reading all these post, I'm beginning to doubt it's just because of location. I have been a faithful Apple customer for years, but am becoming less impressed with their phones.

iMessages are Apple's version of SMS texts. They can only be sent/received between Apple devices. SMS messages, on the other hand, can be sent / received between Apple and non-Apple devices.

Ref:

• About iMessage and SMS/MMS - Apple Support
• If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support