iOS 26.2 – SMS 2FA codes are massively delayed (sometimes hours later) on iPhone and Mac

Same here. I fixed it by turning off iMessage. I've confirmed that the problem is related to iMessage by toggling it on and off a number of times. If it's off then 2FA SMS codes arrive reliably and within a few seconds as expected . If it's on then the 2FA SMS codes occasionally arrive as expected but are more likely to take 30 secs to a minute with many not arriving at all even with a resend request. Problem occurs with my bank, credit card and Paypal so I don't think it's a particular sender's system. I've switched to 2FA via their app for my bank but when my Paypal and credit card 2FA SMS doesn't arrive I toggle iMessage and try again.

FutureX wrote:

• I understand SMS is delivered by the carrier, but the behavior I’m seeing doesn’t match carrier delay patterns.

So, did you see the time/date of the SMS message when it arrived to the carrier on their call/message logs? That is the single most important piece of information that does not seem to be included in your troubleshooting steps. Most carriers have this information available to you on their app or by logging into your account online, and if that is not the case for you then you will need to contact them directly for the information.

Once you have that info showing the message was received by your carrier and it not showing on your device, then you will be able to follow up either with Apple or your carrier with the documentation that will help assist with a resolution.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

You can call your service provider or log into your account with either their app or website and view your message logs that will show the time your carrier received them. That will tell you where the delay is. If they are not being posted to your account looking at your cell providers call log, there is no way your device would ever receive them. You can't view the contents of a message, but the time is recorded.

FutureX wrote:

• iOS 26.2 – SMS 2FA codes are massively delayed (sometimes hours later) on iPhone and Mac

Since updating to iOS 26.2, SMS-based two-factor authentication codes are no longer reliable. They sometimes arrive, but usually with extreme delays (often hours later), which makes them useless for real authentication.

This happens across:

iOS Messages app

• macOS Messages (Desktop Messenger)

• Multiple services (banks, logins, apps, etc.)

•

Normal texting works fine:

iMessage works

• Regular SMS from people arrives instantly

• Only automated/short-code verification messages are affected

•

What I’m seeing:

Request a 2FA code

• Nothing arrives

• Retry fails

• Hours later, multiple expired codes suddenly appear at once

•

That rules out:

App-specific bugs

• Service-specific issues

• Carrier blocking (messages eventually show up)

•

It feels like iOS 26.2 is failing to process or route short-code/automated SMS properly in real time, but the messages are being queued somewhere and delivered long after they’re valid.

Troubleshooting already done:

Rebooted devices

• Toggled iMessage off/on

• Airplane mode cycling

• Reset network settings

• Cellular only (no Wi-Fi)

• Tried multiple services

• Happens on both iPhone and linked Mac

•

Nothing changes the behavior.

This is especially serious because:

Many services only offer SMS as a verification method

• Delayed delivery makes authentication impossible

• It can completely lock users out of accounts

•

Has anyone else on iOS 26.2 experienced:

SMS 2FA codes arriving hours late?

• Multiple expired codes showing up all at once?

If so, this looks like a serious regression in iOS’s handling of automated SMS/short-code messages, not a carrier issue and not an app bug.

This has nothing to do with ios 26.2 or Apple. All SMS is handle through your phone carrier, the delay is coming either from them.

You pay your phone carrier not Apple a monthly fee to user their service, escalate the issue with them.

"Has anyone else on iOS 26.2 experienced:

• SMS 2FA codes arriving hours late?
• Multiple expired codes showing up all at once?"

Nope. Not at all.

I tried this approach but it did not work for me.