iPad not able to text android phones

sheryllfromfrederick wrote:

What part of I have tried everything did you not understand. Been on apple support 3 times and they tried everything.

No one here knows what "everything" means to you. We were not there and, sadly, are not mind readers. It would help if you outlined what you've done.

Since you haven't mentioned checking the settings in iPhone>Apps>Messages>Text Message Forwarding, I don't know if that's one of the things you checked.

Forward text messages from your iPhone to other devices - Apple Support

Does your iPad have cellular service? Read this article for details about the different protocols used when sending messages to people. Only some work with non-Apple devices. THe color of your message may be a clue. --> What is the difference between iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS? - Apple Support

In addition, what is telling you that you cannot text? Is it something telling you that, or is it the person is not getting them?

You have posted in a voluntary, user-to-user technical support community. Responses are exclusively from other users like yourself, not Apple. Click on this link for Apple products feedback links --> Product Feedback - Apple

Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.

Have you tried restarting your iPad since updating?

I have the same problem - I can send/receive messages from android users on my iPhone and my Mac Studio and my MacBook with no problem. My iPad, however, can only receive from android users - not send. If I receive a message from an android user on my iPad, I can not reply to it via SMS or RCS - it will just eventually time out and generate a “not delivered” message. But if I go to my phone or a computer, I can reply using messages there, and then my reply will show up in the text thread on my iPad. It’s just so incredibly frustrating.

Things I tried before contacting support include:

1. Account & iCloud Sync Resets

-Toggled iMessage off and back on across both the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPad Pro.

-Toggled "Use on this iPad" (Messages in iCloud) off and back on

-Signed out of the Apple Account in Send & Receive on both devices, restarted both, and signed back in to force a fresh token sync.

-Verified that my Phone Number (not email) is checked under "Start New Conversations From" on the iPad.

-Toggled Handoff off/on in Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff.

-Forced manual syncs via Sync Now in Settings > [Name] > iCloud > Messages on both devices.

-Changed Keep Messages duration from "Forever" to "1 Year" to clear potential iCloud cache deadlocks.

2. Network & Cellular Troubleshooting

-Performed a Reset Network Settings on both the iPhone and iPad.

-Toggled Airplane Mode on/off on the iPhone to force a cell tower re-sync.

-Turned off Wi-Fi on the iPhone to force the iCloud sync over cellular.

-Turned Cellular Data completely OFF on the iPad Pro to ensure its own cellular radio wasn't hijacking/rejecting the SMS handoff, forcing it onto the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth bridge to the iPhone.

-Verified Low Power Mode and Low Data Mode are disabled, and kept the iPad plugged into power.

-Disabled Limit IP Address Tracking in iPhone Cellular settings.

-Dialed ##21# on the iPhone to clear any potential carrier-level forwarding blocks (confirmed disabled via *#21#).

3. App-Level & RCS Specific Troubleshooting

-Force-closed Messages on both devices and deleted failed message threads.

-Attempted initiating texts directly from the Contacts App card rather than the Messages app.

-Toggled RCS Messaging off on the iPhone to force the iPad into standard SMS fallback (still failed).

-Disabled advanced RCS toggles (End-to-End Encryption beta and RCS Business Messaging) on the iPhone, rebooted, and re-enabled basic RCS.

Subsequently,  I called Apple Phone Support and had a case opened. I explained all of the above to the support tech who had me repeat a lot of those things while on the call. Then I allowed the support tech to remote in to my iPhone  and my iPad, and she walked me through trying a bunch of things she felt needed to be checked but which I do not recall (I didn’t write a list of things she tried b/c I figure that is on file with Apple Support anyway) and then I was informed that Apple Engineering is aware of this issue and has been actively working on a fix for about a month.

According to support, there is currently no local device setting or reset that will resolve it, and the official response from them is to wait for an upcoming software update containing the fix.

Question for the Community

Is anyone else with an M4 iPad Pro experiencing this exact RCS/SMS forwarding breakdown? Has anyone discovered any temporary workarounds that successfully force the handoff through in the meantime? I am so incredibly frustrated - when I am working on my iPad and get a message from an android user, I have to either ignore it or switch from the iPad to my phone or a computer to respond, and this makes it more difficult for me to continue working on my iPad! I’m really disappointed that Apple can’t fix this - I’m not 100% sure when I first noticed the problem, but my notes reflect I first made serious attempts at troubleshooting it on June 15, 2026 and my support call was 7/20/26 and there has been no additional update.

I would very much appreciate your considered response! Let me know if it makes more sense to start a new thread.

-Hillary

LATE BREAKING NEWS!! Literally was just able to update to iPadOS 26.6 and the problem is gone. I suggest anyone with the same issue try updating to 26.6

-h.

sheryllfromfrederick wrote:

Tried everything and still not able to text to android phone from ipad since last update. Apple your mistake get it fixed. Called 3 times and you are aware of the problem now fix it.

There is no Apple here in these user to usertechnical forum to fix your issue.

sheryllfromfrederick wrote:

What part of I have tried everything did you not understand. Been on apple support 3 times and they tried everything.

Like IdrisSeaBright stated "No one here knows what "everything" means to you. We were not there and, sadly, are not mind readers. It would help if you outlined what you've done. "

What part of that don't you understand?

what is the status of correcting this issue. I still cannot text android users from my iPad. Do you have a fix yet?