Level 1

6 points

Error Invalid Number message in texts.

I thought I fixed this problem a month ago per another discussion's suggestions.

I had been getting the "+1(1)216116-11 Error Invalid Number Please re-send using valid 10 digit number" message even though the numbers were 10 digit.

I deleted the contacts and texts. Updated software to current iOS 7.1. Powered off then back on. Then re-entered the info.

It worked until this morning with the same 2 random contacts. But it is my son and best friend. So now I am frustrated.

I have checked more discussions and the fixes seem to be random as well. Does anyone have any new ideas?

iPhone 5c, iOS 7.1

Posted on Apr 9, 2014 6:59 AM

Top-ranking reply

Coolaper

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 12:27 PM

All those steps have not helped me, but after completing the steps described here I also did the following, and it worked! After removing the phone number from recent memory and deleting it from the contacts, I also had to delete all texts history from my other contacts who have ever included this phone number in their texts. So seems like if you have that phone number stored in some other texts or group texts, you will need to delete all those to get the result. If you are not sure, just delete your entire text history with all contacts (I know its hard to impossible to do given all the info we store in our text messages), but that was the only thing that eventually worked for me. Hope this helps

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28 replies

Oct 6, 2016 11:18 PM in response to charlie358

I found a simple solution. I opened a new thread to text a friend. Apparently, iPhone didn't like that. I deleted the new thread, scrolled way down to the original thread, and texted from there. Message sent. NO ERROR MESSAGE!

This was all done within the text message App. No deleting contacts, messing with the settings, or any of that foolishness.

garysmo

Level 1

4 points

Apr 10, 2014 6:21 PM in response to charlie358

try resetting the network settings

settings>general>reset>reset network settings

(this will reset wifi passwords and bluetooth pairings)

if that doesn't work, maybe a restore in iTunes

Nov 3, 2015 7:25 PM in response to charlie358

A Solution:

I work ATT Tech support, why after 3 IOS versions they have not fixed this yet is mind boggling but anyhow, i have a fix that works every-time iv used it for people. Go to Notes app> Type out the persons number, EX: 123-456-7892 but without the dashes 1234567892 and change the last number to a letter. EX: 7892 changes to 789A aka 123456789A

Then select and copy that number/letter combo> Go to that persons contact and edit out there number and replace it with this Via paste(you can't enter Letters into the contact directly so you have to use notes to change the number this way)

After that just send a message to that persons contact name.

So contact John will have a phone number of 123456789A and i will send a message to John.

If the last number of the contact is:

2 then you can change it to A or B or C EX 9999999992 = 999999999A Or 999999999B Or 999999999C

3 = D Or E Or F

4 = G Or H Or I

5 = J Or K Or L

6 = M Or N Or O

7 = P Or Q Or R Or S

8 = T Or U Or V

9 = W Or X Or Y Or Z

If there number ends in 1 then i have no fix for that, will have to wipe the phone or use a 3rd party app as i don't think apple will ever patch is -_-

Sep 2, 2014 8:50 AM in response to charlie358

The fix to this problem is easy, and the steps are set out here: http://edctips.blogspot.com/2014/09/fixing-iphone-texting-problem.html

Glen C

Level 1

14 points

Nov 15, 2014 8:49 PM in response to dcuno

worked like a champ!

Mar 31, 2015 11:56 AM in response to dcuno

thank you so much for posting this! I tried everything and only your steps helped me. I even shared it with the tech support helping me. thank you, thank you.

Jun 20, 2015 12:31 PM in response to charlie358

The way I solve this was by deleting all of the text messages on my phone.

Jun 22, 2015 9:42 AM in response to phildennis

This is the only thing that worked for me. Thank you. It has been an infuriating few days.

Dec 14, 2015 5:25 PM in response to Universum01

After some more testing it seems there is no fix, you can SMS the person but cannot reply, just have to wait till apple fixes it.

Feb 5, 2016 1:21 PM in response to dcuno

Thank you dcuno!!!!!

This worked. I had deleted all txt, removed contact, etc. but the deal killer for me was the group TXT's! When I deleted those too it all got better. Yea!

Jul 29, 2016 9:16 AM in response to dcuno

Thank you! I was really annoyed when this started happening and your solution worked!

Jan 3, 2017 2:56 PM in response to Coolaper

They may have accidentally blocked your texts this recently happened to me once and i found out i had been blocked

Jul 6, 2017 3:59 AM in response to charlie358

This was very helpful! Thanks!!!!!

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Error Invalid Number message in texts.