Text messages are randomly delayed by up to a day

  • 28 April 2020
  • 37 replies
  • 40507 views
S
Userlevel 3

I've been seeing this off and on for months in group texts mostly, but also in direct texts as well. The problem is that text messages are often delayed by up to 24 hours and then dumped all at once into my phone. This is looking to be a TMobile issue. I'm on an iPhone 11 Pro with the latest version of iOS. To sum up:

  • This is only with text messages, not iMessage or other messaging apps.
  • This happens when I have a good signal and a wifi connection in my house, but it has also happened when I'm out and have only cellular, but still a good signal.
  • The other people in group chats are spread across numerous different carriers. None of them have reported this.
  • The usual phone troubleshooting steps (quit the Messages application, restart the phone, etc) do absolutely nothing.
  • I checked the activity logs in my TMobile account. The text messages in question all came through at the same time according to the logs. It looks like it's somehow getting delayed inside of TMobile's system.

I've missed some texts due to this that were relatively time-sensitive. I don't think I need to express my frustration at something as old and dead-simple as SMS/MMS getting screwed up like this.

It also doesn't help my frustration when the browser based Places/Topics Browser is hopelessly broken and the page I'm using to write this keeps auto-scrolling down when I interact with a number of elements on the page.

37 replies

C

Same issue missing random text messages? Today everyone received the group text except me! Happen a few times probably more than I know! what do I do???

R

I’m based in Hempfield with office in Lititz PA.

This has been getting worse over the last 2 months. The Lititz office is on wifi with excellent signal. BUT BUT   we’re not getting calls, or they’re delayed by hours up to 24hrs. Txt messages come through hours later.

We’re losing business because of this.
I’m signed up for the T-Mobile equipment / tower updates -- so any daily issue updates that I’m beginning to feel it’s time to find a more reliable carrier.

B

I’ve been having the same issue for about a month to a month and a half… I’ve had the same phone since 2021(Note 10+). I need to upgrade anyways, so tomorrow I’ll be going in and changing out phones and requesting a new sim card. Hopefully they can transfer my old number to the new sim card. But this issue has made me miss ALOT of time sensitive messages. It’s mainly texts and calls it’s effecting. But I’ve tried everything even a factory reset with no luck.

B

I am having this problem as of May 3, 2023.  I am a pet carer with Rover and have texts set up as a backup to requests via the app.  If I’m not next to my phone I may miss a request which in turn takes away my chance at a job.  
 

Any chance anyone else is having the same problem?

H
Userlevel 2
Badge

That’s not the issue. The emails are bouncing back from a specific email address. Other email addresses get through, so it’s not a network settings issue. This is happening server-side. That specific email address of mine is being blocked by a spam filtering service that T-Mobile contracts out to markmonitor.com. You can tell because of the content of the bounced back email, which references the rejecting server (ending in cloudfilter.net, owned by markmonitor.com). Their website explains that they are a spam filtering service. And T-Mobile has a page that explains their new spam filtering.

C

I had this problem…  My SMS messages were delayed for up to 24 hours.  I’m running an iPhone X with iOS 15.5.  I had already tried rebooting my phone, and reseating my SIM card.

 

I called T-Mobile technical support, and she had me “Reset my Network Settings” on my iPhone, and things started working again.  Warning, the steps below will require you to re-login to your WiFi network(s) and reconnect any Bluetooth devices.

 

Here’s how she “Reset my Network Settings”:

  1. Go to Settings > General > “Transfer or Reset iPhone” (at the bottom).
  2. Select “Reset”, then pick the 2nd option…   “Reset Network Settings”.
  3. The phone will reboot, and then you’re ready to go!

 

Good luck!

 

 

H
Userlevel 2
Badge

I thought that my randomly delayed message issue was related specifically to the email-to-text service (because those are just about the only SMS messages I ever get - and I get a few dozen a day), but you guys are describing pretty close to the behavior I've been seeing since late April, even before I swapped my Sprint SIM card for the T-Mobile SIM card on May 31st.

 

in my case, it appears that only individual messages are delayed. For example, say 1 SMS was too long and was broken up into 4 parts: the first part could be delayed over 24 hours and the other 3 I get nearly immediately! And when I receive the delayed messages, I get them 1 at a time, not in a dump.

Then, Tuesday almost 2 weeks ago, all of my SMS messages originating from email-to-sms completely stopped and the emails started bouncing back with the error “sender rejected”. It can from a spam filter server: Cloudfilter.net. I googled them. They're a spam filter service that contract with large companies to filter spam for the client company’s customers.

I'd be willing to bet they're the source of the issue. I'd also be curious to know if those of you who are affected experience this problem because you receive a lot of frequent messages (which is perhaps a factor in spam determination).

F
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +16

Same issue. I cannot find any resolution. It’s been weeks / months

I think this T Mobile’s way of saying that it doesn’t need our business and by not responding to this thread is telling us to go to AT&T. 

Here is a link to AT & T’s website; https://www.att.com/ Their family plan is the SAME cost as T-Mobiles and you get much, much better coverage and customer service.


they dont respond to this thread because the site itself is peer to peer assistance..there are a few moderators and an admin that keep order in here but thats about it..need them to look into something you will need to call them or contact their T-Force team via Facebook or Twitter.

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
D

Same issue. I cannot find any resolution. It’s been weeks / months

I think this T Mobile’s way of saying that it doesn’t need our business and by not responding to this thread is telling us to go to AT&T. 

Here is a link to AT & T’s website; https://www.att.com/ Their family plan is the SAME cost as T-Mobiles and you get much, much better coverage and customer service.

C

I was only having this issue with some websites that use text messages for two factor authentication. Messages would take ten minutes or longer.

 

Maybe it’s coincidence, but turning off LTE did make a message from okta show up in seconds.

N

For what it’s worth, I’m also experiencing these same issue. Not receiving texts, and not receiving calls with no notifications about missed calls. I had the issue pretty consistently for about a month then T-Mobile said they resolved something on their end and it stopped happening, and now it’s happening again but much worse this time. I’ve missed significantly more calls and texts. I noticed an uptick in issues around 12/23 and it’s gotten worse since then. I’ve spoken to several different magenta team members and have not gotten any resolution yet. I’ve already started searching for a new plan on a new network. This is ridiculous.

N

After years as a relatively happy TMo customer, this started happening to me in the last month or so. Texts arrive in the middle of the night. Trying the 3G switch.

J

We’ve noticed the exact same issue since switching from Verizon.  It’s with single texts too...just most easily observed on group texts with spouse gets one and I don’t or vice versa. No issues with other apps like Facebook Messenger.  It’s T-Mobiles issue to fix (no way I’m bothering with the 3G trick periodically) - If they don’t fix it soon, it’s back to Verizon.  They’re pretty comparable now in price/value and missing texts (+plus more weak coverage spots) just isn’t worth the small $ difference.

M

I just started having this issue. My wife is also on TMO + Android but unaffected. The technique of disconnecting from LTE and switching to 3G worked immediately. Got a small flood of delayed group messages (which my wife had already received). Hope  this method also helps others. 

H
Userlevel 1

I've been seeing this off and on for months in group texts mostly, but also in direct texts as well. The problem is that text messages are often delayed by up to 24 hours and then dumped all at once into my phone. This is looking to be a TMobile issue. I'm on an iPhone 11 Pro with the latest version of iOS. To sum up:

 

  • This is only with text messages, not iMessage or other messaging apps.
  • This happens when I have a good signal and a wifi connection in my house, but it has also happened when I'm out and have only cellular, but still a good signal.
  • The other people in group chats are spread across numerous different carriers. None of them have reported this.
  • The usual phone troubleshooting steps (quit the Messages application, restart the phone, etc) do absolutely nothing.
  • I checked the activity logs in my TMobile account. The text messages in question all came through at the same time according to the logs. It looks like it's somehow getting delayed inside of TMobile's system.

 

I've missed some texts due to this that were relatively time-sensitive. I don't think I need to express my frustration at something as old and dead-simple as SMS/MMS getting screwed up like this.

 

It also doesn't help my frustration when the browser based Places/Topics Browser is hopelessly broken and the page I'm using to write this keeps auto-scrolling down when I interact with a number of elements on the page.

I fixed this exact issue by getting a new SIM card!

H
Userlevel 1

Thanks fire guy, I actually was asking the group if they found anything out. But no worries, I fixed my issue! I got a new SIM card (mine was at least 10 years old) and I haven’t had any missing group txts since then. Hopefully this info will help other people!

F
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +16

if you are needing actual TMO agent assistance with this you will need to contact them via FB or twitter..the site here is peer to peer only..

 

So can we get an answer here?

this has been happening for years to me. I’m ready to switch carries. 
 

also a common theme I’ve noticed is, the person who isn’t getting the txts has had their number for a long time. I’ve had mine for 10+ years.

ive exhausted all ends at apple. It’s a T-Mobile issue. 

 

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
H
Userlevel 1

So can we get an answer here?

this has been happening for years to me. I’m ready to switch carries. 
 

also a common theme I’ve noticed is, the person who isn’t getting the txts has had their number for a long time. I’ve had mine for 10+ years.

ive exhausted all ends at apple. It’s a T-Mobile issue. 

J

This just happened to me today.  After months of my contacts knowing me as “the guy who randomly doesn’t get messages,” and when I don’t reply they have to ask “T-Mobile again?” I just received about 40 messages from within the last 24 hours.  There are implications as some of these messages were work-related.  Not good.  At least this time I received the messages, usually they must just time out and die somewhere before reaching my phone.

C

I've also been experiencing delayed and out-of-order texts (usually in group chats, but also direct texts) since switching from Verizon 3 months ago, though my wife has not noticed delayed texts. I did call t mobile support and reset my text messaging settings, but the problem persists. Very frustrating.

S

I have the same problem, SMS and MMS, not just in group messages. I'm wondering if the above solution helped, or if anyone has found a solution?

T
Badge

I had a similar issue and was able to find a solution. No promises but something you can try.

I was having an issue where receiving MMS texts (both group chats and pictures) would be delayed by 30-90 minutes, sometimes up to 4+ hours. Sending was fine, but then responses would come back 90 minutes late, which is suboptimal. I tried rebooting my phone, switching airplane mode on/off, adjusting settings in my messaging app. (I use Textra on a Google Pixel). Nothing worked.

But then I tried switching my network settings from LTE (preferred) and forced it to 3G service. All of the sudden, MMS was sending and receiving normally again. After 20-30 mins I switched back to LTE and it continued working normally. I wonder if during the pandemic without traveling as much and being connected to the same cell tower for too long it can creating timing issues between the tower and your phone. I assume switching to 3G forces the phone to reset the connection with the other network.

Hopefully this tip can help others! Good luck.

A

I am happy and disappointed to realize this is not just me. The same exact issue you are all experiencing is happening to me as well. I’ve been shown text messages that were sent to me and never hit my phone. For example, around 4 am there was a bulk of text messages that came through to my phone from days ago. This is not good. I have an iPhone8  with the latest iOS update. I’ve tried rebooting the phone and taking it off wifi to let it use the cellular network. If anyone has any idea or tricks they tried on their own that worked please share. Otherwise, hopefully someone from t-mobile support raises this issue.

J

Both my wife and I are having the same issues… no ideas why. Been going on for 2 days now. We just get a dump of message at night. So frustrating to be out of the loop with friends and family. Thinking of switching after 4 great years. 

K

I’ve now been having this problem for several weeks from my family group text and it’s extremely frustrating as I’m always out of the loop now and might as well not even be in the group text. Restarting my phone only works sometimes. Can’t wait to switch back to Verizon ASAP

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