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Adamphs
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

iPhone 13 mini SMS fails due to duplicated country code

Hello,


I am trying to solve a very specific and frustrating issue on an iPhone 13 mini (Carrier: T-Mobile CZ).


The Problem:


We are trying to send a standard SMS command to a local GSM gate (a standard 9-digit M2M number). The SMS fails instantly (no green loading bar, just an immediate "Not Delivered" error).


After contacting our carrier, their technical support confirmed the reason: The iPhone is sending the number to the network with a duplicated country code (e.g., ⁠+420 +420 737 XXX XXX⁠ or ⁠00420 420...⁠). Because of this malformed number, the carrier's network immediately rejects the message.


Important context:


 Regular SMS to any other numbers work perfectly fine.


 Calling this exact gate number from the affected iPhone works without any issues.


 Sending an SMS to this gate from other devices (another iPhone and an Android phone on the same carrier) works perfectly.


What we have already tried (and failed):


1. Disabled Dial Assist: Turned off Settings > Phone > Dial Assist. Did not help.


2. Forced regular SMS: Turned off Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, and iMessage. The message still fails instantly.


3. Deep cache cleaning: Deleted the contact entirely from iCloud (via web browser), removed the number from the "Recents" list in the Messages app by tapping the "i" and deleting it, cleared call history, and restarted the iPhone.


4. Manual entry bypass: Tried sending a new message by manually typing only the 9-digit number without the country code. However, iOS automatically prepends the ⁠+420⁠ prefix in the "To:" field anyway, and the carrier still receives it with a double prefix.


5. Contact syncing issue: Even when we recreate the contact cleanly without a prefix, the Messages app seems to ignore the contact name and only shows the green number in the "To:" field, indicating iOS is still pulling a corrupted version of this number from some hidden deep cache.


My Question:


It seems iOS is aggressively holding onto a corrupted, cached version of this specific number with a double prefix and forces it every time an SMS is initiated.


How can we completely flush this specific number from the iOS hidden cache? Or is there any other way to stop iOS from duplicating the country code for this specific SMS? I want to avoid a complete factory reset without restoring from a backup just for one phone number.


Thank you for any advanced tips!

Posted on Sep 30, 2026 12:40 PM

2 replies

Adamphs Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 1, 2026 9:35 AM in response to SravanKrA

Hello,


Unfortunately it is a personal phone without any MDM profile. We have tried to add another eSIM of same operator and when the sms is sent from that SIM it works. The “double” country code has to be saved somewhere in the SIM/Messages/… setting.

SravanKrA
User level: Level 10 (454,138 points)

Oct 1, 2026 3:01 AM in response to Adamphs

On the iPhone, check:

Settings → General → VPN & Device Management


If you see an MDM/management profile, note its name and the organisation managing it.

Also check:


Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock / Network Provider / Carrier

and look at the Carrier information/version.


If the iPhone is managed by an enterprise, I would not remove the MDM profile just to test this. Instead, have the administrator confirm whether the device has any cellular, APN, eSIM, SMS, or carrier configuration payloads.



  1. Is this your corporate/organisation/enterprise/School Management iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate//organisation/enterprise/School Management
  2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organisation/enterprise/School Management?
    1. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    2. Or please contact the system administrator of the organisation who provided the profile to you



A corporate profile installed on your iPhone could potentially be contributing to the inaccessibility of certain features. 

Here's why:

  • Restrictions: Corporate profiles can have restrictions placed on apps and functionalities. These restrictions might be limiting some activity, causing it to be unresponsive or quit.
  • Managed Apps: IT departments might deploy specific navigation apps through the profile, potentially blocking certain functions or features.
  • Security Settings: Corporate profiles often have stricter security settings that could affect app or function behavior. This might be causing unexpected behavior of an App or functions.


Here's what you can do:

  • Check with IT: The best course of action is to contact your IT department. They can explain the restrictions set by the corporate profile and see what is affected. They might be able to adjust settings or suggest alternative apps or features approved for corporate use.
  • Look for App Conflicts: See if your IT department uses a different app through the corporate profile. Conflicting apps might cause crashes.


Additional points to consider:

  • Even if the profile isn't directly affecting the function, it's still a good idea to check with IT. They might be aware of similar issues and have workarounds.
  • While troubleshooting, make sure you prioritize safety. Don't fiddle with your phone. 


By working with IT and considering these possibilities, you can hopefully identify if the corporate profile is the culprit and find a solution that allows you to use the iPhone to your liking.



Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256368053