Message Failed when texting group

If your mobile carrier has not activated or included SMS services in your SIM plan, you will not be able to send or receive SMS messages using your iPhone. SMS services are provided by your mobile network operator, not by Apple.

It is important to understand the difference between iMessage and SMS:

1. iMessage (iPhone to iPhone): Apple provides iMessage, an internet-based messaging service that allows Apple users to exchange messages over Wi-Fi or mobile data. iMessage does not require an SMS plan, provided you have an internet connection. Messages are typically displayed in blue bubbles.
2. SMS (iPhone to Android): To send a conventional SMS message from your iPhone to an Android device, you need an active SMS service provided by your mobile carrier. Apple does not provide an SMS service independently of your carrier. These messages are typically displayed in green bubbles.
3. Receiving SMS messages: Similarly, receiving SMS messages requires your carrier to support and activate incoming SMS services for your SIM. Without this service, you may not receive SMS messages, including verification codes sent by banks, websites, or other services.

What should you do?

If you cannot send or receive SMS messages, contact your mobile carrier to confirm that SMS services are enabled on your SIM and included in your plan. If you are trying to communicate with another iPhone user, you can use

iMessage as an alternative, provided both devices have an internet connection and iMessage is enabled.

In short, Apple provides iMessage, whereas your mobile carrier provides the SMS service required for conventional text messaging. Having an iPhone or an active internet connection alone does not guarantee that you can send or receive SMS messages.

Canyouhelp9 wrote:

When texting a group. I get the message, “message failed”. I can then send the message, but must remove encryption. Can someone tell me why this is happening?

I’m not quite sure what you mean by “must remove encryption”, and how do you do that? An encrypted message will fail if any of the members in the group have a device that doesn’t support encrypted messages.