S23 Ultra not receiving text messages

Let's look into why you're not receiving text messages so that you can start enjoying your new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, kemcknight.

If you're coming from an iOS Apple iPhone, first place to start is to turn off iMessage. When iMessage is in use, it may prevent Android users from receiving the message.

This is because iMessage uses servers that do not communicate with AT&T. Try resolving your experience by turning off iMessage then test the results.

If your experience persists despite these steps it may help you to start receiving messages on your device by selecting the default app to send and receive messages. Here's how to manage your downloaded and preloaded apps.

• From Settings, tap Apps. Tap an option to customize:
  • Choose default apps: Choose which apps to use for making calls, sending
    messages, going to websites, and more.
  • Samsung app settings: View a list of Samsung apps and customize their
    settings.
  • Your apps: Tap an app to view and update information about its privacy and
    usage settings. Options vary by app.

To reset app options that have been changed tap More options followed by Reset app
preferences. Also, you can try resolving your experience by disabling then reenabling SMS messages.

In some versions of Android this permission can be turned on or off by default.

• To set the app's permission on your phone choose Settings > Apps > SMS Messaging > Permissions, and turn on the SMS permission for the app.

Try this and let us know how it goes. Make sure to include any error messages you receive when trying to send a text message. This will give us an idea about what's impacting your device's inability to receive text messages.

Lar, AT&T Community Specialist

I am having the same issue on my brand new Samsung s23 Ultra 1TB phone and it is extremely stressful. I'm not getting any of my son's texts, maybe 75% of my husband's, and about half of my bank alerts so far. I was missing texts from others and they didn't know why I never responded. 

I went into ATT and they logged into my account and suddenly all of my texts came in at once. All they did was log into my account. 

I tried switching to a physical SIM, wondering if the newer eSIM is the problem, but it is hard to have hope that it is fixed when it suddenly started working BEFORE anything was changed.

Fingers crossed. I just cannot believe this is happening on a brand new $1700 phone. It's insane. Text messaging is such an essential, primary use of a phone. It's key for finance, health, work, and more. I can't just not get my texts and have no way of even knowing I missed texts. 

You wont see any texts as they are being intercepted by apple's messaging servers. 

You have to load up your iMessages in Settings on any Apple device and then remove your phone number from the list of IDs that can send and receive messages otherwise anyone sending txts to your number from Apple devices will be stuck inside Apple's system. Apple won't externally forward the message as SMS or MMS as it's expecting your number is tied to an iOS device (Blue Bubble). Removing that number from iCloud in iMessage Settings will allow Apple to send it as a SMS/MMS (Green Bubble). Hope that makes sense?

I'm not sure what happened but I finally started receiving texts from my husband's phone over the weekend. I had already done all the steps suggested by ATTHelp so that post response was useless.

@AimeeErnest If you haven't already tried it, open the "Device Help" app. It pretty much walks you through all the suggestions posted the ATTHelp poster above. And maybe keep having your husband try texting. I don't know what changed with my phone but I'm getting all my husband's texts now.

@oznuca Apple has nothing to do with this. We both have Samsung phones and have never had apple phones.

We are glad to hear that you are able to receive text messages from your husband again kemcknight!

Should you have any inquiries in the future, do not hesitate to reach back out to us on AT&T Community Forums, as we always here to help! 

Thank you for reaching out to us on AT&T Community Forums!

Rhoda, AT&T Community Specialist 

I haven't had the issue since switching to a physical SIM at the AT&T store (from the original eSIM) I have no idea if it is really fixed or if it was a coincidence, but I feel it's worth noting for anyone desperate to try something when nothing is working. 

I'll get that "Device Help" app on my homescreen as a reminder to try that first if the problem reoccurs. 😬🤞

I just got the new Samsung S23 and am having all sorts of texting issues. plain text seems to go through just fine, anything with a picture or video is most always held up or fails entirely. Have been to the store a few times already for their assistance, nothing seems to have worked. Cache deleted, phone restarted, running the recommended app, etc...   I'll be going back to the store again tonight as I don't know how to fix these types of things. Not sure what else they can do...   so frustrated!

Same...been. sending my son texts. All day and he's not getting them either.