Having trouble sending messages with the Facebook Messenger app? While the app generally works fine, it occasionally encounters bugs. However, there are other reasons why your message may appear to have been sent but not delivered.
This article describes why apps sometimes fail to send outgoing messages and how to fix the problem.
Read on to learn more.
What it means?
When you send a message, you want it to reach the recipient without a hitch. This often happens with Facebook Messenger. Text, image, video or audio files reach the recipient's chat box within seconds. However, you may see a pop-up notifying you that the app has failed to deliver the message. You are fooled by the mystery and wonder what is causing the problem.
There can be many reasons behind failed message sending attempts. Let's take a look at the top reasons why your email doesn't make it to someone's inbox.
offline recipient
The person you are trying to contact may not be online. While you can message them, Messenger will only message them when they're online again. Another reason could be that the recipient is signed out of the app. Once they sign back into Messenger, your text message status will change to "Sent".
The message has been marked as spam
If for some reason a message reaches the spam section, it will not appear on your side as delivered.
system error
Although the Messenger app is relatively bug-free, the system occasionally has bugs that can delay delivery of messages. Although you have successfully sent the message, the application will not send the message until the system crash is resolved.
Recipient is not your Messenger contact
When sending a message to someone who isn't on your Messenger friends or contacts list, you won't see the message status change to "Sent". The message is in the person's inbox, but they might not see it, especially if the profile is private. Recipients must access the message request and decide whether to accept your message. If they do, the app delivers your message smoothly and the recipient can open and read it.
Before contacting someone on Messenger, make sure you are their online friend. That way, you don't have to wait until he accepts your message request.
server problem
The Messenger program on your friend's device may be running on a different server than your application. Although servers can usually communicate without difficulty, unforeseen problems can disrupt communication. When this happens, the application slows down and does not update the status of the message.
Read messages on home screen
Recipients may have read your message from a home screen notification. If the text is short, it will be fully displayed in the popup. For longer texts, the user can read about half of it in the notification window, while the rest is hidden.
Internet connection
Another reason for messages not being delivered could be a bad internet connection. If the application has difficulty running on an unstable network, it may cause communication delays. Messaging through the app doesn't consume a lot of data, so as long as your wireless connection is stable, you can stay in touch with your friends.
How to Fix Messages Sent But Not Delivered in Messenger
As frustrating as communication issues on the Messenger app can be, most issues just need a quick fix. These are some ways to optimize your application and ensure that all messages are delivered. You can restart your smartphone, turn off data saving, stop apps, turn on background data for programs, and clear cache.
Method 1: Restart your device
Sometimes, restarting the mobile device is enough to resolve software issues. Once the system is up and running, it should be compatible with all apps including Messenger.
Try restarting your phone or tablet and text some friends. If all your messages were delivered, then you don't have to worry about application errors anymore.
people using desktop computerVersionMessenger users should restart their computer and see if the issue persists.
Method 2: Disable Data Saver
Built-in data protection helps mobile users spend less data when using the app. However, it can interfere with your messages and prevent Messenger from successfully delivering them. Fortunately, you can disable it in just a few clicks.
Here's what to do on your Android device:
- Go to the Google Play Store and findmessengerAn app that uses a search bar.
- Install all available updates.
- Launch the app and tap on your profile picture.
- Scroll to the bottom of your profile settings and click Data Saver.
- If the option is enabled, enable it to disable it.
Follow the steps below to disable Data Saver on your iPhone:
- Go to the Apple Store and type "Messenger" in the search box.
- to chooseapplicationand install all available updates.
- Open Messenger, click on your avatar in the upper right corner of the interface and follow the same steps as above for Android.
Method 3: Stop the app
If background processes are overloading the app, it's best to force close Messenger to restore functionality.
Here's how to do it on an Android device:
- Access the Settings app and select Apps, Manage apps or Apps.
- Scan the list until you findmessenger.Tap the app to select it.
- Click "Force Stop".
This method also works on iOS devices.
- Open Settings and select Apps.
- Select View All Apps. Scroll through the list until you seemessengerand click on it.
- Click on the app and tap "Force Stop" at the top of the screen.
This action will kill any background processes that might be preventing your message from being received. Launch Messenger to check if it is more responsive.
Method 4: Enable background data
Background data helps apps work properly over poor or unstable wireless connections.
To enable data on Android 7.0 or later, follow the instructions below:
- Open Settings and select Mobile networks.
- Tap "Data Usage" and select "Keep Data".
- Select "Unrestricted Apps" if you enable the option.
- Scroll to the bottom of the interface to find the "Messenger" app.
- to choosemessengerapp to open it.
The following instructions will help you to enable background data usage on your iPhone:
- Go to Settings and tap on General.
- Select "Background app refresh" and scroll down the list of apps until you find itmessenger.
- Tap the Messenger app to enable data usage for that app.
Method 5: Clear the cache
You can remove unnecessary information by clearing the app's cache and optimizing its performance. When you update Messenger, it should deliver your message with no errors.
Here's how to clear your Android smartphone's cache:
- Launch Settings, select Applications and go to Application Manager.
- Scroll through the list of installed apps until you findmessenger.
- Tap on the app and select the “Clear Cache” option.
It won't take more than a few minutes to clear your iPhone's cache.
- Open Settings and click Apps. Select Show All Apps.
- Scan the list until you seemessenger.
- Click on the app and select the "Storage Usage" section.
- Tap "Clear Cache" to delete unwanted data.
Make sure the app delivers your messages
Although the Messenger app is quite reliable, it might not consistently deliver your messages to your contacts. This is an inconvenient situation, especially when you are trying to transfer valuable information. The good news is that solving this problem is not complicated. You should be able to optimize the app and your messaging through your mobile device by adjusting your settings.
Have you faced this problem on Facebook Messenger before? Which of the above methods helped you to resolve the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.
FAQs
Why Messenger Messages Are Sent But Not Delivered? ›
Typically, the message doesn't get delivered instantly due to some delay in the network and issues with connection requests. It could be a poor internet connection, a Messenger server problem, or a recipient's connection and lack of data storage space.
Why does my Messenger say sent but not delivered? ›If you send a message to someone and the message is not delivered, meaning that only an unfilled check mark icon appears, it generally means one of two things: The user has not logged into Facebook. The user has blocked you on Messenger.
How do you know if someone has restricted you on Messenger? ›How to know if someone blocked or restricted you on Messenger? A blocked person's message won't get delivered, so they see an empty circle with a checkmark. In contrast, a restricted person may see a filled circle with a checkmark that indicates the message has been delivered but won't get the read receipt.
Why is my Facebook message not delivered but the person is active? ›The most likely reason for this to occur is that the recipient has used the “Ignore messages” function within our chat. He has NOT used the message blocking option, which also exists. If he had, the system would not even let us write in his chat.
What is the difference between sent and delivered on Messenger? ›The blue circle with the check next to your message means that your message was sent. A filled-in blue circle next to your message means that your message was delivered. And, when a friend has read your message, a small version of your friend's photo will appear next to your message.
What happens when you restrict someone on Messenger? ›If you restrict someone: You won't get notifications when they message you, and your phone won't ring when they call you. You won't be able to call or message them. You won't see your conversation with them in your Chats list.
What is the difference between sent and delivered? ›Sent: The mobile device has sent the SMS to the SMSC (Short message service center). And the SMSC has confirmed it has received the SMS. Delivered: The mobile device has received a SMS-DELIVER (Delivery Notification). Although delivered is a relative term in the SMS world.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting Messenger? ›Instead of blocking a person, you can restrict them. This means the conversation is moved from your chat list and they can't see when you're active. Step 1 – from Chats, long press the chat of the person you'd like to block and tap Restrict.
What happens when you restrict someone on Facebook? ›When you add someone to your Restricted list, you'll still be friends with them on Facebook, but they'll only be able to see your public information (example: your posts and profile info you choose to make public) and posts you tag them in.
How to know if someone blocked you on Messenger without messaging them? ›If the person in question is a Facebook user, head to their profile to see if they have been active recently. If their profile indicates that they are logged in, they've likely blocked you on Messenger.
Why does a message on Messenger say sent? ›
: A blue circle means that your message is sending. : A blue circle with a check means that your message has been sent. : A filled-in blue circle with a check means that your message has been delivered. : A small version of someone's profile picture will appear below the message when they've seen it.
Why is my message not delivered? ›The first and most common reason why your text messages aren't getting delivered may be because you entered an invalid or wrong number. Popular phone verification services include Experian and Xverify. They take a list of contacts you provide and check their service status.
Why didn't my message say delivered? ›The message will not get delivered if your phone doesn't have a Wifi or Cellular data connection. Go to Settings > Wifi to join a wifi network or rejoin the network to refresh the connection. On the other hand, go to Settings > Cellular to join your cellular data network.
Do ignored messages show as delivered? ›Ignored messages do not show as delivered. You will receive and can even read the messages from the ignored conversation.
What does an empty check mean on Messenger? ›Empty circle with a check mark: The message has been sent but not delivered to the recipient. Filled circle with a check mark: The message has been delivered.
What does it look like when someone restricts you on Facebook? ›If you see only Public posts, that's one of the first signs that the person has restricted you. Next, go to the About section of their profile. If you can see only Public information on their About page as well, it's another signal that they have restricted you.
What does mute mean on Messenger? ›Facebook Messenger allows users to mute individual conversations temporarily, or even indefinitely. When a user mutes a conversation, they won't be notified when they receive new messages. When you mute a person, you need to select the time manually for which you want to mute a thread.
What does a restricted profile look like on Facebook? ›The restricted person's posts are only visible to their friends, and they cannot see posts from anyone else who is not their friend. Restricted profiles do not appear in search results and users do not receive notifications when the restricted profile posts to their Timeline.
Which is better sent or delivered? ›To be clear: Sent means it is on its way to the recipient, but delivered means the message was received. However, Delivered does not mean the message was read. Also, the recipient must also allow a "Message Received Receipt" to be sent to your phone so that you know it was delivered.
Does delivered mean blocked? ›If an Android user has blocked you, Lavelle says, “your text messages will go through as usual; they just won't be delivered to the Android user.” It's the same as an iPhone, but without the “delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to clue you in.
Do messages go through when blocked on Messenger? ›
Blocked messages are indefinitely shown as Sent and never delivered. Normally, once the person has received the message, you'll see the circle go from empty to filled-in with colour (as illustrated below). Then, when they actually open the message on their device, you should see the circle disappear.
Does blocking someone block them on Messenger? ›Blocking on Facebook removes the person as your friend and also blocks them on Messenger, while blocking on Messenger only blocks the person's calls and messages. The process to block and unblock someone is very similar. Here's how to do both.
What happens when you restrict someone from? ›What does restrict mean on Instagram? Restricting a user on Instagram is similar to blocking them—but a little more polite. Whereas blocking a user hides your entire feed and stories from them, the restrict feature simply hides their comments and messages from you while still allowing them to view your posts.
Can you have a secret conversation on Messenger with someone who is blocked? ›You could, for example, write “Anonymous” or “Secret” as the sender. It does not matter if you've been blocked on Facebook Messenger or anywhere else. A text with an anonymous sender will always be delivered.
What do ignored messages look like on Messenger? ›Keep a check on the delivery icon for both accounts. If the other person's delivery icon changes from Sent to Delivered and yours is still showing Sent, it means they have Ignored you.
Does message not delivered mean blocked? ›When you send them an SMS and you get the "Delivered" notification underneath it, you weren't blocked. If you get a notification like "Message Not Delivered" or you get no notification at all, that's a sign of a potential block.
What other factors may have caused delays in delivering text messages? ›- Weak Coverage. ...
- Network Traffic. ...
- Issues With a Mobile Device. ...
- Error on the Operator's Server. ...
- Different Networks. ...
- Phone Switched off for a Long Time. ...
- Ported Phone Numbers. ...
- Roaming Numbers.
When someone switches to a new device that doesn't run on iOS, they may leave their phone number in the app. In that case, you may not get the “Delivered” tag if you message them, but the message bubbles will be blue.
How do you know if someone is ignoring your messages? ›Send the person a message to see if they respond.
When you send someone a simple check-in text, and they don't respond for a few days, it might mean they don't want to talk to you. Try again once more if you don't hear back; if they don't respond the second time, don't keep pushing the issue.
This means your message was Not Delivered to the recipient. Hovering over the exclamation point icon will tell you the error message that we received from our SMS Provider! Sometimes this can help you tell what happened, and it can help the Support team troubleshoot the issue.
What does a black circle with a check mark mean on Messenger? ›
Your message was delivered successfully.
What does a GREY circle with a tick mean in Messenger? ›The filled grey circle with a checkmark signifies that your message has been delivered to your recipient. However, that doesn't necessarily mean your recipient has received the message. Often, it may be that your recipient's chat window is opened, and their network and phone have received the message.
What does did not answer mean on Messenger? ›Did not answer = Either did not go through, or rang and the recipient didn't answer/decline.
What does it mean when a message says sent on Messenger? ›: A blue circle means that your message is sending. : A blue circle with a check means that your message has been sent. : A filled-in blue circle with a check means that your message has been delivered. : A small version of someone's profile picture will appear below the message when they've seen it.
What is an unfilled check mark on Messenger? ›Empty circle with a check mark: The message has been sent but not delivered to the recipient. Filled circle with a check mark: The message has been delivered.
Why would a message not be delivered? ›Some of the most common delivery failures happen because the number is invalid, the recipient opted out of messages, there were network problems with the recipient's carrier, or your message contained content that carriers frequently block.
Why are my messages not delivering to one person? ›Your Message Is Flagged as Spam
If you are wondering why your texts aren't delivered to a certain person's iPhone, your text message may not have been delivered because it was flagged as spam by the recipient's phone or mobile carrier.
If an Android user has blocked you, Lavelle says, “your text messages will go through as usual; they just won't be delivered to the Android user.” It's the same as an iPhone, but without the “delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to clue you in.
What is the difference between ignored and blocked in Messenger? ›If a person is bothering you a lot and you no longer want to be associated with them, you can Ignore the messages. Ignore is a harsh form of mute but a subtle form of Block basically, without the other person knowing about it. You cannot Ignore Group messages. Furthermore, you cannot mute an Ignored chat thread.
What is the difference between restrict and block on Messenger? ›When you block someone, you no longer exist for them and vice versa. It's the harshest punishment you can give to someone on Facebook. It's so strict that even you lose the power to view their profile. On the contrary, restricting someone is simply hiding your posts automatically from them.