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Can't send or receive messages on your Android phone? You're not alone.

Worry not, the problem seems fixable.
By

Published onDecember 10, 2020

A photo of a text messaging app
TL;DR
  • Many Android users are experiencing problems with sending and receiving messages.
  • The issue has now lasted for days.
  • An update to Google’s carrier services app seems to be the culprit.

If you’ve had trouble with SMS services on your Android phone lately, you’re not alone. Many users with LG, OnePlus, Samsung, Motorola, and other Android phones are reporting that they’ve been unable to send and receive messages for the past couple of days. Some people are also experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes in sending texts.

Affected users have taken to Reddit and other forums to complain but there’s no official response from Google or the smartphone brands. The problem seems to be caused by an update to Google’s carrier services app.

The Play Store reviews for the app show that its November 23 update to version 50 is to blame. Fortunately, uninstalling the app seems to fix the problem. However, before you do that, you should know that the app enables the latest communications services and features in the Android Messages app so deleting the app might not be the best solution.

If you’d like to get rid of carrier services on your Android phone, head to the My Apps and Games section on the Google Play Store, find the carrier services app and uninstall it. You’ll also have to reboot your phone to complete the fix.

Then again, Google pushed out a new update to the app today with bug fixes and stability improvements so you might want to get the latest version and check if it resolves the issues.

Also read: The best texting and SMS apps for Android