Android Not Receiving Texts From iPhone

If an Android phone receives texts from Android users but not from iPhones, the phone number may still be registered with Apple’s iMessage service. An iPhone sender can then route the message toward iMessage instead of the carrier’s SMS/RCS path.

Confirm the pattern before changing anything

Ask two trusted people to send fresh messages: one from an iPhone and one from another Android phone. Also make an ordinary call.

• Only iPhone messages fail after you left iPhone: deregister iMessage.
• Messages from everyone fail: check SIM activation, the number port, and carrier SMS service.
• Only one person or group fails: start a new conversation and inspect blocking on both phones.
• Texts work but photos or group messages fail: check mobile data and the carrier’s MMS/RCS provisioning.

This avoids blaming iMessage when the Android line itself is not fully active.

Deregister iMessage with the old iPhone

If you still have the iPhone:

1. Put the SIM back in it if you physically moved that SIM.
2. Connect the iPhone to cellular data.
3. Open Settings > Apps > Messages and turn iMessage off.
4. Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn FaceTime off.

Paths on older iOS versions may omit Apps. Keep the phone powered on and connected briefly so the change can register.

Deregister online if the iPhone is gone

Use Apple’s official Deregister iMessage page from the source list below. Enter the phone number, receive Apple’s confirmation code, and submit it.

Apple says SMS should begin working right away, although some Apple devices can take a few hours to recognize that the number no longer uses iMessage. Do not pay a third party or disclose an Apple verification code to a caller.

Start a new conversation

After deregistration, ask the iPhone sender to:

1. confirm your contact shows the correct mobile number
2. create a new message addressed directly to that number
3. send a short text rather than continuing an old iMessage-only thread

Old group conversations can preserve previous routing and participant details. If a new one-to-one SMS works but an old group does not, create a new group thread. Group photos and video may also need mobile data and MMS support.

Check the Android messaging path

In Google Messages, open your profile picture and Messages settings > RCS chats. Review the connection status. If RCS is stuck after a phone or carrier change, follow Google’s current prompt to verify the number.

RCS is not a substitute for a broken carrier line. Test a plain SMS with Wi-Fi off. Also check:

• the default SMS app
• blocked numbers and Spam & blocked
• whether the SIM is enabled for calls and texts
• the default SIM for SMS on a dual-SIM phone
• the carrier’s outage and number-port status

If calls, SMS, and data all fail, work from the carrier-switch data checklist rather than deleting message history.

Escalate with useful evidence

Contact the current carrier if no plain SMS arrives after Apple deregistration. Provide the phone number, device model, time of test, sender’s carrier if known, and whether messages fail from all iPhones or one sender.

Ask the carrier to confirm that the port is complete and SMS/MMS are provisioned on the correct IMEI and SIM. Do not factory-reset the Android phone for a server-side number-routing problem.

Frequently asked questions

Why can iPhone users text other people but not my Android?

Your number may still be associated with iMessage, especially after moving from an iPhone. The sender’s iPhone can route the message to Apple’s service instead of SMS.

Can I deregister iMessage without the old iPhone?

Yes. Apple provides an official online deregistration tool that confirms your phone number by SMS.

How long does deregistration take?

Apple says SMS should work right away, but some Apple devices may take a few hours to update.

Why do individual texts work but an old group chat does not?

The group may still use its previous iMessage participants or routing. Start a new group after deregistration and verify that mobile data and MMS/RCS work.

Should I delete all my messages or reset the phone?

No. First deregister iMessage, start a new test thread, and confirm carrier SMS provisioning. Those steps target the likely routing problem without erasing data.