Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?[Solved]

[garnestr]

I recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy S10e from AT&T. I previously had a S8, and my wife had a S6. I took the SIM card from the S8 and put it in the S10e, then I took the SIM card from the S6 and put it in the S8. Now I have the S10e, and my wife has the S8. We can call each other fine, but we are unable to text each other. I tried texting her just now, and my Messages app just shuts down before I can even type anything in. We are both in the same family plan from AT&T. How can I fix this issue? Thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Welcome to Android Central! And her Messages app also closes when she tries to text you? Are you able to text other people without problem?

Try clearing the app cache for the Messages app in Settings>Apps.

 

[garnestr]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Thank you! When she tries to text me, it doesn't say "Delivered" on her phone after she sends it, but it should because we're both on AT&T.

We are both able to text other people without issue.

I cleared the app cache on my phone, and when I went to try texting her again, my Messages app shut down again.

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Try wiping the cache partition of the phones:

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/de...axy-s8/wipe-cache-partition-samsung-galaxy-s8
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/de...s10e/wipe-cache-partition-samsung-galaxy-s10e

 

[garnestr]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

I was able to wipe my cache partition, but I won't be able to do hers until I get home from work later today.

After doing so on my phone, I opened the Messages app and selected her name. When I selected the box to type the message, the app shut down.

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Bring the phone back to AT&T - it's a brand new phone, so it should be able to run the Messages app. (If the store can't help you, ask where the nearest Device Support Center is - they can.)

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Strange situation. I agree with contacting AT&T about this, but in the meantime, see what happens if you delete your wife's contact information, then re-create the contact.

 

[Scienceguy Labs]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

Just went through this myself on AT&T. Switched my sim card between two of my phones. After that, I lost the ability to receive texts from two contacts. Tried everything above and more with no luck.
I ended up deleting the cache and data in the Messages app, force stopped it, and deleted it. Then, I went into my Google account and removed that phone using a pc. I then performed a factory reset on that phone, since it wasn't my main phone. On my daily driver, I removed (deleted cache, etc beforehand) and reinstalled the Messages app. Since then, all has been good.

I would start by powering down your phones, clearing the data from your messaging app, and removing the phones from your accounts using a PC or other trusted device. When you power on your phones, it will ask you to log back in.

I have no idea if this was the reason my phones started working again, but it's the last thing I did before things were fixed.

 

[garnestr]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

I ended up going to a local AT&T store. I had already signed out of my Google account on my old phone, but I did not sign out of my Samsung account. Once I did, that cleared the issue with my Messages app shutting down and being unable to send a text to my wife. Kinda strange, but it worked.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

I ended up going to a local AT&T store. I had already signed out of my Google account on my old phone, but I did not sign out of my Samsung account. Once I did, that cleared the issue with my Messages app shutting down and being unable to send a text to my wife. Kinda strange, but it worked.

Sometimes changing sim between phones makes things happen but great its all good

 

[garnestr]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

I forgot to mention that the AT&T rep did replace my SIM card. Not sure if that helped or not, but it's all good now.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: Why can't I text a family member after changing phones?

I forgot to mention that the AT&T rep did replace my SIM card. Not sure if that helped or not, but it's all good now.

Thats great , marked the thread solved