(9 Fixes) iMessage Doesn’t Say Delivered [2023 Guide]

Here’s my favorite part about iMessage:

Knowing exactly if my chat has been delivered or not.

So, when this feature stopped working on my iPhone…

I immediately tried to fix it.

And in just minutes, I successfully stopped the problem.

Wanna know how I did it?

Continue reading to find out:

9 quick solutions you can try to fix this issue.
The most common reasons your iMessage isn’t showing as delivered.
How you can change your recipient’s information and stop this problem.
And this is just the beginning…

Why is iMessage not showing as delivered?

iMessage isn’t showing as delivered because you have connectivity issues. This error also occurs when your iMessage has a bug. And in other cases, your method of sending/receiving messages glitches. If your recipient isn’t connected to the Internet, your iMessage won’t say delivered either.

iMessage doesn’t say delivered: 9 fixes

#1: Check your Internet connection

Unlike SMS…

iMessage requires you to have a reliable Internet connection to send messages.

With that, the first fix you should try is ensuring your device is connected to a stable network.

Now, both WiFi and cellular data let you use iMessage.

So, first, let’s go through how you can…

Ensure that your iOS device is connected to WiFi:

Turn ON your iPhone/iPad.
Head to the Settings app.
Select Wi-Fi from the list.
Check if there’s a network under the Wi-Fi heading.

If there’s a tab with a check mark near the top of your screen…

Your device is connected to a network.

Don’t see a check icon?

In that case, your device isn’t connected to WiFi yet.

So, follow these steps to do so:

On your current screen, select a WiFi you know the credentials of.
Input the password to connect your phone to the network.

Wanna use your cellular data instead? I got you.

Here’s how you can…

Turn ON your iPhone’s cellular data:

Go to your device’s Settings.
Tap Cellular.
Turn ON the toggle at the top of your screen.

Note: Turning ON your data doesn’t always mean your device will have an Internet connection. Double-check with your mobile service provider if you currently have a data plan. And if you still have remaining MBs on your cellular data balance.

You might also want to know: Is 15 Mbps Fast? How Many Devices Can It Handle?

#2: Resend your message

The previous solution ensured that your device had access to the Internet.

So, this time…

You should resend the iMessage that didn’t previously say Delivered.

Now, if the chat bubble you sent has a Not Delivered text under it…

Simply tap the More Information icon on the right side of the message.

Note: This looks like a circle with an exclamation mark inside.

Then, from the small window at the bottom of your screen…

Select Try Again.

“I don’t see the Not Delivered text.”

In that case…

Resend the message by manually typing and sending it again to your recipient. And observe if the chat box finally states Delivered.

#3: Turn iMessage OFF and ON

iMessage is a pretty reliable communication feature.

But, like any aspect of tech, it’s not always safe from glitches and bugs.

So, if your message still doesn’t say Delivered…

Refresh your iMessage system:

Turn ON your iOS device.
Go to the Settings app.
Scroll down and select Messages.
Find the tab with “iMessage” on it.
Turn OFF the toggle beside this option.
Turn ON the toggle once more.

After following these steps, wait for at least 1 minute.

And before you recheck your iMessage, it’s best if you…

#4: Force restart your device

Your iPhone/iPad always has background tasks running.

And while your device is certainly more than capable of handling these activities…

It’s not unusual for your iPhone to glitch when it’s too overwhelmed with its tasks. Especially if your device:

Is out of date.
Often overheats.
Is rarely turned OFF.
Has very low battery health.

See, when your iPhone glitches…

You’ll have a hard time navigating your device. And some of its features may even stop working, including iMessage.

But don’t worry.

Fixing this problem takes less than a minute, so follow these steps to…

Restart your iOS device to stop it from glitching:

iPhone X or later

Locate the Power and Volume down buttons on your device.
Press and hold both keys.
Let go when the power-off slider appears on your screen.
Drag the slider to the right.
Wait for 1 minute.
Press and hold the power button of your iPhone.
Let go when the Apple logo shows up.

iPhone 6-8 and SE models

Locate the Side/Power button on your device.
Press and hold it.
Let go after you see the slider on your screen.
Drag the slider to the right.
Wait for about 30 seconds.
Turn ON your device again by pressing and holding the power button.

And now that you’ve restarted your iPhone…

Try using iMessage again and see if your chats now say delivered.

Recommended reading: Can Apple Unlock My iPhone? 3 Surprising Facts

#5: Switch how you send and receive chats in iMessage

There are 2 ways you can use iMessage to communicate:

Through your Apple ID.
By using your phone number.

Both of these are as efficient as the other.

But if you’re having trouble getting your messages delivered…

Switching to whichever method you haven’t used is a good way to stop this issue.

Don’t worry. This process is much easier than you think it is.

Just follow this guide to…

Change your iMessage information:

Go to your phone’s Settings app.
Scroll down and select Messages from the list.
Find the Send & Receive tab and tap it.

Now, if there’s a check mark beside your number, follow these steps:

Tap your Apple ID’s email (sign in if needed).
Click your phone number to uncheck it.
Select Remove from the window that appears.

If you see the check icon on the left of your email, follow these instead:

Click your phone number.
Uncheck your email address.

And now that you’ve switched how you send and receive messages…

Restart your device, and see if you still have the same problem.

Note: If this couldn’t fix the issue, feel free to revert your iMessage settings to their original state.

#6: Change your recipient’s information

Note: This fix applies to you if the issue only happens to 1 of your contacts.

For this solution, here’s what you need to do:

First, find another way to communicate with the person you’re trying to send an iMessage to. Then, ask for their phone number or Apple ID (whichever information you don’t have).

See, they may have also recently changed how they want to receive their chats in iMessage. Similar to what you did in the previous fix.

So, your recipient’s contact information on your phone may not be working anymore.

Once you have the details needed…

Follow these steps to update your recipient’s information:

Head to your device’s home screen.
Tap the Phone icon at the bottom of your device.
Select Contacts, the middle option at the bottom.
Choose the person you can’t deliver messages to.
Click Edit at the top-right corner.
Add the new information to the appropriate tabs.
Tap Done at the top-right of your screen.

Now, try using iMessage again.

And if you’re still having trouble getting your chat delivered…

#7: Update your iPhone

As mentioned earlier, iPhones tend to glitch more frequently if they’re out of date.

And unfortunately…

Bugs are also hard to remove in iOS devices without recent updates.

So, for this fix, you should update your mobile device. Because the restart earlier may not have been enough to remove all of its bugs and glitches.

That said, here’s how you can…

Update your iOS device:

Step 1: Plug your iPhone or iPad into power.

Step 2: Connect your device to the Wifi.

Note: You can’t update iOS gadgets over cellular data.

Step 3: Head to the Settings app.

Step 4: Select General, the tab with the gear icon.

Step 5: Choose Software Update, the 2nd option from the top.

Step 6: Click Download and install or Install Now.

Note: You may also upgrade your device’s iOS if you wish to.

Need a visual guide for this process? Watch this video:

#8: Wait for the message to be delivered

Sometimes, this problem happens because of your recipient’s iPhone, not yours.

Specifically…

Your chat bubbles won’t say Delivered if the following happens:

Your recipient doesn’t have access to the Internet.
His/her device is in Airplane or Do Not Disturb mode.
The phone you’re trying to send a message to is OFF.

In these scenarios…

All you can do is wait until the person you’re trying to reach can receive messages again.

“Is there a faster way to make them check the chat I sent?”

Yes, there is. 1 alternative to using iMessage is to…

#9: Enable Send as SMS on your iPhone

If your message still won’t deliver…

You should try communicating through SMS (Short Message Service) instead.

This means you’ll use your SIM card to send texts, not the WiFi.

So, have your iOS device ready and follow these…

Steps to enable Send as SMS:

Go to your iPhone’s Settings.
Head to Messages.
Scroll down and find the Send as SMS tab.
Turn ON the toggle switch.

After doing so, try sending another message to your recipient.

If the chat bubble turns green…

That means the person you’re trying to reach has no access to iMessage. Or they currently have no Internet connection. So, they can only receive SMS texts at the moment.