Android and iOS devices have never gotten along perfectly. Here are some easy ways to fix when your Android phone isn’t receiving texts from iPhones.
Android and iOS devices have never exactly gotten along. Sure, the actual user experience for everyday users is nearly identical now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some technical hiccups in a mixed group of Android and iOS users. One of the most common issues is messages being lost when texting between Android and iOS devices.
While compatibility between the two systems is a lot better than it used to be, there are still some issues like this. This issue partially exists because Apple doesn’t want to make an iMessage app for Android. In fact, aside from services like Apple Music and Apple TV, there are no Android equivalents to native iOS apps.
While you could use any other popular chat app, texting still remains a very popular way to stay in touch with friends and family. Luckily, fixing this messaging issue is pretty simple now, and there are several ways to fix when your Android Phone isn’t receiving texts from iPhones. Here are some of the ways you can do it.Why does this happen?
Before we dive into how to fix the problem, let’s first understand why it is happening. There are really only three reasons why your Android phone wouldn’t receive a text message from iPhones. The first is network issues, which are usually easy enough to resolve or will resolve on their own. The next reason is simply user error. A few settings on your device can determine whether or not you receive texts from iPhones.
The last comes when Android users switch from iPhones. If you don’t disable iMessage before you switch phones, it can cause all kinds of headaches when trying to text. This is the most common reason why this issue occurs.
While this used to be a headache to deal with, all of these issues are pretty straightforward and easy to fix now. You should be able to fix the issue on your own without having to call any kind of tech support. If none of the solutions below work, there may be a bigger issue with your phone.Compatibility issues between Android and iOS devices
So why do Android and Apple devices struggle to message each other? Well, they don’t actually struggle that much. Both devices use SMS messaging, which was the original protocol for test messages. However, Apple also has a proprietary protocol built into iMessage. This protocol is more secure and less prone to hacking than SMS messages. It’s also why Apple can distinguish between iMessages with blue bubbles and SMS messages with green bubbles.
Recently, Google introduced the RCS protocol, which is far more secure than standard SMS messaging. However, RCS has made compatibility between Android and iOS devices worse, not better. Apple refuses to adopt the protocol, and many Android users can’t receive standard SMS messages from iPhones if they have the feature on.
In layman’s terms, there is little in the way of protocol standards, and the result is a lackluster messaging experience between the two mobile operating systems. When asked about compatibility between the two, Tim Cook — CEO of Apple — recommended buying an iPhone. Based on that answer, you should expect the issues to remain for the time being. With that in mind, here are the easy fixes.Disable iMessage
The easiest way to fix messaging issues between Android and iPhones is to disable iMessage. If you recently upgraded from an iPhone and forgot to turn iMessage off, this is more than likely the reason you aren’t receiving text messages. Apple is still registering them as iMessages, not SMS messages, and forwarding them to your Apple ID account.
If you still have your iPhone, follow these instructions:
Open the Settings app and scroll down to Messages.
