iPhone Won’t Receive Verification Code Texts: Possible Reasons and Fixes

To receive verification code texts on your iPhone, you can disable ‘Filter Unknown Senders,’ check blocked contacts, optimize cellular signal, and disable Focus.

Hi, I’m Devansh. Sometimes when using my iPhone 13, I’ve noticed that I don’t receive verification code texts on time. In this article, I’ll walk you through five effective fixes you can apply to receive your verification code texts before they expire. If these fixes don’t work, I’ll suggest further support options and answer some common questions.

If you’re not receiving verification code texts on your iPhone, keep reading to learn about fixes!

First Steps to Receive Verification Code Texts on Your iPhone

Here are some quick first steps you should apply to your iPhone right now.

Ensure that you’ve entered the correct phone number on the website or app, and ask to be sent the verification code again. If you don’t receive it for a few minutes, read on for five effective fixes.

Top 5 Fixes to Receive Verification Code Texts on iPhone

If the above steps didn’t bring any success, don’t worry. Applying the following five fixes to your iPhone will surely do the trick.

Fix #1: Disable ‘Filter Unknown Senders’

Open Settings and go to Messages. Scroll down and toggle off Filter Unknown Senders. You can reactivate it later if you want.

In addition, toggle on Send as SMS. Plus, toggle iMessage off and back on. If you’re using more than one SIM card in your iPhone, go to Mobile Data or Cellular and ensure that the number you want to use is activated.

Fix #2: Check Blocked Contacts

You may have blocked the number that is sending you the verification code texts. To check this, open Settings and go to Messages. Scroll down to SMS/MMS and tap on Blocked Contacts.

What if you’ve added any 5-digit verification numbers to your blocked contacts list? Tap on Edit at the top-right corner of the screen and select the ‘’ beside it. Confirm that you want to unblock it and tap on Done. You can also find the Blocked Contacts list on the Phone page!

Fix #3: Optimize Cellular Signal

Poor cellular reception might also be the cause for not receiving your verification code texts on your iPhone. Just check the bars at the top-right corner of your iPhone screen.

To improve reception, you can temporarily place your iPhone near a window or go outdoors. Once you get three bars, check if you can receive verification code texts.

Fix #4: Disable Focus

Focus silences calls and messages on your iPhone to minimize distractions. If it’s enabled currently, it could be the reason behind not receiving verification code texts. To disable it, open Control Center and tap on the Focus icon.

This will open all the Focus options; tap on the one that is enabled to disable it.

Fix #5: Reset Network Settings (Optional)

If you want to ensure that there aren’t any software errors behind not receiving verification code texts, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings. Open Settings, go to General, scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone, and select Reset Network Settings.

Keep in mind doing this will reset cellular settings, along with VPN, APN, and WiFi passwords.

Still Not Receiving Verification Code Texts?

If you tried the above fixes but still aren’t receiving verification code texts on your iPhone, the website or app sending you the texts may have an issue in their system. Wait a few minutes and try again.

If it still doesn’t work, contact your carrier. Once you get in touch with them, ensure that your account is active, there aren’t any network outages in your locality, and that you have a sufficient data plan for your needs. For further guidance, contact Apple Support.

FAQs

Here are two common questions about the ‘iPhone won’t receive verification code texts’ issue.

How to Automatically Fill In Verification Code Texts on iPhone?

Generally, whenever you receive a verification code text, your iPhone detects and displays it above the keyboard. You can tap on it to apply it. If that isn’t happening, place the cursor in the text field where the code has to be entered. Check this Support page for more information on setting up automatic verification codes.

What if You Get a ‘Not Delivered’ Warning When You Send a Text Message?

If you cannot message someone on your iPhone, open Settings and go to Messages. Ensure iMessage and Send as SMS are toggled on. Check out this Support page for further guidance.

Conclusion

To summarize, disable Filter Unknown Senders, check Blocked Contacts, optimize cellular signal, and disable Focus on your iPhone. Implementing these fixes will hopefully enable you to receive verification code texts. If not, contact your carrier or Apple Support.

From banking institutions to food delivery apps to social media platforms, they all rely on two-factor authentication for account security. So, not being able to receive verification code texts can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, the above solutions worked for you!

Did you receive the verification code texts after applying the above fixes? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

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  • Mark M

    I tried everything above, nothing worked

    OK, I have an Iphone 13 that I got in November. Verizon is my Carrier.

    I was receiving Verification texts as late as Friday Feb 23 and now can’t get any. 4 days of this.

    I think my IOS updated on Friday to 17.3.1 but I am not 100% sure but vaguely recall this happening recently.

    My guess is this IOS update somehow screwed things up.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Mark, I appreciate you trying out all the fixes in the article. I don’t think the iOS update caused the issue since I also recently updated my iPhone 13 to 17.3.1 and can still receive verification codes. I suggest you contact Verizon customer support. They may have further insights or solutions that can help you out. Hopefully, you find a resolution soon!

      Reply
  • Muhumuza yona

    They told me I have exceeded the number of verifications codes at this time and they told me to try again later and why

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi, most websites limit the number of times they send verification codes as a security measure. You should wait for a bit and try to log in again later. If the issue persists, you can contact the website for further assistance, as they can provide more specific guidance based on your account details. I hope this helps, and good luck resolving the issue!

      Reply
  • Ginger

    Att says should receive but all steps done still no codes arrive ans some texts from examples Amazon don’t come thru apple says my carrier
    Still no resolution it’s been months and no resolution from anyone

    Reply
  • Eva Tubbs

    I have done all the fixes for my iPhone, but it appears that I’m still not receiving verification codes

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      I’m sorry to hear that the fixes didn’t resolve your verification code issue, Eva. Consider updating all your apps along with iOS and restarting your iPhone. Beyond that, contact Apple Support (https://getsupport.apple.com) or visit an authorized service provider. They can provide more specialized assistance and diagnostics to resolve your verification codes issue. Plus, you should also contact your carrier to ensure that your account is active. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  • Roxane E

    Thank you I had been dealing with not receiving codes for months! Your 5 fixes did the job! My problem was the number was blocked!! I unblocked all and now receive the codes!! Greatly appreciated!!

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      You’re very welcome, Roxane! I’m delighted that your verification code issue is resolved.

      Reply
  • colleen

    I followed your great suggestions but still unable to get validation texts from google

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      I’m sorry that the suggestions didn’t resolve your issue, Colleen. If this is only limited to Google, consider contacting Google Support. They may help you get this sorted out.

      Reply
  • RickH

    I wasn’t receiving ANY verification codes on my AT&T iPhone 6 Plus for about a year. AT&T couldn’t fix the problem. Changed to T-Mobile and got a new phone. Now I get some but not all codes. I just don’t get it.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Rick, it sounds like you’ve been through quite a journey with verification codes. Switching carriers and getting a new phone was a big step, and it’s frustrating that the issue persists. Unfortunately, this issue is complex and influenced by various factors. If you still don’t receive verification codes after following the steps in my article, contact T-Mobile’s support or visit an authorized store for further solutions. Best of luck!

      Reply
  • Kelidah

    Please help I tried my best but I couldn’t receive the code what else can I do

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Kelidah, I understand your frustration. Consider checking your network connection and ensuring your phone number is correctly registered. Furthermore, contact your service provider or Apple Support if the issue persists.

      Reply
  • Sali

    Another one to look for is check your service provider account. My credit card was stolen and I thought that I had re-registered the new number with them, but it turned out it didn’t update. This would have saved a lot of stress. Ironically, my phone was sending their notifications about my account to the Spam folder… lol

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Sali! It’s a great reminder to double-check everything and perform thorough troubleshooting. I’m sure your comment will help other readers.

      Reply
  • Daya

    This suddenly happened to me out of the blue! I applied all your steps up to factory setting reset. Both my iPad and iPhone are not getting the text verifications. OS 16.6. I will try Tmobile again.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Daya, I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Contacting T-Mobile again sounds like a good step. If the problem persists, reach out to Apple Support for further insights or solutions relevant to your iOS version. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  • Eileen

    Don’t get verification code texts & some phone calls don’t ring – HELP!

    Reply
  • Eileen

    Verification code still not arriving & some phone calls don’t ring

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Eileen. I’m sorry you’re still experiencing issues receiving verification codes and phone calls on your iPhone. Try updating iOS and restarting your iPhone. If the problem persists, I recommend you contact your service provider and Apple Support for further assistance. They will have access to more specific resources and tools to diagnose and resolve the issue. Best of luck!

      Reply
  • Beth

    I applied all the fixes, some were already applied and I still am not receiving verification codes to my iPhone. I’ll try to apple support as I am at a total loss. This seems to me an issue with several people I’ve spoken to. Weird.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Beth, I’m sorry you’re still experiencing difficulties receiving verification codes on your iPhone. You’ve made the right decision to contact Apple Support. They may have additional insights or specific solutions tailored to your situation. Hopefully, they will be able to fix the issue as soon as possible.

      Reply
      • Joe

        Please I can find my iPhone I’d into my gmail account

        Reply
  • Alexander

    I never receive verification code sent to my iPhone. Pls assist. I am unable to get into my Facebook.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Alexander. First, make sure to follow the steps in this article. If these steps don’t resolve the issue, contact Facebook’s support team. They can provide more specific assistance regarding your account and the verification code problem.

      Reply
  • Robin

    No, I have done all the above and verified them and still cannot receive a voice call or text.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Robin, I’m sorry you’ve tried all the suggested steps without success. While the article provides general troubleshooting steps, specific issues can vary depending on factors such as your carrier, iOS version, and network settings. Given that you’ve already gone through the suggested solutions, I recommend contacting your carrier for further assistance.

      Reply
  • Jodi

    Nope. This is the second time this has happened on this IPhone 11. I’ve had it, I’m going back to Android. Seems every time there is an update something is messed up.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi, Jodi. I understand your frustration. It’s not ideal when your iPhone won’t receive verification code texts, and I’m sorry to hear that this has happened twice on your iPhone 11. However, I would encourage you to try some of the above troubleshooting steps before switching to Android.

      Reply
  • Victoria pafford

    Please I have been In problems I am not able to login my iCloud or Apple ID I have do all things that will make it enter. Even I try to use another person phone that is android there are not sending me code on the android too.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi, Victoria. I’m sorry that you’re having trouble logging into your account. If you’ve tried all the steps in the article and still not receiving verification codes, you can contact Apple Support for help. Here’s a Support page that you might find helpful: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203512. I hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Hauwah

        Please help I can’t get verification code using my iPhone 11 it’s frustrating I need to using it for something very important I tried everything you said but still I can’t get it

        Reply
        • Eugene

          My phone has start receiving verification codes

          Reply
          • Devansh Kamdar

            Hi Eugene, it’s great to hear that your phone has started receiving verification codes! Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional assistance.

        • Devansh Kamdar

          Hi Hauwah, I’m sorry you still cannot receive the verification code on your iPhone 11, despite trying the suggested solutions. I recommend contacting Apple support or visiting an authorized service center for specialized assistance. They can provide more specific guidance and help resolve the issue promptly.

          Reply
  • Bhavya

    I am unable to receive verification codes in my iphone 14

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Bhavya, I’m sorry to hear that. Can you share more details about the issue? Based on that, I’ll suggest the best solutions so you can start receiving verification codes on your iPhone 14.

      Reply
  • Paulo Martinez

    As an AT&T customer traveling abroad (Netherlands), I had to go to ‘Settings > Cellular > Network Selection > Toggle Automatic off ‘ Selected different networks and one of them worked. Now I’m getting my verification codes again. (May 2023)

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Paulo, thanks for sharing your solution. I’m glad to know that you were able to start receiving verification codes again by selecting a different network manually.

      Reply
  • tina

    This did not work for me, nor calling AT&T or Apple support. Supposedly it’s gone to network engineering at AT&T.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Tina, I’m sorry to hear that you’re still experiencing issues with receiving verification code texts. It sounds like you’ve already taken the right steps by reaching out to both AT&T and Apple support and that the issue has been escalated to the network engineering team at AT&T. Hopefully, they will be able to find a solution for you soon.

      Reply
  • Nancy

    Thank you!!!! I’ve been trying to figure this out for over a year.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      You’re welcome, Nancy! I’m glad that this article was able to help you figure out the issue with your iPhone not receiving verification code texts. If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out again.

      Reply
  • Beata

    Be sure to check with carrier that the SMS was activated. I had no verification codes until they realized that SMS messages were not turned on when the esim was activated. Had to be done from ATT. Simple fix but maddening and took multiple calls to sort it out.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Thank you for sharing your solution, Beata. It’s definitely important to ensure that SMS is activated with your carrier, as that could be a potential reason for not receiving verification code texts. We hope this advice helps anyone else who may be experiencing similar issues!

      Reply
  • Liam

    Didn’t not work 🙁

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      I’m sorry the suggested fixes didn’t work for you, Liam. Can you provide more details about which fixes you’ve tried? That way, I can offer additional solutions you may not have tried yet. Additionally, you can contact your carrier to see if any issues on their end are preventing you from receiving verification code texts.

      Reply
  • Ann

    Don’t know how to do fixes you recommend to access
    verification codes

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Ann, thank you for your comment! Please share some details on the specific fix that you’re having trouble with to access verification codes. I will do my best to provide further assistance.

      Reply
  • Christa

    None of those worked.
    I was getting verification codes until sometime in February. And then they stopped. I still get text messages verification codes are the only things I don’t get and it’s from several different places that I don’t get that not just one.

    Reply
    • Devansh Kamdar

      Hi Christa! I’m glad you tried out all the solutions in this article. Since they haven’t worked in your case, I recommend you contact Apple Support or a certified technician and have them inspect your iPhone. The cause for the issue might be something else, and they’ll let you know how to fix it.

      Reply
    • Mary S

      I have the same issue going on. I bought a new car and cannot get the Validation code to use my car startup on my iPhone. ATT we’re not helpful nor was Mazda dealership.

      Reply