Find out how to send, delete or forward a text message and how to block spam or change your text alert tone. The icons and screen may differ slightly from the illustrations below depending on your device, operating system and theme.
You are not able to choose between SMS or MMS. Your messaging service will automatically switch to MMS if you are sending a picture message, or if your text message goes over the character limit, normal SMS length is 160 characters.
To find the Messages app, you may have to look in your Samsung folder. If you still cannot find the app, use your phone’s search function to locate it.
Please note:this FAQ is for text sending text messages. For information on using other messaging apps, please consult the developer’s website.
Reading a messageClick to Expand
On receiving a message you will receive a notification in your messages app, to read this message you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2On opening the app you will see a list of your conversations. New messages will be displayed at the top of the list, and if they are unread a number in blue will appear beside the message (the number indicates the number of unread messages in a conversation).
3Tap a message to open and read it.
Please note: If you would like to increase the size of the text you can find out how in our FAQ about accessibility settings.
4Once you have read the message you can choose to reply to the message by typing in the chat message box.
5Once you have finished writing your message, tap the send icon to send it.
Sending a messageClick to Expand
To create and send a text message, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap the Compose icon.
3Tap the plus (+) icon and select the contact you'd like to message.
If you want to send a message to someone who is not a contact you can type their number directly in to the Recipient box. You can also find out more about how to add and manage contacts.
4Tap Done.
5Type your message, then tap the Send icon.
Please note:if you exit a message before you send it, the message will be automatically saved as a draft.
Sending an MMSClick to Expand
Please note:MMS or Multimedia Messages may incur a charge from your network provider or may not be allowed by your network provider depending on your contract. If you are having difficulty sending or receiving MMSs, you should check with your network as to whether they are included in your contract.
An MMS, or Multimedia Message, is a type of message sent when attaching media to a text message. To send an MMS, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap the Compose icon.
3Tap the plus (+) icon and select the contact you'd like to message.
4Tap Done.
5You can add a picture from Gallery by tapping the Picture icon, take a new picture by tapping the Camera icon or you can tap the Attach icon.
6Tap your chosen multimedia element.
7Tap Send. Depending on your device, you may need to tap Done before proceeding.
If you are experiencing problems sending an MMS, please contact your network provider.
Show when text messages have been delivered and readClick to Expand
You can turn on settings so that your message displays when it has been delivered and/or read. To turn this on:
1Open the Messages app.
2Tap menu (three dots).
3Tap Settings.
4Tap More settings.
5Tap Text messages or Multimedia messages, depending on which you would like to turn on.
6Slide the toggle to turn on Show when delivered or Show when read.
7When a text message has been delivered, “Delivered” will show next to the message.
8When a text message has been read, “Read” will show next to the message.
Deleting a messageClick to Expand
To delete a text message, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Press and hold the message(s) you would like to delete or tap All.
3Tap Delete.
4Tap Delete again.
5Your message(s) has now been deleted.
Forwarding a messageClick to Expand
The below steps will show you how to use the inbuilt forwarding option on your device.
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Open the message you wish to forward.
3Press and hold down on the message text until you get a pop-up menu.
4Tap Forward.
5Select your contact(s), then tap Compose or Done. If you do not see this screen, skip to step 6.
6Tap Send.
Blocking messagesClick to Expand
To block text messages, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Open the message you wish to block.
3Tap menu (three dots).
4Tap Block number or Block contact.
If you want to remove the number from your blocked list, tap Unblock number or Unblock contact.
5Tap Block.
Find out more about how to block unknown numbers
To check your text message spam folder, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap menu (three dots).
3Tap Settings.
4Tap Block messages or Block numbers and messages.
5Tap Blocked messages.
6Any messages that have been blocked will now show.
Blocking MMSsClick to Expand
MMS messagingis provided byyour network,and MMS messaging and charges differ by provider.
You can block MMSmessages on your mobile phone by requesting that your network provider discontinue the service for you.
Delay sending a text messageClick to Expand
To delay sending a text message, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap the Compose icon.
3Tap the plus (+) icon and select the contact you'd like to message.
4Tap Done.
5Type your message, then tap the plus (+) icon to show the menu.
Please note: if you don’t see the plus (+) icon, tap the triangle (>) and it will appear.
6Tap Schedule message.
7Choose the date and time, then tap Done.
8Tap Send.
9An image will appear next to the scheduled message.
Change the alert sounds and message notificationsClick to Expand
Your message notifications will be set to default. To change your default message tone, you will need to:
1From the home screen swipe up to access your apps, then tap Settings.
2Tap Notifications.
3Scroll to Messages, then use the toggle to enable or disable your notifications.
If you can't see messages, make sureAllhas been selected.
4Tap messages and then general notifications to customise your alert sounds and notifications
Find out more about how manage notifications on your device.
Set up repeat notifications for a messageClick to Expand
You can set your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to send repeat notifications until you read your text or message. On later models, you can also set which apps and messages to set on repeat.
1From the home screen swipe up to access your apps, then tap Settings.
2Tap Notifications.
3Tap Advanced settings.
4Slide the toggle next to Notification reminders to turn it on. On some devices you may need to tap Vision before choosing Notification reminders.
5To change the interval at which you wish to be reminded, tap Notification Reminders, choose Remind every, then select your preferred interval time.
Using My Emoji in a messageClick to Expand
Please note:using the inbuilt emoticons/smilies should not be chargeable when used in a normal length SMS (160 characters). If emojis from a third-party keyboard are used these could turn your SMS into MMS which may be chargeable depending on network.
You can express yourself in fun and creative ways with My Emoji. Create an emoji that looks just like you!
You can capture photos and videos with My Emoji or share stickers of My Emoji with others.Find out more about how to create and use My Emojis.
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap the compose icon.
3On the Samsung keyboard tap the Emoji icon. If you can't see this option, choose the smiley face to change your keyboard options.
4Choose the emoji you'd like to use.
5Tap Send.
Using LiveMessageClick to Expand
The Live Message feature allows you to use the S Pen to create a short, animated message.The feature is supported by most major instant messaging apps including Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Line and more.
1Open Air Command by tapping the S Pen button twice.
2Choose Live message. (You can also select it by tapping the Live Message icon on the Samsung keyboard).
3Choose Pen effects to change the effects you might wish to change, e.g. colour or effects such as Sparkle, and adjust the thickness by swiping the slider.
4Write your message using the S Pen.
5Choose Done once finished.
6Choose Share when you're ready to share your message.
7Choose how you want to share it (e.g. via Messages or email etc.), select your recipient and send.
Click here to view the Samsung Smart Simulator: an interactive guide for everything from inserting your SIM card, to maximising battery life or using the S Pen.
Send a text by voiceClick to Expand
To send a text message by voice, you will need to:
1On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder.
2Tap the Compose icon.
3Tap to Enter message, then tap the Microphone icon.
On some operating systems, a radio wave icon will be displayed. This will allow you record a voice message, but it will be sent as an MMS which may incur a charge from your network provider.
4Start speaking. Your device should now type what you say.
5Tap Send.
Send a text message using BixbyClick to Expand
Please note:available Bixby functions and features can differ by region and by device.
Before you can send a message using Bixby, you will need to make sure that the Bixby Key and Bixby Voice has been enabled. More information on how to setup Bixby services, can be found here.
1Press and hold the Bixby Key.
2Once Bixby is listening, you will need to tell it who you would like to send the message to and the message you would like to send.
3Tap Send or say Yes to send your message.
4Bixby will confirm once it has sent your message.
Ifyou're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables,you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.
Thisallows us to take a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised andonly held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending anerror report through theSamsungMembers app.
- How to remove voicemail notifications
- What do the notification light colours mean on my Samsung Galaxy smartphone?
- How to set an audio file as a message notification or ringtone
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FAQs
Why can't I send or receive text messages on my Samsung? ›
To fix an Android that won't send text messages, try restarting it or checking for updates. Check if you've been blocked by the recipient, or if your carrier is having network issues. You can also try clearing the messages cache or making sure your SIM card is installed properly.
How do I send and receive text messages on this phone? ›...
Start a conversation
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap Compose .
- In "To," enter the names, phone numbers, or email addresses that you'd like to message. You can also pick from your top contacts or your whole contact list.
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap Compose .
- In the 'To' field, enter the names, phone numbers or email addresses that you'd like to message. You can also choose from your top contacts or your whole contacts list.
Fix problems sending or receiving messages
Make sure you have the most updated version of Messages. If you have a SIM card, ensure that it is inserted properly. If you're on Fi, sign in to the Project Fi app. Verify that Messages is set as your default texting app.
Further Troubleshooting
If you get a notification that Messages may not send or receive messages until more space is available, try these tips to free space. Be sure that the Android version is updated. Reset Airplane mode. Reset device network settings.
1 On the home screen, choose Messages or swipe up to access your apps and choose Messages from the Samsung folder. 2 Tap the Compose icon. 3 Tap to Enter message, then tap the Microphone icon.
What is the difference between a text message and a SMS message? ›The first and biggest thing to know about the difference between SMS and text messages is that there is no difference. SMS, or Short Message Service, is a form of text message that's sent from one device to another.
How do you text someone for the first time? ›- Reintroduce yourself.
- Revisit your previous conversation.
- Keep your messages short.
- Ask her questions about herself.
- Give her a compliment.
- Talk about your common interests.
- Ask for a recommendation.
- Share things about yourself.
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap Start chat.
- Enter the name, phone number, or email of the person you're sending a message to.
- Type your message and tap .
Open the Messages app on your Android phone, and find the message you want to forward. Press and hold the message. Tap on the three-dot icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen. In the menu, select “Forward.”
What is the difference between SMS and MMS on Android? ›
A text message of up to 160 characters without an attached file is known as an SMS, while a text that includes a file—like a picture, video, emoji, or a website link—becomes an MMS.
How do I reset my text message settings? ›- Launch the Messages app on your Android phone and tap on the menu > Settings.
- Tap on the Reset option to set all message features to default.
- Now, restart your Android phone device and try again to send a text message.
Check the Android phone's network connection if you can't send or receiving MMS messages. An active cellular data connection is required to use the MMS function. Open the phone's Settings and tap “Wireless and Network Settings.” Tap “Mobile Networks” to confirm it is enabled.
How do I reset my Android messaging app? ›...
How to clear cache and data on Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the Messages app under See all apps.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- Hit Clear Cache.
- You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.
Newer Galaxy phones come with at least two built-in messaging options: Samsung Messages and Messages by Google. Both apps have intuitive interfaces that make it fun and easy to send texts to your contacts.
Where is the Messages app on a Samsung phone? ›Open the phone's Settings app. Select Apps & Notifications > Default apps > SMS app. Select Messages.
Which messages app should I use on Samsung? ›Samsung Galaxy devices let you use Samsung Messages or Google Messages. Samsung Messages was the default messaging app for Samsung phones, but phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra have now joined other Android phones (like the Google Pixel) in making Google Messages the default.
Should text messages be SMS or MMS? ›The biggest difference between SMS and MMS is that SMS is only capable of sending plain text —meaning messages can only contain alphanumeric characters (i.e. numbers and letters). MMS on the other hand supports multimedia content (i.e. image, video and audio files) in addition to alphanumeric characters.
Should I use SMS for texting? ›Advantages to SMS
SMS messages are short and sweet. Because of the 160 character limit, they don't require a lot of time or energy. SMS messages are cheaper to send than MMS messages. Most carriers in the U.S. offer plans with unlimited texting, so there is likely no cost to your subscribers.
You can send and receive text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages through the Messages app . Messages are considered texts and don't count toward your data usage. Your data usage is also free when you turn on chat features.
What is the 3 day rule? ›
Popularized by the romcom, the three-day dating rule insists that a person wait three full days before contacting a potential suitor. A first-day text or call is too eager, a second-day contact seems planned, but three days is, somehow, the perfect amount of time.
What time should you text someone for the first time? ›It's best to text in the afternoon or evening and not early in the morning or late at night, Ansari and Klinenberg say. Otherwise, you run the risk of waking the person up.
How do you text someone first after a long time? ›- Hey, how've you been?
- I haven't seen you in ages!
- I haven't seen/talked to you for so long!
- How long has it been since I last saw/talked to you?
From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon (in the QuickTap bar) > the Apps tab (if necessary) > Tools folder > Messaging .
How do I get my text messages back? ›Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and open the Recycle bin. Check your deleted text messages. Long tap the message you want to retrieve. Select Restore at the bottom and check the same in your primary inbox.
How do I turn on my send and receive Messages on my Iphone? ›Go to Settings > Messages, then turn on iMessage. To select the phone numbers and email addresses you want to use with iMessage, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, then choose from the available options below “You can receive iMessages to and reply from.”
How do you text someone for the first time professionally? ›Start with a greeting – just like you would when you introduce yourself in person, say 'Hello'. Or, more specifically, say 'Hi' to reduce character count! Explain who you are – include your name and business. You can do this via a signature at the end of your text or weave it into the content at the beginning.
How do I restore my text messages on my Android phone? ›Then go to the Settings app on your phone and then tap on System and then Backup and Restore. Click on Personal Data and then tick Messages from the list. Finally, tap on the Backup icon at the bottom and you're done!
How do I put text messages back on my Android? ›- Open the app drawer.
- Search for the Messages by Google app.
- Tap and hold the Messages by Google icon and drag the Messages by Google icon to the home screen.
- Reboot your phone.
- Check the reception.
- Clear the cache from your text app.
- Make sure your SIM card is inserted properly.
- Ensure your phone is not in Airplane Mode.
- Confirm that your carrier supports SMS and MMS messaging.
How do I change my text message settings? ›
- Open the Messages app .
- Tap More. Settings. Stop notifications from other apps: Tap Notifications. Turn off All "Default settings" notifications. Get notifications on your phone from Messages: Tap Notifications. Turn on Incoming messages.
You can send and receive text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages through the Messages app . Messages are considered texts and don't count toward your data usage. Your data usage is also free when you turn on chat features.
What is the difference between text messages that are sent to friends and professional text messages? ›A traditional text message is only 160 characters long and is frequently used for personal communication between friends, family and couples. Personal text message chats are informal, private and intimate. On the other hand, professional texts come from a business and relate to its products, services, mission or news.
How do you tell a guy you like him over text for the first time? ›- “It was so hard to get out of bed this morning! ...
- “Currently smiling just thinking about you.” ...
- “Every time we are together I feel so happy! ...
- “You look so good right now 😉.” ...
- “Just thinking about you is enough to make my heart race.”
- Skip the small talk. ...
- Ask for their opinion. ...
- Ask for their advice or recommendations. ...
- Ask them a question — that's easy to answer. ...
- Comment on the environment. ...
- Ask for an update. ...
- Ask open-ended questions whenever possible. ...
- Ask a hypothetical question.