Why can’t I send SMS text messages? | MATE

Can’t get your texts to send? Don’t stress, this one’s usually a quick fix. More often than not it comes down to a setting called your SMS Message Centre number, which your phone uses to send messages out.

Try these first

  • Restart your phone
  • Turn airplane mode on for a few seconds, then off again
  • Check for outages in your area

Still stuck? It’s worth resetting your network settings, then checking your Message Centre number below.

Check your SMS Message Centre number

If this number has been changed or deleted by accident, your texts won’t send. The Message Centre number for our network is +61418706700.

Here’s a general guide to finding it on your phone. The exact wording varies by handset:

  1. Open your messaging app
  2. Tap the menu icon
  3. Tap Settings
  4. Tap More settings
  5. Tap Text messages
  6. Tap Message Centre
  7. Enter +61418706700 and tap Set
⚠️ Heads up: If you’ve had a text from Telstra saying your messages have been blocked, that’s their spam protection kicking in. Get in touch with us and we’ll look into it for you.
ℹ️ More information: For other messaging trouble, see Why am I having issues with SMS or MMS? or head back to our full mobile troubleshooting guide.
💬 Need help? If you’re still having trouble sending texts, contact our support team and we’ll get it sorted.