7 Steps To Get Your iPad To Send Text Messages

Apple has a great ecosystem. All of their devices flawlessly communicate with each other, providing users with a seamless experience that enables them to use any device they want for any task that’s required. However, Apple devices aren’t without problems. One of the most common issues has to do with iMessage desyncing, not sending messages, and other problems. 

Table of Contents

• Why Won’t My iPad Send Text Message?
• Find Out Why Your iPad Won’t Send Text Messages
• Do You See a Red Exclamation Point?
• Set Up iMessage on Your iPad
• Reset Network Settings
• Keep Your iPad Up To Date
• You Might be Running Low on Storage
• Factory Reset if all Else Fails

Why Won’t My iPad Send Text Message?

An iPad that won’t send text messages is likely due to a problem with iMessage or your Apple ID. The good news is that there is an easy fix for most iMessage issues. Sometimes, simply signing in and out of your Apple ID is more than enough to fix the problem. 

Continue reading to learn exactly how to troubleshoot iPad texting issues and pinpoint the problem. 

Find Out Why Your iPad Won’t Send Text Messages

The first step to troubleshooting anything should be to restart the device. That might be enough to correct any problem you have. A quick restart will soft reset everything to default, making it so your text messages will send. 

You should also make sure you have a data connection. A data connection can be achieved on an iPad with Wi-Fi or with a cellular data subscription. You can ensure you have a data connection by looking at the top of your iPad. 

A Wi-Fi signal will be visible if you have a Wi-Fi connection, and your cellular data strength is signified by either an LTE or 5G symbol right beside your clock. 

Do You See a Red Exclamation Point?

A red exclamation point next to your text message signifies that the message has not been sent. You can tap the exclamation point to try again. Alternatively, you might be able to send the message as a normal text message. Just click the exclamation point and select “Send as Text Message.” 

If the message sends as a text, but it doesn’t send as an iMessage, it might be time to try signing in and out of your Apple ID. 

This could very likely correct the issue. You might also be unable to send an iMessage text if your recipient doesn’t have an Apple device. In this instance, a green bubble will appear around your sent text instead of a blue one. 

Set Up iMessage on Your iPad

You might have accidentally toggled off iMessage on your iPad. If you don’t have a cellular data connection and you only use Wi-Fi to send texts, you’ll need to ensure that this option is toggled on before you can text. 

Head to the iPad’s settings app and scroll down until you see “Messages.” Click it, and you’ll see the “iMessage” toggle at the top.

Toggle this option to on position. Try to send a text again and see if the problem has corrected itself. This option can sometimes toggle itself off after a software update, so it’s important to know where this setting is located. 

Reset Network Settings

Another common cause of texting problems is the network settings. Perhaps you’ve accidentally toggled a setting off. The good news is that it’s easy to reset your network settings to default, and it doesn’t mess with any of the data you have stored on your device. Follow these steps to reset network settings:

• Open the settings app
• Goto General
• Click Reset
• Select Reset Network Settings

After doing this, your cellular data connection and Wi-Fi will be disconnected. Your cellular data will reconnect after a few moments, and if you use Wi-Fi, you’ll have to reenter your Wi-Fi password. 

Keep Your iPad Up To Date

Running an older version of iOS can cause an endless number of problems. Apple is constantly fixing bugs, patching out problems, and updating how its devices function. 

Chances are if you are having trouble sending iMessages, your firmware is out of date. Luckily, it’s easy to update to the latest version of iOS. Follow these steps:

• It’s a good idea to back up your data first
• Next, connect your device to its charger
• Go to the Settings app
• Click on General
• Select Software Update
• Select the most recent version of iOS
• Click Download and Install at the bottom

Your iPad will first download the software update. Next, it will install the software. This requires one or two restarts of your device, so don’t be worried if your iPad turns itself off a few times during the update.

You Might be Running Low on Storage

Insufficient storage space can cause all sorts of issues with your iPad. One of which is the inability to send or receive iMessages.

Your iPad has to have sufficient space to receive images and text messages before it will even send a text. 

Just delete a few apps on your iPad and try to send a message again. You won’t need to delete that much. Just make sure you have a couple of hundred megabytes of free space. 

That’s all you’ll need to keep your iPad working the way it’s supposed to. 

Factory Reset if all Else Fails

No one likes to reset their devices to factory default. You’ll lose all of your data if you don’t have a proper backup, and you’ll have to start back from zero. However, this is the only option you have left if your iMessages still aren’t sending from your iPad. 

Follow these instructions to factory reset your iPad: 

• Open Settings app
• Goto General
• Select Reset
• Click on Erase All Content and Settings

Once your iPad has been reset to default, you will have to reenter your Apple ID upon restart. This is also how you bring your contacts, photos, videos, and other content back to the device. 

If you haven’t done a recent backup, you might lose some data. Alternatively, you can start from scratch with a brand-new Apple ID. It’s advised to use your same Apple ID because it will still have all of your previously purchased apps still available for re-download.