Sent vs Delivered Message: How Are Both Different
When you send messages or SMS to someone, you might see the status as “sent” or “delivered” in your messaging apps, emails, messengers, WhatsApp, etc. Even though these terms may sound similar, they are different.
In simple terms, “SENT” means the message has left your device, while “DELIVERED” means it has reached the receiver’s device. Understanding the difference between “sent” and “delivered” helps you understand if your message has gone thoroughly to your intended recipient.
What Is the Difference Between Sent and Delivered Messages?
Whether it be emails, Facebook messages, or WhatsApp messages, when labeled as sent, it means the message has left your device and is on its way to your network, but it doesn’t mean it has reached your contact's device yet.
When the message is marked as delivered, it has reached the receiver, but that doesn’t mean they have seen it. When your receiver opens and reads your messages, it gets labeled with read on the sender device.
How Messaging Works?
When you type your message and press the send option in your messaging platform, your network service provider receives it. From there, it travels through various networks or grids until it reaches the recipient’s network provider. Finally, the receiver service provider delivers the message to their devices.
Poor network signal and device settings can affect the whole message-sending process and the status of your message. The “sent,” “delivered,” and “read” status denotes the entire process.
How to Know SMS Is Sent?
To know whether your SMS has been sent, you can check the status indicator in your messaging platform. If it shows as “sent,” your message has successfully left your device and has reached the recipient’s network. However, this doesn’t confirm the delivery of your message to the receiver’s device.
How to Know If SMS Is Delivered?
You can check the delivery of your messages from the messaging platforms you’ve used to send them. If the status shows delivered, it confirms that your message has reached your recipient's device.
Does the Delivery of a Text Message Mean That My Number Is Not Blocked?
If your message is marked as “delivered,” it means it has reached the recipient’s device. However, if the recipient has blocked your number, your messages may only show as “sent,” and the status won’t change to “delivered.” In such cases, you might experience undelivered text messages, and the recipient won’t receive any notification of your message on their device.
Conclusion
Understanding what “sent” and “delivered” messages are can help you manage your communications better. While “sent” shows that your SMS has left your device, “delivered” means it has reached the recipient. But even a “delivered” message doesn’t guarantee that the person has read it until the status shows as read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Mean If a Text Message Is Sent but Not Delivered?
If a text is “sent” but not “delivered,” it could mean the recipient’s device is off, in Airplane mode, or out of network range. It could also mean that your number is blocked.
Which Is Better, Sent or Delivered?
Why Do Some Texts Say Sent and Some Say Delivered?
What Does It Mean When a Message Is Delivered?
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