What Does "Message Blocking Is Active" Mean? [Causes and Fixes]

The "Message Blocking Is Active" error indicates that your carrier is unable to send text messages to the intended recipient. In such cases, a default text message, “Free Msg: Unable to send a message- Message Blocking is active,” appears in your inbox.

The issue is not usually a random or technical glitch, but rather a deliberate block, which is set manually or automatically.

The "Message blocking is active" error typically arises from restrictions imposed by your mobile carrier plan or device misconfigurations. The other reason includes mutual blocking between users, parental controls, issues with SMS shortcodes, an inactive SIM, or a suspended line.

Sometimes, your phone's incorrect SMS/MMS settings or network configurations interfere with messaging and cause blocking. In particular, inaccurate or outdated APN (Access Point Name) settings can prevent your phone from establishing a proper connection to the carrier's network.

If the person you are trying to text has blocked your number or if you have blocked their number, the message may not be delivered, triggering the error. Sometimes, people block text messages from unknown numbers for privacy reasons or to avoid unwanted and spam texts.

To control who your child can call or message, and who can contact them, a family or managed account allows one to block specific numbers or message formats, which prevents message delivery.

Furthermore, when SMS filters are enabled in a device’s settings or through third-party apps, they may also unintentionally block messages, especially from unknown numbers, for privacy and spam control.

Carriers and messaging apps often treat texts from shortcodes or business SMS as potential spam, which causes them to block these messages. If recipients have previously informed their carrier that they do not want messages from a specific shortcode or number, they will block them.

If your SIM card isn’t active or poorly inserted, you might face trouble sending texts. Sometimes, a damaged SIM can also mess with your phone’s ability to connect to the network, triggering that frustrating "message blocking" error.

Additionally, if you have overdue phone bills, your carrier may suspend your line, blocking all communication, including text messages.

Sometimes, the area you're in may have poor signal or network issues, causing your phone to lose connection and become unable to send messages. Moving to a location with a fluent network can often fix the problem.

When you travel outside your carrier’s coverage area, your phone must connect to a partner network through roaming. If roaming is turned off or not included in your plan, this can stop your phone from sending texts and may show the error "Message Blocking Is Active", especially on prepaid or limited plans.

Some mobile plans restrict texting to certain types of numbers, like premium services or international contacts. If that's the case, your texts might not go through. Also, if you’re on a data-based MMS plan and you’ve already used up your data, your phone might block messages until your data resets or you top up your plan.

To resolve the messaging blocking error, first ensure your carrier plan supports SMS, then review your phone's blocked contacts list and unblock the recipient if necessary. If the issue persists, try restarting your phone, resetting network settings, or contacting your carrier for further assistance.

One of the simplest things to do when you see the "Message Blocking Is Active" error is to ensure you have a good connection. A poor signal, a loose or inactive SIM, or a faulty SIM can stop your phone from sending or receiving texts. Before getting into a deeper problem, check your signal bars and try again after restarting your device.

The "Message Blocking Active" error can occur due to incorrect Access Point Name (APN) settings. Phones purchased from your carrier usually come with the correct APN settings, but if you bought your phone from a third-party retailer or changed your carrier, you may need to update the APN settings to ensure proper functionality. Follow the steps to change the APN setting:

For Android Users:

1. Go to Settings, then navigate to Connections or Wireless & Networks (the name may vary by device).
2. Select Mobile Networks and choose Access Point Names.
3. Select the three-dot menu and choose Restore Default Settings.
4. Confirm by tapping Reset Access Points.

For iPhone Users:

1. Open Settings and go to Cellular.
2. Tap Cellular Data Network, if unavailable, contact your carrier.
3. Tap Reset Settings to restore default APN settings.

Contact your carrier to see if SMS and MMS services are included in your mobile plan. Ask them whether there are any limitations on the types of messages you can send, such as regular text messages (SMS), MMS with images or videos, international messages, or premium-rate messages.

To ensure you haven't unintentionally blocked the intended contact, review your list of blocked numbers.

For iPhones: Navigate to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts.
For Android: Navigate to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Messages > Blocked Numbers.

To verify that the SMS and MMS settings are enabled in the messaging app on your device, follow these steps:

For iPhone users:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
3. Ensure that the MMS Messaging and SMS options are enabled.

For Android users:

1. Open the Messages app on your Android device.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon or select Settings from the top-right corner.
3. Go to Settings > Advanced.
4. Ensure that MMS and SMS options are enabled. If not, toggle them on.

Send a test message to a different contact to determine if the issue is specific to one number. This method also enables you to know if recipients have blocked your number.

Furthermore, you can use SMS testing tools to determine whether the issue lies with your messaging service or stems from another cause.

Removing and then carefully reinserting your SIM card fixes temporary connectivity issues that could be the root of the blocking error. Ensure that the SIM card is properly placed in its position.

If you've tried other troubleshooting steps and still face the issue, resetting your network settings can help resolve potential configuration problems.

For iPhone users:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on General
3. Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone
4. Tap on Reset > Reset Network Settings.

For Android users:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on System
3. Open Reset options
4. Tap Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.

If cached data related to messaging or contacts is corrupted, clearing it could fix texting issues. However, this troubleshooting step is only applicable for Android users.

To clear the message app cache data of your Android phone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Storage > Clear Cache. If the problem persists, uninstall the messaging app and then reinstall it from the Google Play Store.

Keeping your software up to date improves overall device performance and network connectivity. To address any possible software incompatibilities, update your messaging app to the most recent version.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact your mobile carrier's customer support. They can look into network or account-specific difficulties that could be the reason for the message blocking.

While "message blocking is active" disrupts communication, knowing its root causes helps you determine the effective resolution. You can troubleshoot common problems by examining blocked lists in your device, upgrading software, verifying your mobile carrier plan, and changing settings.