Wondering why you can’t send message with Telstra error 0? Wonder no more, and read!
The Telstra text error “0” simply shows that your mobile cannot send the text message for one reason or another.
There are various factors involved, and you must use the exclusion method to tighten the circle of possibilities and review the culprit.
If you see the error “0” when sending Telstra messages, check for ongoing outages and reinstall the messaging app. Next, correct the SMSC on your phone, optimise the signal strength.
To unwrap how to do all of this, keep reading!
What is Telstra Error 0?
Two significant reasons exist for the error “0” when sending a message through a Telstra phone.
- Your mobile device’s settings are misconfigured
- Telstra is currently performing maintenance on its network.
However, we can’t exclude the possibility of a bug or hardware-related problem with the phone, so we’ve designed this guide to tackle everything.
First, Try Calling Someone
You must try calling someone to test whether the problem only affects the SMS/messages or the entire Telstra mobile service.
If your call goes through, your mobile is connected to the network.
Also, Try Texting Someone Else
The issue may be on your receiver’s side, hence, to justify this as early as possible, you must try to text another contact.
If your text won’t go through on multiple recipients, it’s on your side.
Still Can’t Send Message with Telstra Error 0 – Here’s How to Fix
Tip: Follow the guide chronologically!
1. Check for Ongoing Telstra Outages
It’s crucial to check whether there is an ongoing outage with Telstra before troubleshooting the mobile or your service reception.
If Telstra mobile service is offline, you may not send text messages and only receive the Telstra error “0”, notifying you that the SMS failed to be sent.
- To check for Telstra 3G/4G/5G outages, go to Telstra Reception Map!
On the page, input your address in the white field from above, and press the magnifying glass to search for location-specific outages.
Note: In case of an ongoing Telstra mobile outage, you cannot send messages!
2. Reboot Your Telstra Mobile Phone
One of the first steps must be restarting your Telstra phone, especially if the error “0” appeared recently without a proper explanation.
A simple restart may solve most of your problems since the operating system will be rebooted, and the connection with your SIM card will be refreshed.
- Hold the “Power” button to restart your Telstra mobile and select “Restart.”
Tip: We recommend performing a power circulation by selecting “Power off” or “Shutdown”, which works even better than a regular restart.
3. Reinstall the Messaging Application
Another quick fix to attempt as early as possible is reinstalling the messaging application on your mobile.
The messaging app is different on Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as the method of uninstallation and reinstallation.
Warning: Reinstalling the messaging app on your mobile will erase the settings!
Android “Messages” App:
To reinstall the default “Messages” app on Android mobile, locate its icon from the home screen and hold it continuously.
Then, drag the app’s icon to the Trash Bin or tap the “Uninstall” option.
To download the “Messages” app on Android, open the Google Play Store!
Apple “iMessage” App:
To reinstall the default “iMessage” app on iOS, hold the icon continuously until the “Remote this App” appears.
So, press the button once, and confirm by tapping “Reset.” To download the “iMessage” app on iOS, open the App Store!
4. Correct the Message Centre Number
An incorrect message centre number is one of the most common reasons for error 0 Telstra mobile.
Most cellular operators use the message centre number to manage your text messages, and when the number is incorrect, your sent texts won’t be able to get redirected.
So, we’ve prepared a short guide on correcting the message centre number, whether you use an Android or iOS mobile.
Message Centre Number (Android)
- Go to “Applications” and open the “Phone” app.
- Dial “*#*#4636#*#” by excluding the brackets.
- Tap “Phone Information” on the following prompt.
- From there, you must locate the “SMSC” section.
- Finally, insert the correct message centre number.
- Info: The correct Telstra SMSC is “+61418706700.”
Message Centre Number (Apple)
- You must enter the “Settings” on the Apple mobile.
- Tap on the “General” tile and “About” tab from there.
- If there is an SMSC misconfiguration, a tab will open.
- Then, correct your Telstra message centre number.
- Info: The working Telstra’s SMSC is “+61418706700.”
Note: If you enter the “About” tab without a prompt opening up, your message centre number is correct so you can skip this step.
5. Optimise Your Telstra Phone Signal
The signal on your Telstra mobile is one of the most critical factors in sending messages, calling or communicating over the cellular network.
When your phone is out of reception, you may see the error 0 Telstra, indicating that your mobile can’t reach the message centre number.
How to Check Telstra Reception?
You can see the signal strength of Telstra’s network by looking at the cellular indicator at the top of your mobile screen.
There are typically four bars showing the current reception to the cellular, and when there are 2 bars or fewer, you may not be able to send messages.
How to Uplift Telstra Reception?
Here are a few tips to optimise your Telstra reception on your mobile:
- Move outdoors to boost the signal reception.
- Avoid standing underground or in basements.
- Remove the case of the Telstra mobile phone.
- Avoid interference from large metallic objects.
- Raise your hand and check the signal strength.
Note: If you’re on a trip, vacation or in the mountains (away from the tower), your signal may not be good enough, even for sending messages.
6. Clean & Re-embed your Telstra SIM
If you’re still unable to send messages through your Telstra mobile and only see the error “0” with no other instructions, perhaps your SIM card is the culprit.
When your Telstra mobile can’t recognise the card, you will see “No Signal” at the cellular indicator and won’t be able to text.
Hence, it’s time to eject the SIM card from your phone, clean the chip and verify that the SIM is appropriately embedded into the tray.
This is a straightforward procedure, but here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Use a pointy object to eject the SIM tray.
- Gently remove the SIM card from the tray.
- Use a soft cloth to wipe your card clean.
- Also, clean any debris from the SIM tray.
- Use the SIM card cut corner for orientation.
- Embed the SIM card into the cardholder.
- Push the SIM tray into the port.
Note: When asked, insert the default Telstra PIN code “0000” to regain network access!
7. Reset the Mobile’s Network Settings
The next step is resetting your mobile’s network settings, especially if none of the previous steps helped.
The outcome only suggests that the issue is related to your mobile, so the only thing that you can troubleshoot is the networking settings.
The best way is to reset the network settings and allow your device to acquire the configuration automatically using the Telstra SIM card.
Warning: Resetting the network settings on your device will permanently erase all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Cellular configurations.
How to Reset Network Options on Android?
- Slide down the quick menu from the top.
- Enter the “Settings” and then “System.”
- Then, locate the “Reset Options” section.
- Tap on “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.”
- Finally, press “Reset Settings” to confirm.
How to Reset Network Options on Apple?
- From the home screen, enter the “Settings” app.
- Go to “General” → “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
- Tap “Reset” and then “Reset Network Settings.”
The network restoration will begin momentarily, and when your device restarts, your services will be reverted to factory default.
You’ll notice that your phone won’t automatically connect to Wi-Fi, and your Bluetooth connections are missing, but most importantly, the cellular settings are reset.
Reminder: Try to send a text message and check for the error “0.”
Quick Recap:
Hence, when you can’t send message with Telstra error 0, you need to check for ongoing outages, reseat your SIM card, and optimise the cellular signal.
If this doesn’t help, you will have to correct the text centre message number and reset your mobile’s networking.
For more Telstra mobile troubleshooting, check our blog!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.