When you receive a “Message not sent unsupported content” error, don’t worry! You can refer to the solutions in this guide.
Not being able to send your message to your friends can be frustrating. The good news is that we can help you resolve this issue so you can freely send just about any message you want.
Read on to find out the full solution!
First, restart your phone to refresh your connections. Your stock SMS app can also let you down when sending messages via the network. You can either force-stop your device or change your default app.
We will discuss the steps in detail in the next part of the article.
But first, here are the common causes of why your message isn’t sending and you’re getting the unsupported content error.
What Causes Message Not Sent Unsupported Content Group Message Error
What does Content Not Supported mean? When you get this kind of error, it means the content of your message is not compatible with or supported on your phone.
Hence, the receiver can’t read it.
So, if you see Message Not Sent Unsupported Content, it may be due to one of the following.
✅ Sending to Too Many People at Once
Either you are sending messages to too many people or you’re sending them too quickly.
If you sent a lot of messages recently, you may encounter some problems with your app or phone.
✅ Default Messaging App Not Set
You may have two SIMs installed in your phone and only one is active.
If you are seeing the error displayed on the screen, then you may have set your inactive SIM as your default for sending text messages.
✅ Wrong Message App Permissions
Your default messaging app does not have permission to send and receive messages on your device. If you’re using a third-party app, you may have forgotten to grant permission.
✅ Corrupt App Files
Your messaging app is malfunctioning because there are corrupt files in the cache directory. In this case, you need to clear your messages app cache.
Now that you know the causes of the error Message Not Sent Unsupported Content, let’s move on to getting that fixed.
Proven Ways to Fix Message Not Sent Unsupported Content
Before you proceed to advanced solutions, try copying and resending the message again.
The cause of your Message Not Sent Unsupported Content error could be a temporary app malfunction. If this doesn’t work, restart your phone.
Doing this should do the trick. However, if the error still persists after rebooting your phone, you will have to go into more advanced solutions.
Let’s check out the different steps you can attempt to fix this issue once and for all.
1. Force Stop or Close the Message App on Your Phone
Like every other application, it’s normal for the messaging app to stop responding.
Whenever this happens, one of the solutions you can explore is to force close the app on your phone.
In the case of this issue, you want to close the Message app completely so it resets the next time you launch it.
Doing this will restore the functionality of your app and get rid of any problems that are stopping you from successfully sending your messages.
Here’s how to force close the Message app on your phone:
iPhone:
- On your Home Screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
- Swipe left or right and choose the Message app.
- Once you located the app card, swipe it up.
- Open the Message app.
Android:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your phone’s screen.
- Find the Message app from the list of open apps.
- Tap on the Message app, then swipe it up out of your screen.
- Reopen the Message app.
Note: You can also tap on the Close All button to refresh your phone’s memory and resolve this issue.
2. Change the Default SMS App on Your Phone
It’s likely that you’re going to have multiple Message apps installed on your phone.
Whenever this happens, there’s a good chance that your phone’s software can get confused.
Once your phone messes this up, you will have a hard time sending messages since your phone will not be able to recognize which app to use.
To resolve this, you can change the default SMS app on your phone:
- Go to your phone’s Settings.
- Tap on the Apps option.
- Select Default Apps.
- Choose the SMS app.
- Select a different app from the list, then choose the Message app.
Note: If you have an iPhone, you can’t change the Message app.
3. Clear Any Residual and Cache Files on Your Phone
Every time you use your phone, it uses your phone’s storage to save additional files. It can also remove unnecessary files as you update apps.
These actions ensure that the apps run at their optimal configuration to avoid issues and malfunctions.
There are instances when residual files can disrupt how your app works. On the Message app, these files can get easily corrupted.
Whenever this happens, some functions can be affected and cause more malfunctions.
Here’s how to clear residual app files on your phone:
iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Select General.
- Go to iPhone Storage.
- Find the Message app on your phone.
- Tap on Offload.
Android:
- Go to the Settings app on your phone.
- Select Apps.
- Choose the Message app from the list.
- Tap on Storage.
- Select Clear Cache, then Clear Data.
4. Turn Off RCS Messaging on the Message App
RCS Messaging is a new type of messaging protocol that’s a significant upgrade to the older ones.
It transforms your regular text messages into one that resembles a chat app. Now, you’ll be able to enjoy the same benefits while texting your friends and family.
Since it’s a new protocol, not all platforms readily support it. Whenever you encounter this type of incompatibility, you will have a hard time sending messages to your contacts.
Here’s how to switch off RCS Messaging on your phone:
- Go to the Message app on your phone.
- Select the More Option in the top right.
- Choose Settings.
- Tap on RCS Chats.
- Toggle the switch to the Off position.
Note: Once your messages are sent, you can reactivate them again to improve your chat security and privacy.
Whether it’s a software issue or not, your phone can be prone to unwanted changes.
5. Check Your Message App Permissions
One of the changes you need to watch out for is a shift in your app permissions.
No matter what messaging app you use, the SMS permissions need to be activated.
You want to make sure that your app has this activated allowing you to send texts to your family and friends.
Here’s how to turn on the SMS permission on your messaging app:
- Go to your phone’s Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Tap on the Message app from the list.
- Choose Permissions.
- Toggle the switch for SMS Permissions to On.
Note: If you just recently set your default messaging app, you will need to double-check its permissions settings.
6. Keep Your Account in Good Standing
There’s one thing you can do to make sure that you don’t run into this error whenever you send a lot of text messages.
If you like to send group messages, you will need to watch out for your language.
Group messages can be monitored, and if ever your number is flagged, you can have a hard time sending messages successfully.
Your messages need to pass multiple spam filters so your carrier can allow you to send them.
As long as you’re not flagged, you can continue to send messages to your group without running into this error.
Here’s how to keep your account in the clear:
- Don’t send marketing messages to your group.
- Don’t send political messages to your group.
- Avoid spamming your group with messages.
Note: If you’re looking for a way to send marketing messages, there are a lot of messaging options to choose from that will allow you to do this.
By following these solutions, you will be able to get those messages sent to everyone you know.
The only thing to watch out for here is that you must not send any spammy or marketing messages to them. If one of them flags your messages, you can get into trouble.
Bottom Line
Now that you know the cause and fixes to the message not sent unsupported content error.
If you continue to get this problem, you can contact your carrier to know if they have blocked your number or not.
Read Next: Why is Text Message Stuck on Sending?
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.