What does it mean when you get a message saying message blocking is active

Are you getting the "free msg: unable to send a message – message blocking is active" error on your iPhone or Android? This error has been seen by many users, and it can be frustrating and annoying, especially when we need to send an urgent message.

Because text messaging is such an important part of our daily lives, any problems with getting information across in a timely manner can make us go bananas!

Users with iPhone (iOS) or Android devices can receive the message blocking is active error shortly after sending a text message, and while T-Mobile has been the primary carrier affected, we've tried to make this guide as easy to follow as possible for users on other carriers also.

Let’s take a closer look at the “free msg: unable to send message – message blocking is active” issue and see the options we can explore.

What does Message Blocking Is Active mean?

Here are some of the top reasons why you can get the error.

1. Person Blocked

On Android and iPhones, the "message blocking is active" error indicates that you have blocked the other person or the other person has blocked you. When you get this error message, one of the first things to notice is that the receiver either has you on their block list or you have them on yours.

2. Service interruption or outage

The error message "free msg: unable to send message – message blocking is active" could indicate a service outage. So, before retrying, wait a few minutes or even a few hours and enquire with family and friends who are on the same network whether they are experiencing problems too.

It's possible that your network provider is performing maintenance and has paused the messaging service temporarily.

3. Shortcode issues

Another possibility, according to T-Mobile, is that the shortcode is incorrect. Shortcodes that were either inactive or incorrect caused some "message blocking is active" errors. If you're in the clear, the error is on T-Mobile's end and you'll need to contact them so that their technicians can fix the problem.

4. Text message app restrictions

The error "free msg: recipient unable to receive message – message blocking is active" indicates that the recipient has messages from a specific set of users restricted.

Some messaging apps may not be compatible with your carrier. If any of these were used, you may need to manually allow them. You might not be able to resolve this issue on your own if there isn't an option to allow these applications.

5. Data plan issues

You should also double-check the plan you've chosen. If you try to send text messages from a Data only plan, the message may not go through and you will receive this error message.

6. Check for premium message support

You should also double-check that the service to which you're sending the message supports premium text messaging. If you can't send the message because your carrier doesn't support a premium text messaging service, make sure the problem isn't with the recipient.

Read More: Android Phone Won't Download Pictures in Text Messages

How to fix and unblock “free msg: unable to send message – message blocking is active” error on Android and iPhone

You should try any of these possible solutions to resolve this error message. In the comments, let us know which of these options worked best for you.

1. How to unblock message blocking - check coverage

You won't be able to send or receive texts or make or receive calls if the coverage in an area is listed as None.

2. Is your phone active?

Check and confirm that your phone is active on your account's device settings page; if it's listed as Suspended or Still Porting, you won't be able to send or receive text messages.

3. Are text messages part of your plan?

This was previously mentioned. Check the Can Send/Receive Text Messages setting on your account device settings page.

If you haven't already, enable this option. If you are unable to enable the option, it is likely that you do not have text messaging included in your plan or that your phone number is inactive.

4. What’s the country code?

If the error occurred in an international text, a quick Google search of the country code will reveal whether you are using the correct one.

5. How to turn off message blocking - Restart the process

If the error "free msg: receiver unable to receive message – message blocking is active" only occurs on one phone, the number may be problematic. Perhaps it is incorrect. Retry by deleting and resaving the number.

6. Eject and Swap the SIMs

Switch SIM cards in your Samsung phone and try messaging with a different SIM. If it works, the problem is most likely with the SIM. Check if your inability to send text messages is SIM-related.

7. How to deactivate message blocking - Unblock the person

If the error "unable to send message – message blocking is active" persists, ask the person to unblock you. Call the number if you're unsure whether you've been blocked or not.

If it also fails to connect, you may have been blocked or the person may have blocked you. If the calls are successful, you may need to try the other solutions listed in this article.

8. How to unblock message blocking - Text Content

Some users were able to get around this by only sending a plain text in their messages. There's a chance that all of the other non-plain-texts in the message contributed to this error.

Retry after removing all attachments, emojis, pictures, or graphics from the message.

Is your problem an active message blocking issue on Android, or an active message blocking error on iOS (iPhones)? Which of these options helped you resolve the "message blocking is active" error?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

9. Do A Complete Factory Reset

A complete factory reset of our device would be our last resort. To do this, go to Settings >> Reset >> Factory Data Reset >> enter the information it asks for and perform a full factory reset of your phone to restore it to its default settings.

If you try this, it should work, but we should warn you that it should only be used as a last resort.

How to Turn OFF Message Blocking Is Active on iPhone 6, 7, 8, XR, 12 or 13

Note: Based on our tests and fixes, iPhone users appear to have a few more things [in addition to the ones we recommend for Android users, so check those as well, as we added some things we didn't mention here that could help] to pay attention to if they encounter the error:

Free Message: Message cannot be sent – Message Blocking has been enabled. These could be as simple as tweaking a setting in the settings to perform a full software update.

So you'll want to try the fixes in the order that we listed them, from the most basic to the most advanced. You should also restart your phone to see if the problem occurs again.

1. Check That the Recipient Information Is Entered Correctly

We recommend starting here for any messaging or emailing issues, as many of the problems we see are caused by incorrectly entering the recipient's information.

A text message or email would not be delivered to a recipient if a number or letter was missing. So double-check the phone number or email address.

2. Eject and Swap the SIMs

Switch SIM cards in your Samsung phone and try messaging with a different SIM. If it works, the problem is most likely with the SIM. Check if your inability to send text messages is SIM-related.

3. Turn iMessage OFF

Turning off iMessage is a fix as well as a way to isolate the problem. On your iPhone, you have two texting apps: iMessage and regular texting. Either one could be the problem, so turn one-off and try messaging with the other; in this case, it will be iMessage.

To turn iMessage off, go to Settings >> Messages >> Turn iMessage OFF. After that, try sending a message. If that doesn't work, we'll move on to the next step.

4. Try to send a Text Using iMessage

Because iMessage wasn't the problem, this procedure will focus on performing a basic troubleshooting task on the iMessage app before attempting to send a message.

To do so, make sure your phone has a good internet connection (always turn off iMessage if you don't have an active data plan or internet connection) >> go to Settings >> Messages >> Send & Receive >> tap on the Apple ID >> Sign Out >> >> Restart your iPhone Return to the Settings app, go to Messages, and select Use Your Apple ID for iMessage.

5. Check the Quality of the Network

Because the iMessage app relies on an internet connection, you'll need a strong internet connection on your phone. Many people will advise you to reset your network settings, but there is no reason to do so if all of your other internet-connected apps are working fine.

Just make sure that other apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Chrome, and others can access the internet. If they can't, it's more likely that your phone is the problem rather than your text messaging.

6. Are They Blocked? Are You Blocked?

This is self-explanatory, and we highly recommend it when discussing how to turn OFF Message Blocking Is Active on iPhone and Android. If one of you is blocked, you will receive the following error: Free Message: Message Blocking is active, so you won't be able to send a message.

7. Update to the Latest iOS / Consider the Age of Your iPhone

You should make sure your device is running the most recent software. In comparison to Android phones, iPhone software updates are critical. The software updates distinguish the first three iPhones from the last three iPhones.

It's possible that our culprit is an older iPhone that isn't getting new OTA (over the air) updates, or if you haven't installed an update in a while. To check for Apple updates, go to Settings >> General >> Software Updates, and then complete any available software updates.

8. Do A Complete Factory Reset to Fix Message Blocking Is Active On iPhone

A complete factory reset of our device would be our last resort.

Navigate to the Settings app >> Select Reset >> Erase ALL Content and Settings >> tap General >> Confirm that you want to delete the content >> To turn off your phone, enter your PIN-code and Apple ID password. Find My Service on Apple >> After the screen goes black, an Apple logo with a progress bar appears >> When the reset is finished, you'll be greeted with flashes of "Hello" in various languages.

Things should work if you try this, but we should warn you that it has to be the last resort.

How to Turn OFF Message Blocking Is Active on Samsung S8, S9, S10, S20, A20, J3, J7

All of the fixes we recommend for Android phones apply to Samsung smartphones, and here are a few that are specifically for Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

1. Enable Premium SMS on your Samsung Galaxy phone

A premium SMS feature is something you won't find on other Android phones, and if you want to fix message blocking on Samsung, that's where you should start.

To do so, first: go to Settings >> Apps >> select Use the Premium Text Message Services >> click the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen >> Select the APP, and if a popup about allowances appears, choose Always Allow.

2. Eject and Swap the SIMs

Switch SIM cards in your Samsung phone and try messaging with a different SIM. If it works, the problem is most likely with the SIM. Check if your inability to send text messages is SIM-related.

3. Do A Complete Factory Reset to Fix Message Blocking Is Active On Samsung

A complete factory reset of our device would be our last resort. To do this, go to Settings >> Reset >> Factory Data Reset >> enter the information it asks for, and perform a full factory reset of your phone to restore it to its default settings.

If you try this, it should work, but I should warn you that it should only be used as a last resort.

Message Blocking Is Active Text Messages Problem on Lycamobile

If you're having trouble with Lycamobile's message blocking is active text messages issue, we have a few different solutions that should help. If your plans expire and you haven't recharged, you will receive a message blocking is active notification when you send a message on Lycamobile starting in 2019.

• Visit the Lycamobile website and purchase a plan to fix the Message Blocking Is Active Text Messages problem. Many users have reported that this problem has gone away after purchasing a plan for as little as $19.
• We recommend turning off your Wi-Fi to see if messages begin to send. Some users have discovered that turning off Wi-Fi fixes the problem and allows them to send Lycamobile messages again.
• We also suggest using the Lycamobile sim card on a different smartphone. We've discovered that some sim-related issues are device-specific, so switching the sim to a different device fixes the problem.
• Another option for dealing with the Lycamobile text message problem is to isolate the issue. Sometimes you'll be able to send from your phone to your email, but not vice versa, in which case we recommend going to Settings >> Networks >> Mobile Networks >> Access Point Name >> Input and save the Lycamobile recommended settings.
• Check if your device has the Lycamobile preferred message centre settings to solve this Lycamobile text message problem. Messages >> Message Settings >> Sending Profiles >> Menu >> Messages >> Message Settings >> Sending Profiles >> To see if the figures match the most recent Lycamobile message centre, tap the first profile. Call 1-845-301-1612 to get the Lycamobile message centre number.

How to deactivate Message Blocking is Active on Metro Pcs

• One of the most common and obvious causes of the Message Blocking is Active on Metro Pcs problem is that your plan does not allow you to use the feature you want. In most cases, a simple upgrade or subscription will allow you to make international calls from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia.
• The second thing to look for is a problem with the SIM card. Switch devices and see if the sim works on the new one. If it does, you should investigate further to determine what is wrong. You could also perform a network reset if your message preferences or network are malfunctioning.
• You might also contact Metro Pcs to request a refresh of your smartphone and sim card’s message features. A large number of customers have discovered that this resolves their problem.
• You also want to consider the recipient. If the recipient doesn’t have their phone bill paid for, this might lead to you seeing message blocking is active on Metro Pcs

Can You Still Receive Texts If Your Phone Is Disconnected on Metro Pcs?

If your Metro PCS mobile phone service is disconnected, you will not be able to receive or send direct calls or texts. Anyone attempting to text you while the service is down will receive an error message that says "Subscriber unavailable; service blocked" or "Message blocking is active."

In addition, their messages will be stored in the provider’s computer system for a limited time.

You can only receive texts when you use apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, Instagram, etc., that require internet alone. You can also use Google voice, sidekick, pinger, textplus, textnow, burner, wickr, backchat, Twilio, or textfree as a secondary number.

Premium Message Blocking – What It Is and How It Works

Premium message blocking is a feature that allows you to intercept messages or other content sent to any shortcode or service code, such as *622#, 422618, or other similar numbers.

They usually have 5-7 digits. You can use this feature to block premium content that uses reverse billing. content such as;

1. Downloads (SMS ringtones, wallpapers, etc.)
2. Donations (text xxx to donate…)
3. Voting (text xxx to vote…)
4. Subscription services (daily news, jokes, weather report, etc.)

Standard messages such as one-time pins, fraud alerts, promotional codes, and security codes would be blocked as well.

You can whitelist shortcodes that send important information or reply STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, END, QUIT or CANCEL to any unwanted content from shortcodes to avoid blocking important standard messages.

It's worth noting that with premium content, each message is charged to the recipient, which is you. Although premium messages are more expensive than standard messages, the cost varies depending on the content and provider.

For example, each premium message could cost you anywhere from 55 cents to $6.

Do Texts Say Delivered If Blocked?

If you're blocked, your iMessage texts won't say Delivered; instead, they'll say Not Delivered or nothing at all. This is due to the fact that the message will be sent to the server but not delivered to the intended recipient.

A single tick indicates Message sent, and a double tick indicates a Message delivered in WhatsApp. So, if you're blocked, you'll only get one tick; otherwise, you'll get two ticks.

Because regular texts (SMS) usually do not indicate any confirmation on iPhone, there is no way to know if they have been blocked.

It's important to note, however, that if the person's device is turned off or not connected to the internet, your texts will not say Delivered, but rather Not Delivered. As a result, the best way to find out if you're blocked is to ask.

Can You Tell If Someone Is Blocking Your Texts?

Instead of seeing Delivered under the text or an indication that the person's device is in Do Not Disturb mode, it will say Not Delivered or sit there with no confirmation or automated response if someone is blocking your texts on iMessage.

If your previous texts to the person showed Delivered but not your most recent ones, you may have been blocked. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if your regular texts (SMS) have been blocked because they rarely indicate any confirmation on the iPhone.

If your WhatsApp messages are blocked, you will only see single ticks on your messages, indicating that they were sent but not delivered. You might also lose sight of the person's display picture.

You can tell if someone is blocking your texts on an Android by deleting their contact and checking to see if it reappears as a suggested contact. If it does, you haven't been blocked.

Calling someone to see if they are blocking your texts is another option. If you are blocked, you will only hear a partial ring before being connected to voicemail or being disconnected. If you leave a voicemail, it will be delivered to Blocked Messages, a section of the recipient's voicemail where they will not be notified.

How Do I Know If My Texts Have Been Blocked?

If you call and only get a brief ring, you should try calling again, but this time type *67 before the person's number or turn off caller ID to confirm that you have been blocked.

You will be blocked if you receive more than three rings or if the person answers the phone. By typing *67 before the number, they won't be able to tell who is calling. You can also try calling from a different phone number.

Does Blocked Mean Sent As A Text Message?

You are not blocked because you were sent a text message. It simply indicates that your network coverage is poor, that you are not connected to the internet, or that iMessage is disabled.

If you have Send as SMS enabled on your iPhone and this happens, iMessage will send the message as a text instead. Toggle on Send as SMS in Settings>Messages on your iPhone to enable SMS.

How Can I Text Someone Who Has Blocked Me?

You'll need to use social media, internet messaging, or a free text messaging service to text someone who has blocked you. If you are not blocked on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, or Viber, you can text someone who has blocked you there.

You can also send an anonymous email to the person's phone via an online text messaging service. If you have the person's email address, you can also send a regular email, spoof your phone number, or text them with another number.

You can also write them a letter, use Google Voice to get a new number, use a burner phone, or use anonymous texting services such as flash SMS, sendanonymoussms, pinger, Twilio, textmagic, infobip, nexmo, text plus, textem, textforfree, or txtdropanontxt.

Does Message Send Failure Mean Blocked?

Yes, failure to send a message could result in you being blocked. If you see Not Delivered instead of Delivered or Read on iMessage, for example, it could mean you've been blocked. It could also indicate that the message is too large, that the device is not connected to the internet, that iMessage is disabled, or that the device is turned off. This could apply to other apps or Android phones as well.

How Do You Know If An iPhone Message Is Blocked on An Android Phone?

There will be no notification if an iPhone SMS is blocked on an Android phone. Because regular texts (SMS) usually do not indicate any confirmation on iPhone, there is currently no way to tell if they have been blocked.

You will only see single ticks on your WhatsApp messages, indicating that they have been sent but not delivered. You might also lose sight of the person's display picture or status updates.

How Do I Unblock Premium Messages On iPhone?

To unblock premium messages on your iPhone, contact your service provider and request that premium message blocking be enabled or disabled. There are currently no settings for premium messages on an iPhone; you can only enable or disable SMS, MMS, and iMessage.

If you're having trouble receiving premium messages, make sure you haven't blocked the specific shortcode or service code. Also, make sure SMS is turned on on your iPhone and that you have enough airtime to send premium messages.

Go to Settings >> Phone >> Blocked Contacts on your iPhone to manage your blocked numbers. The list of numbers you have blocked will be displayed here. To enable SMS on iPhone, go to Settings >> Messages and check that iMessage, Send as SMS, and MMS Messaging are enabled.

How To See Your Android And iPhone Blocked Messages

To view messages from a blocked contact on Android, follow these steps:

• Open your messaging program.
• In the top right corner, click the menu icon (the three vertical dots)
• All messages sent to you by blocked contacts will be displayed here.
• You can also delete or restore messages by pressing and holding on to the message to reveal some options, then selecting Delete or Restore.

On your iPhone, you can't see messages sent by a blocked contact. Once you block someone, their texts, calls, or iMessages will never reach your phone, and you will be unable to retrieve them.

You can only see them through the person's phone's Messages app.

How To Turn Off Message Blocker On Android

You can either unblock the specific contact you're trying to contact or enable premium SMS to turn off the message blocker on Android.

To unblock a contact:

• Select Settings.
• Locate and click the phone icon.
• Call Blocking & Identification (tap)
• You'll find a list of your blocked contacts here.
• To unblock a contact, click Edit or swipe left on the contact you're trying to contact.

Alternatively:

• Open your messaging application.
• In the top right corner, tap the menu icon (the three vertical dots)
• Choose Settings >> >> Spam filter Delete the spam numbers.
• Tap and hold the person you're trying to contact.
• Select OK >> Delete

Unblock the contact in any other messaging or phone apps where you may have blocked them.

To enable premium SMS:

• Select More in the top right corner of Settings.
• All >> Application Manager >> Messages
• Always Allow Premium SMS is selected.

What Apps Can I Use to Block Text Messages?

Some apps you can use to block text messages on Android are:

• Key Messages
• Blocking SMS
• Calls Blacklist
• Firewall call & SMS blocker
• Google Messages
• Caller ID – phone dialer, call blocker
• Blacklist
• Hiya caller ID & block
• Text blocker
• Mood messenger
• Truecaller
• Block calls & block SMS
• Phone by google
• Call blocker and SMS blocker
• Call control
• Root call SMS manager

On your iPhone, you can use the following apps to block text messages:

1. Hiya caller ID and block
2. Call bliss
3. Mr. number lookup & call block
4. SMS shield for iPhone
5. Truecaller
6. VeroSMS
7. SMS blocker for iPhone

How To Stop A Message From Sending

Turn on airplane mode before a message finishes sending to stop it from sending. Then delete it and turn off airplane mode if it fails to send.

When a picture or video is attached to a message, or when the message is the picture or video, it will be easier to stop it from sending. Unless you have poor network coverage, texts tend to send faster than pictures, and you may not be able to stop them.

The text cannot be recalled if it is sent before you have a chance to stop it; however, you can rush over to the phone you sent it to and delete the text before the recipient sees it.

Similarly, if you want to prevent a WhatsApp message from being sent, you can quickly turn on airplane mode to disable the internet connection, causing the message to fail. However, once a message has been sent, you can use WhatsApp's Delete for Everyone option to delete it for all recipients. The recipient, on the other hand, will be aware that you deleted a message.

To stop a text message from being sent on an Android phone, use the same method or go to Menu >> Settings >> Manage applications >> All >> Messages and tap Force stop after turning on airplane mode.

How To Send Anonymous Text Message On Android

To send anonymous text messages on Android, you can use mobile apps like:

• Signal
• Linphone
• Textme up
• SpoofCard app
• Text me
• Phoner
• Anonytext
• Anonymoustexting
• Mustache anonymous texting
• Whisper app
• Private text messaging & calls
• Anonymous SMS
• Cover me.

You can also get a second number and send an anonymous text by using apps like Google voice, sidekick, pinger, textplus, textnow, burner, wickr, backchat, Twilio, or textfree. You can send anonymous texts online with sites like anonymoustext.com, pinger.com, textem.net, textforfree.net, txtemnow.com, sendanonymoussms.com, textport.com, txt2day.com, textsendr.com, opentextingonline.com, and globofone.com if you don't want to download an app or software.

You can also send an email message that is anonymous. To accomplish this, follow these instructions:

• Make a new Gmail account using a fictitious name.
• Get the person's phone number and use carrierlookup.com to look up their carrier.
• Combine the number and the carrier domain. The domain will be @tmomail.net if the phone number is 1234567890 and the carrier is T-Mobile. So, with your fake new email, you'll send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• To make it look like a text message, type it as a normal text message but leave the subject field blank.
• When you press Send, the recipient will receive an anonymous text message.

Conclusion

You start to wonder if you've been blocked when you see the message ‘blocking is active' error. Blocking someone can be entertaining, but it's much less entertaining when it's you who is blocked. We strongly advise that you read this article to learn how to determine whether you are actually blocked and how to resolve the 'message blocking is active' error.

Message Blocking Is Active FAQs

How do I fix "iPhone message blocking is active"?

Because of system issues, you may see "iPhone message blocking is active ." If you're looking for a reliable solution, we strongly advise you to try Reiboot. Tenorshare ReiBoot is an excellent option for repairing iPhone system issues and iOS stuck issues. Download, install and run Reiboot on your computer.

How do you block text messages on Android?

Step 1: Open your device's Message app. Step 2: Tap and hold the thread you want to block in place. Step 3: Select "Menu" and then "Block" to block the contact immediately. It's worth noting that if you don't clear cache memory on your Android device on a regular basis, you'll run into problems like "Message Blocking is active."

How can I tell if message blocking is turned on?

When message blocking is enabled, any message sent to the recipient will be ignored. You will simply see the message "free msg: unable to send message blocking is active."

Author: Daniel Luke

Daniel is a WordPress web designer with vast experience working with various WordPress themes that allows him to compare and contrast different themes, understand the strengths and weaknesses to develop factual, real-world reviews.