Signal-android: Unable to send SMS (SMS pending forever)

[nekromoff]

• [ x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [ x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [ x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [ x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

---

Bug description

Describe here the issue that you are experiencing.
I am unable to send SMS after the latest update. SMS are shown as pending (status circle is turning forever)

Steps to reproduce

• Create SMS to non-Signal contact
• Send it
• SMS is shown as pending forever

Actual result: Describe here what happens after you run the steps above (i.e. the buggy behaviour)
SMS not sent

Expected result: Describe here what should happen after you run the steps above (i.e. what would be the correct behaviour)
SMS sent

Device info

Device: Nokia 7 plus TA-1046
Android version: 9
Signal version: 4.46.2

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/34e9432119115233d14e961493df6f5c4cfc766a242410def74a6bd2ab677751

[crobibero]

I am also having this issue.

I'm running LineageOS + microG (https://lineage.microg.org/)

Device info

Device: Essential PH-1
Android version: 9
Signal version: 4.46.2

Link to debug log:

https://debuglogs.org/e79ef4279c4db5a31f6c0983742a782c8e06b369d96da334ff0cc1e09c6054e7

[nekromoff]

Any tips what could be failing?

[crobibero]

I changed nothing and late last night everything sent all at once

[nekromoff]

Same for me. Today SMS sending works.

On Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 2:50 PM Cody Robibero [e-mail]
wrote:

I changed nothing and late last night everything sent all at once

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[nekromoff]

But I would still like to know the issue that somehow related to Signal
handling of messages via SMS or data...

On Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 3:06 PM Daniel Duris [e-mail] wrote:

Same for me. Today SMS sending works.

On Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 2:50 PM Cody Robibero [e-mail]
wrote:

I changed nothing and late last night everything sent all at once

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[kangabell]

I'm having the same issue. Been going on for couple weeks. There was one day about 9 days ago where all my pending messages sent all at once, but the next day it was back to not working. I can _receive_ SMS fine, send+receive secure messages to other Signal users fine, but sending SMS to non-Signal users does not work, just shows the "sending" icon indefinitely.

Device Info

LineageOS
LG Optimus L90
Signal v4.46.2

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/5400cd00ff13459270de0f59083242ec767068d8c50d25e7715ecfbfdba23834

[greyson-signal]

I see two different problems.

In @nekromoff's log, the CellServiceConstraintObserver is indicating the constraint is met, but the SMS still aren't executing. Could be a possible thread visibility problem with updating the constraint status. I'll look into it and see if I can reproduce it.

In @kangabell's log, the phone never thinks it has cellular service. I'm assuming that because you're receiving SMS that you do have cell service though, yeah? Do you use SMS over wifi? If so, try enabling Settings > SMS and MMS > 'WiFi Calling' Compatibility mode. The way it's written, it won't affect currently enqueued SMS, but it should allow future SMS to send if a data connection is available.

However it's also worth noting that messages are sent in order within a thread, so if older messages are enqueued waiting for cell service that it can't detect, then future messages in that thread won't send. So if this does end up being the problem, you can delete the stuck messages, restart signal, and then send a fresh message with wifi calling enabled. Sorry that's confusing, definitely something you shouldn't have to think about :) I'll see if there's a sane way to respect the wifi calling setting change on-the-fly.

[Tursko]

Would love to hear how you end up solving the issue @greyson-signal
I have 1 friend who seems to have this same issue every once in a while.

[retroformat]

I'm currently having the exact same problem as OP with a Nexus 5 phone, Signal v. 4.47.6

here's my debug log:

https://debuglogs.org/e7d8c85ecd97b6588d814104073ffed17d81718748c1a66676dfac03f386858a

[kangabell]

@greyson-signal I don't use SMS over wifi, no.

I'm also able to use the stock Messaging app to both receive AND send SMS, so the phone doesn't seem to have an issue with the connection, _just Signal_.

An update: Shortly after my last post (Sept 16) there was a Signal app update. After I updated, my pending messages sent. However, the next day it stopped working again. After a couple days I decided to make Messaging my default app and not use Signal for SMS anymore until there is a solution.

[AuspeXeu]

I have the same issue and realised that after I force stop the signal app and start it again, the SMS would immediately send.

[nekromoff]

Version 4.47.7 seems to have resolved this issue for me. I haven't encountered this issue since the update.

[AuspeXeu]

For me the error still persists, especially when coming out of airplane mode. @nekromoff can you confirm this?

1. Go airplane mode
2. Send an SMS
3. Leave airplane mode
4. SMS is stuck

[nekromoff]

Not happening to me, error was shown after leaving flight mode: "Unable to
send, tap for details". Following with sending retry worked fine.

On Thu, Oct 3, 2019 at 3:55 PM vaas [e-mail] wrote:

For me the error still persists, especially when coming out of airplane
mode. @nekromoff https://github.com/nekromoff can you confirm this?

1. Go airplane mode
2. Send an SMS
3. Leave airplane mode
4. SMS is stuck

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[kangabell]

Just confirming that I'm still having the issue over here, even after the version update.

[dkm]

I'm having the same problem. This had happened few times in the past, but this week, it looks like I simply can't send SMS. I've tried rebooting the phone, using airplane mode, wifi on/off... Can't figure out what will cause Signal to send SMS. Using stock messaging app works correctly, no network coverage problem.

Here's a log: https://debuglogs.org/cce9b88b3c40bad8a7fccdf2a0e801a4e2189ebe9c8da71ba9c81f78f77673a5

[la99er]

I'm running version 4.48.17 and have the same issue. The status of an outgoing SMS stays on Pending ...
Funny fact is, that the SMS was received by my friend. So it looks like the SMS is working fine, but the status message does not update correctly. I already force stopped the app and restarted it. Messages still pending.
My log: https://debuglogs.org/adf8e1e7baa8787bbcccfe482a1f2d18444ebc7772c2aeeadb8021da97a457b8

[Tursko]

Wifi Calling on is still giving us issues with MMS downloading on the most recent version of Signal.

Friend gets an MMS, says it can't download. Turns off Wifi Calling, waits a minute or so, clicks retry, downloads MMS successfully.

[Valiant70]

I don't seem able to send SMS through signal over wifi or cell. I think I was able to send a message or two this morning when I first installed the app, but now it doesn't work no matter how many times I restart the app. I turned on Wi-fi calling compatibility, but I still can't send anything. Receiving SMS works fine, but no one has tried to send me a picture today so I don't know if that works or not.

I'm running my phone's stock android Pie with Google apps disabled.

[retroformat]

In late Sept. I announced here (see above) I had this problem. I recently tried my Signal app again, and now it is working fine. I note that my version number has updated to v.4.48.17
Good news for me at least, THANKS!

[breversa]

Still persists for me with v.4.48.17.

As @AuspeXeu said, killing Signal (by long-pressing the "back" button, on custom ROMs) then starting it again sends the SMS at once, even if it was stuck for hours.

[Tursko]

My friend on a Moto G6 with Signal 4.49.15 is still encountering the problem. If he kills the app and reopens, the SMS will finally send.

It seems that if he tries to send an SMS when he doesn't have service, the SMS will get stuck pending. Once he has service and restarts the app it will send.

[Drhaal]

I'm on 4.49.18 with Lineage Os + Micro G and the issue is still present.
Turning OFF and ON Airplane mode or Wifi-call changes nothing but the SMS are still working on others app.

[nekromoff]

I can confirm it still happrns from time to time. I might post the debug
log if that helps again.

On Fri, Nov 15, 2019, 21:17 Drhaal [e-mail] wrote:

I'm on 4.49.18 with Lineage Os + Micro G and the issue is still present.
Turning OFF and ON Airplane mode or Wifi-call changes nothing but the SMS
are still working on others app.

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[janvlug]

I think that I have this issue as well. I am seldom using SMS. For a certain contact, I tried to send two SMS message yesterday. I noticed that the messages are still Pending according to their message info. The icon next to the messages is also a spinning circle.
I rebooted my phone, and the messages are still not sent.
Here is a debug log.

[janvlug]

I deleted both pending SMS messages and sent a new one. But this newly sent message also stays in the pending state. Here is a debug log.

[janvlug]

I read the comment by AuspeXeu on 3 October. Also for me force stopping Signal and starting it again resulted in the pending SMS to be sent immediately. Here is a debug log.

[Tursko]

Same issue here on my new Pixel 4.

Deleting the pending message, restarting the phone, and killing the app did not fix it. BUT deleting the thread completely then sending the message made it send instantly.

Also, I want to mention that the person I was texting ultimately did get the message 3 times. One was probably the original (showed not sent). Then I deleted it and sent it again (showed not sent). Then I deleted the thread and tried again (which this last one showed that it was sent).

https://debuglogs.org/1e8731362ec350f50855773c6ee5aa8532735b18b3c4be3377ccf4677c39fc3b

Here is another where after a couple minutes it finally sent (it seems to be happening only this one person, I was able to send other people sms no issue)
https://debuglogs.org/f29a717bc58682f51e22e9bb853ac0745ecdec6ea1bbac06b7d81ddcca3d998b

Final edit. All my messages now show pending but the other users are receiving then (confirmed with a person whos with me).
https://debuglogs.org/31488c814ee463411f39c0dd8027afd4c7415eca07c363c3f6e5e1d968407bdc

[pikrzysztof]

Signal 4.50.6, messages take a lot of time to send. Reboot doesn't help but "Force stop" and restarting the app helps. LineageOS 14.1-20190224-NIGHTLY-sumire, Android 7.1.2, Sony Xperia Z5.

[D4nte]

Same issue https://debuglogs.org/5a39ddf157e6fec9940f9f2df530764e2b9bd57d8071af516dd903f2718ae206

[Tursko]

I now get the issue like once every couple threads but my messages always go through. It just shows pending.

[D4nte]

Messing around with the wifi connections somehow helps with that for some reason.

[tonio4open]

Hello,

I have the same random issue with the SMS sending.

Bug description

Sometimes, after the boot of my smartphone, it's not possible to send SMS. The little dotted wheel rotates rotates rotates...

Steps to reproduce

Maybe to have my smartphone ;-)

Workaround

Reboot once or twice the smartphone.

Device info

Device: Samsung Galaxy S4 mini GT-i9195i
Android version: 7.1.1
Signal version: 4.50.6

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/a8f422d1e1b1176e73e344b54224b2af9d4d68c6177f28783c97b2e29a462805

Thanks for your help.

Antoine

[janvlug]

Happened again. Force stop of Signal fixed it again as well:
Debug log.

[janvlug]

Today, I ran into the issue again (I think this was the first time I sent an SMS since my previous comment.
Debug log taken when sending message is still pending is here.
Debug log just after force stop of Signal is here.

[peterpanondrugs]

Same issue with stuck SMS. Its very annoying since its my main APP for sending SMS.
If i FC Signal, and restart it, the SMS is sent immediately.
https://debuglogs.org/1cdeb53b3ffd799fb31e80ee22bf816ed69a449516b11f764452b956bccc8eeb

[WarmongeringBeaver]

I periodically encounter the same problem.

The only workaround that I've been able to found is to stop the app process, and restart Signal.

[controlledaccident]

This is still happening to me on LineageOS/MicroG over several updates

Send SMS and the wheel spins and spins

Solution, as others have also pointed out, seems to be kill the app and reopen.

Problem returns with reboot

[iaeiou]

I faced the same issue several times the last months. This time I turned on WiFi Calling in Signal and every messages was sent a few second later.

Note that this issue appeared also in a area with no WiFi and a good phone network coverage..

I'm not skilled enought to dig deeper in WiFi Calling stuff so I just generated this debuglog right after turning on WiFi Calling in Signal and the messages was sent:

https://debuglogs.org/b58763df701b56b3b65f48e373cf9fb60414c06b3cd29421370970e86b9f6c17

My config:

• Signal 4.68.4 (6850)
• /e/OS (based on Lineage) 0.8-o-2020041649925-dev-j5nlte

Hope that help

[Jawshy]

Bug description

I'm experiencing a similar issue. When I send unsecured SMS messages their status is pending and never changes to sent until I restart my phone. Before sending SMS messages I make sure flight mode is off and I do have sufficient phone credit. In Signal, _'WiFi Calling' compatibility mode_ is off because Wi-Fi calling is not provisioned on my phone.

For the debug log below, check around 2020-08-30 11:48:41 because that's when the SMS was sent.

Steps to reproduce

• Send a unsecured SMS message to a non-Signal contact (flight mode is off and has sufficient phone credit)
• The message is never marked as sent so restart device
• Open Signal and the SMS message should now be sent

Actual result: The status of the SMS message is pending.
Expected result: The SMS message is sent near instantly.

Device info

Device: Google Pixel 3a
Android version: 10
Signal version: 4.69.6

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/d345362866bd6774fe950adaf24785af5a22d9b217a57bc9e7708c1abb7d6cad

[breversa]

I just noticed the following :

• Single, < 160 characters SMS are sent without problems
• Multiple/long, > 160 characters SMS and/or with "complex" characters (e.g. accentued characters, emojis) are problematic

[MichaelSMVogel]

Signal 5.0.1 & 5.0.2 short sms do not get sent. Force restart doesn't help

[Tursko]

Signal 5.0.1 & 5.0.2 short sms do not get sent. Force restart doesn't help

Someone also mentioned that here
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/10270

But it looks to be related to Google's carrier service update.

[therriault]

Had the same issue with SMS not sending, started yesterday and none of the usual fixes (deleting pending messages, clearing cache, force quitting, restarting phone) made any difference. Solved it by enabling the default Android messaging app (which I'd previously disabled) and the texts immediately caught up. No idea of the mechanism but easy thing to try.

[MichaelSMVogel]

nice catch, seems to work for me, too
Thank you