What Does “Delivered” Mean on iMessage?
We need to first differentiate between Delivered and Read.
Delivered means the other person received the message on their device. Read means the recipient has tapped on it. Of course, this doesn’t mean they’ve actually read it it only means the message has been opened. Don’t panic if you don’t hear back immediately; they might have selected it but subsequently got distracted.
You can toggle read receipts for yourself by going to Settings > Messages > Send Read Receipts.
Common Reasons iMessage Won’t Deliver
If an iMessage does not show Delivered, the recipient might have just turned their phone off. Your message will get to them when they turn on their device again. So, be patient.
Even if you think the person is highly unlikely to turn off their phone, they might have activated Airplane Mode. This cuts off all wireless connections, so they would not receive iMessages, calls, or SMS.
iMessage Won’t Deliver: Troubleshooting
It’s tough to narrow down why iMessages won’t deliver without some trial and error. One of the following solutions should work; you may have to try them all to get to the bottom of the problem.
Do You Have Internet Access?
If your iPhone shows Not Delivered, there's a probability that you are the one without an internet connection. Check this by going over to Settings > Wi-Fi where you can see any networks that you have joined. You can turn this off and on again to clear any potential issues. Review the options at Settings > Cellular if you are depending on mobile data.
If you do have internet service, you will just have to wait until the recipient connects also.
Do You Have iMessage Turned On?
This could be a fast solution to your problem that is easy to overlook. Go over to Settings > Messages. iMessage should already be turned on; if not, turn it on now.
Even if iMessage is already turned on, it is worth turning off then back on again. You will need to wait a few moments while it reactivates.
Try a Force Restart
This is a very important step in all manners of troubleshooting. A forced restart reboots your iPhone, therefore eliminating any problematic processes that are running in the background. Crucially, it does not delete any data from your device.
Is iOS Up-To-Date?
Apple regularly releases patches to minor issues through iOS updates. This could also include problems with iMessage.
first, check whether you are running the latest version of iOS by going over to Settings > General > Software Update. This will automatically check if your software is updated and, if it is not, it would suggest installation.
You would not lose any photos or messages, although some applications might ask you to log in again after updating.
Swap Your SIM Card
SIM cards are often fickle, and it is very possible that your own has decided it does not like a particular number.
Go to the store of your service provider if you have tried all the above steps to no avail. You will likely have to assure the staff that you have carried out the above troubleshooting steps. Talk to them about swapping to a new SIM card. If you are on a contract, they should do this for free. You will still use the same device and should not lose any data.
