The “message blocking is active” error often appears as “Free Msg: Unable to send message – Message Blocking is active,” and usually indicates that SMS is disabled for your account or that you have blocked the recipient.
This error commonly affects users on T-Mobile, Mint, Boost, and other carriers that utilize T-Mobile’s network. Before attempting to resolve the issue, it is recommended to contact your cellular provider if you are unsure about making changes to your network settings.
To diagnose and fix the issue preventing you from sending text messages, follow these steps. First, check your phone’s block list: you might have accidentally blocked the number you are trying to text. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and select Settings. Then, tap Blocked numbers (stock Android) or Settings > Block numbers (Samsung Galaxy). Tap X or – on a number to unblock it, and tap Unblock to confirm. On iPhone, open the Settings app, scroll down, and tap Phone. Tap Blocked Contacts, tap Edit, tap the red minus sign (-) next to any numbers you want to unblock, then tap Unblock. Tap Done when you’re finished. It’s also a good idea to check with your carrier as you might have the number blocked at the carrier level.
Try texting somebody else: if you can send texts without errors to other contacts, the original person you were trying to text may be out of range or signal. Make sure you have cellular service, as text messages require a cellular signal to send. If your service is spotty or you are out of range, you will not be able to send SMS text messages.
Restarting your phone can often clear up the problem. You should also disable message blocking for your account by signing in to My T-Mobile, clicking the My T-Mobile menu, and selecting My Profile. Click Blocking controls, select your phone number from the menu, click Other controls, remove the checkmark from “Block sending and receiving SMS/MMS,” and click Save.
Ensure your account is in good standing, as failing to pay your bill may result in your carrier suspending SMS texting. Disabling Wi-Fi calling temporarily has resolved the error for many users. On Android, open Settings, tap Connections (Samsung Galaxy) or SIMs (other models), tap Wi-Fi Calling, and tap the switch to turn the feature off. On iPhone, open Settings, scroll down, and tap Phone, tap Wi-Fi Calling, and toggle the “Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone” switch Off.
If you’re using an iPhone, turn on Send as SMS by opening Settings, scrolling down, and tapping Messages. If “Send as SMS” is disabled, tap the switch to enable it. For Android users, clearing the Messages app cache can be beneficial. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap See all apps if necessary, tap the app you use to send text messages (usually Messages), tap Storage & cache or Storage, and tap Clear cache (or Clear data if there is no Clear Cache) and confirm.
Switching to Google Messages has solved the blocking issue for many Samsung Galaxy owners. It’s also essential to ensure your SMSC number is correct. For T-Mobile, Mint, Metro, and Boost, your SMSC code should be +12063130004. In your text messaging app, tap the menu icon, select Settings, tap More Settings, tap Text messages, and verify the Message Center number.
Resetting your APN settings to defaults can often fix message blocking errors. On Android, open Settings, tap Connections or Wireless & networks, tap Mobile networks, tap Access point names, tap the three-dot menu, and select Reset access points or Reset to default. Tap Reset access points or Reset to confirm. On iPhone, open Settings, select Cellular, tap Cellular Data Network, and tap Reset Settings. Be cautious, as some iPhones may not have the option to view or reset APN details.
Checking your APN settings is also crucial, especially if you switched providers. For T-Mobile, the APN value should be Fast.t-mobile.com (for LTE devices) or epc.t-mobile.com (for non-LTE). Other settings such as Proxy, Port, Username, Password, Server, Authentication Type, MMS proxy, and MMS port should all be “Not set.” The MMSC should be http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc, MMS protocol should be Wap 2.0, MCC should be 310, MNC should be 260, and APN Type should be either default,supl,mms (stock Android) or Internet+MMS (Samsung Galaxy).
If you’ve tried all the above steps and still can’t send texts, the problem is likely related to your account. Contacting your cellular provider should help resolve the issue, as they can make changes on their end to restore your ability to send text messages.
After resolving the “Message Blocking is active” error, consider saving your carrier’s customer service number in your contacts for quick access if future issues arise. Regularly checking your carrier’s app or online portal for account status and billing can prevent service interruptions. You may also want to explore advanced messaging features offered by your phone or carrier to enhance your communication.
