If you’re seeing the error message “Free Msg: Unable to send message – Message Blocking is active” when trying to send a text, it usually indicates that SMS is disabled on your account or you might have blocked the recipient.
Before attempting to resolve the issue, ensure you have your carrier account credentials handy, especially if you need to access online settings. Some steps involve changing network settings, which, if done incorrectly, could affect your phone’s ability to connect to your cellular network, so proceed with caution.
To troubleshoot and fix the “Message Blocking is active” error, several steps can be taken. First, check your phone’s block list. If you’re using an Android device, open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and select Settings. Then, tap Blocked numbers (stock Android) or Settings > Block numbers (Samsung Galaxy), and tap X or – on a number to unblock it, confirming your choice. For iPhone users, open the Settings app, scroll down and tap Phone, then tap Blocked Contacts. Tap Edit, then tap the red minus sign (-) next to any numbers you want to unblock, and finally tap Unblock. Tap Done when finished.
Try texting somebody else to see if the issue is specific to the original recipient. Ensure you have cellular service, as text messages require a cellular signal. Restarting your phone can often clear up temporary network issues. It’s also a good idea to disable message blocking for your account through your carrier’s online portal. For T-Mobile users, this involves signing in to My T-Mobile, clicking the My T-Mobile menu, and selecting My Profile. Click Blocking controls, select your phone number, and click Other controls. Remove the checkmark from “Block sending and receiving SMS/MMS” and click Save. For other carriers, look for similar options in your online account dashboard.
Make sure your account is in good standing and your bill is paid, as outstanding payments can lead to service restrictions. Disabling Wi-Fi calling temporarily can also resolve the error. For Android devices, open Settings, tap Connections (Samsung Galaxy) or SIMs (other models), tap Wi-Fi Calling, and toggle the switch to turn the feature off. For iPhone, open Settings, scroll down and tap Phone, tap Wi-Fi Calling, and toggle the “Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone” switch Off.
iPhone users should also check that “Send as SMS” is enabled. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Messages, and toggle the switch to enable it if it’s disabled. Android users can try clearing their Messages app cache. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap See all apps if necessary, select the messaging app, tap Storage & cache or Storage, and tap Clear cache or Clear data if there’s no Clear Cache option.
For Samsung Galaxy users, switching to Google Messages can be a solution. Download the Google Messages app from the Play Store and try sending texts with it. Ensuring the SMSC number is correct is also crucial, especially for T-Mobile, Mint, Metro, and Boost users, where the SMSC code should be +12063130004. Resetting APN settings can also help. For 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. For iPhone, open Settings, select Cellular, tap Cellular Data Network if available, and tap Reset Settings.
If you’ve recently switched providers, checking your APN settings is necessary. For Android, open Settings, go to Wireless & Networks or Connections, tap Mobile network, and tap Access point names. If a T-Mobile APN exists, tap it; otherwise, create a new APN named “T-Mobile” with specific settings: APN value set to Fast.t-mobile.com (for LTE) or epc.t-mobile.com (non-LTE), Proxy, Port, Username, Password, Server, Authentication Type, MMS proxy, and MMS port set to “Not set,” MMSC set to http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc, MMS protocol set to Wap 2.0, MCC set to 310 and MNC to 260, APN Type set to default,supl,mms (stock Android) or Internet+MMS (Samsung Galaxy), APN Protocol & APN roaming protocol set to IPv4/IPv6, and Bearer set to Unspecified.
If all else fails, the problem is likely account-related or a deeper network issue that only your carrier can resolve. Contacting your cellular provider is the next step. Once you’ve successfully resolved the “Message Blocking is active” error, you should be able to send and receive text messages without any issues. To avoid future problems, regularly check your carrier’s online account for any unexpected settings changes, especially if you experience service interruptions.
Keeping your phone’s operating system and all messaging apps updated ensures compatibility and access to the latest features and bug fixes. If you frequently travel, ensure your carrier plan includes appropriate roaming or international texting options to prevent similar blocking errors abroad.
