When your Nothing Phone (2) won't send texts, it's a frustrating roadblock. Messages might get stuck with a "Not sent" error, hang on "Sending," or just disappear into the void. Let's get them moving again.
Start With a Quick Restart
Press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds until you feel a vibration and see the phone restart. This simple step clears out temporary software glitches that can jam up the messaging app or your network connection. It's the first thing I'd try.
Check Your Mobile Data and Signal
Look at the top of your screen. If you see an "X" or no signal bars, you don't have a cellular connection for SMS. Move to a different location or try toggling Airplane Mode on and off from the Quick Settings panel. For picture messages (MMS), you also need mobile data enabled, so pull down the shade and make sure your cellular data is turned on.
Verify Your Default Messaging App
Nothing OS uses Google Messages by default. If you've changed this, some issues can pop up. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and tap on "SMS app." Make sure "Messages" (the Google app) is selected. You can also try switching to it temporarily if you're using something else, just to test.
Clear the Messages App Cache
Sometimes the app's temporary data gets corrupted. Go to Settings > Apps and find "Messages" in the list. Tap on it, then go to Storage & cache. Tap "Clear cache." This won't delete your messages, but it can resolve sending failures caused by bad app data.
If that doesn't work, you can take the next step and tap "Clear storage" or "Manage space," then "Clear all data." Be warned, this will erase your message history within the app, so only do this if your texts are backed up or you're okay with losing them.
Check for App and System Updates
An outdated messaging app or system software can have bugs that break sending. Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, and go to Manage apps & device > Updates available. See if Google Messages is listed and update it. Then, check for a system update by going to Settings > System > System update.
Reset Your Network Settings
This is a stronger fix for persistent network-related problems. Go to Settings > System > Reset options. Tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth and confirm. Your phone will reboot. You'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices, but it often clears up messaging issues tied to carrier configuration errors.
Review Your APN Settings
APN settings tell your phone how to connect to your carrier's network for data and MMS. If they're wrong, picture messages won't send. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Access Point Names.
Your carrier's correct APN should already be listed and selected. If not, or if the list is empty, you'll need to get the exact settings from your carrier's website or support team and enter them manually. A single typo here can break MMS.
Try a Different Messaging App
To rule out a problem with Google Messages itself, install another SMS app like Textra or Pulse from the Play Store. Set it as your default, give it permissions, and try sending a text. If it works, the issue is with the original app. You can stick with the new one or use this info to troubleshoot further.
Contact Your Mobile Carrier
If you've tried everything, the problem might be on their end. Your SMS/MMS service could be temporarily suspended, or there might be an outage in your area. Give them a call or use their online chat. Ask them to check your line provisioning and ensure messaging services are fully active on your account.