[Fix] Error in sending messages to Android from iPhone

There have been many complaints from iPhone users that when they send a message to their Android counterpart, they are instead greeted with ‘error invalid number, please re-send using a valid 10-digit mobile number or valid short code’. AT&T and T-Mobile users are primarily affected by the issue in the USA. What is the root cause of this problem?

This issue is caused by iPhone automatically adding a plus sign before every phone number. This tricks the messaging app into believing that the message has come from an international number. And due to this false positive, iPhone users are getting the ‘error invalid number’ alert when sending a message to an Android device. To that end, we were able to find a couple of methods that should assist you in resolving this issue. Let’s check them out without further delay.

Fix iPhone error invalid number when sending a message to Android

It is recommended that you try out each of the below workarounds and then see which one works. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Add 1 before the number

Many users were able to resolve this issue by manually adding 1 before the phone number. Combined with the + symbol, this would represent the USA country code, so sending a message to an Android user located in the US should be no problem.

FIX 2: Reset Network Settings

Many users were able to resolve this issue by resetting their device’s network settings to factory defaults. It is important to note, however, that doing so will also reset Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings. So sync them with your Apple account and only then proceed with the below steps:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.

• You can then tap Reset Network Settings from the Reset menu.

• The issue would be resolved after the reset has been completed.

That’s all there is to it. You can use these two methods to fix the iPhone error invalid number when sending a message to an Android user. There is no official statement from the developers on this matter, let alone any ETA for when a fix will be rolled out. We will update this guide as and when either of these things occurs. Your best option is to use the aforementioned workarounds in the meantime.