unable to receive gov.uk text messages

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
February 21, 2026
4 replies
247 views

I’m unable to receive text messages from gov.uk. Have searched this forum and tried the answers but to no avail. Please can someone suggest something? Thanks

IPhone 12, have done network reset, toggled flight mode, turned off and on, tried from work and home computers. am receiving text messages from other numbers.

help please

Decembersangel72

Gold Contributor

Hi @geoffreym

This is some information I have found doing an internet search with regards to the problem you are encountering:-

Issues with receiving GOV.UK SMS on an iPhone 12 are frequently caused by network-side blocks on short-code numbers, incorrect network settings, or issues with iMessage/SMS configuration.

Here are the steps to troubleshoot and fix this issue, ordered from simplest to most complex:

1. Immediate Fixes

Toggle Airplane Mode: Turn on Airplane mode, wait 10 seconds, and turn it off. This forces your phone to reconnect to the network.
Restart Your iPhone: Turn your iPhone 12 off and back on to clear temporary software glitches.
Check Signal Strength: Ensure you have a good cellular signal. If you are using Wi-Fi Calling, ensure it is stable.
Toggle WiFi Off: Sometimes, turning off Wi-Fi and relying solely on mobile data allows short-code messages (like those from 60551) to arrive.

2. iPhone Configuration Settings

Disable "Filter Unknown Senders": Go to Settings > Messages and ensure "Filter Unknown Senders" is turned off. This can sometimes block or hide automated verification texts.
Check Blocked Contacts: Go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts to ensure you haven't accidentally blocked the number the messages are coming from (e.g., from 60551).
Reset Network Settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Note: This will erase your saved Wi-Fi passwords.
Check for Carrier Settings Update: Go to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you will see a prompt to update your carrier settings.
Toggle iMessage: Go to Settings > Messages, turn iMessage off, restart your phone, and then turn it back on.

3. Network-Related Issues

Contact Your Provider (Crucial): Short-code messages (4–6 digit numbers) are often blocked by networks as "premium" or spam. Contact your mobile operator (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, etc.) and ask them to remove any spam filters or "short-code blocks" on your account.
Check Spend Caps: If you are on a limited contract, a £0 spend cap can prevent certain services from working. Check if your account has a restriction, even if you are not reaching it.
Recent Number Transfer (Porting): If you recently moved your number to a new provider, it can take up to 48 hours for SMS services to fully function.

4. Alternatives to SMS

If you cannot resolve the SMS issue, use an alternative method to get into your account:

Use an Authenticator App: You can set up a TOTP app (like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator) to generate the security code instead of waiting for a text.
Other Verification method: Check if the GOV.UK service allows you to use your email address or an app like Whatsapp to receive the security code.

If you need to talk to iD Mobile then your best option is to contact the Live Chat to discuss this as they will have access to your account details.

https://www.idmobile.co.uk/live-chat

When you contact the Live Chat :-

Type ‘talk to a person’ in the dialogue box and this will bypass the unhelpful chatbot.

Please be patient as the agents handle a few conversations at any one time so there will be a delay in connecting with an available agent and also any replies to your query.

Hope this helps x

Did my comment help answer your question? If so, don't forget to mark the response as the Most Helpful Answer.

K

Kwanele Z

iD Mobile Employee

Hi @geoffreym ,

I've just sent you a private message to help get this sorted.

To find it, click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select ‘Private Messages’.

You can also use this direct link to your inbox: https://community.idmobile.co.uk/inbox/overview

I'll speak to you there.

Thanks.

Kwanele

Did my comment help answer your question? If so, don't forget to mark the response as the Most Helpful Answer.

G

geoffreymAuthor

New Contributor

The reply didn’t help me as I’d already done so those things. I used the chat feature and was told that ID were aware of an issue and it was in hand. I started to receive codes this morning as promised.

M

Michael Z

iD Mobile Employee

Hi @geoffreym

Are you now able to receive the codes as normal?

Michael Z

Did my comment help answer your question? If so, don't forget to mark the response as the Most Helpful Answer.