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weberda
Level 2.0: Eclair
June 24, 2025
Solved

Google Messages App: SMS to shortcode not able to send

  • June 24, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 0 views

Our Provider (Vodafone Germany) is using a SMS shortcode number to be able to order an upgrade on dataplans by sms. Once the monthly contract plan (e.g. 1 GB) have been used users will receive a sms from 70997 to inform that you can answer the SMS with "1" or "2" to restore your data connectivity.

 

We ran into the issue that the Google Messages app seems to have some sort of bug with sending SMS to this kind of shortcode number as it alway says "Not sent" in red error text.

 

Provider tech support told me that the Google messages app is prefixing the number with "49" resulting in a wrong / unknown number (4970997). They cannot fix that from their side as the issue is within Google messages app and asked me to install a 3rd party messages app.... *ugly*

 

Is this something I can request to investigate from here? I will also create a case with Samsung tech support as we are mainly using Samsung devices as our corp. device fleet. 

 

Thank you!

 

Kind Regards

Daniel

Best answer by weberda

The Google Messages fix has been released!

 

Steps to recover:

 

  • Delete the message thread with the short code number
  • Clear cache of Google Messages app
  • Restart the Google Messages app and start a new thread for the short code number

The message is now being transported correctly.

5 replies

Lizzie
Lizzie
Community Manager
June 25, 2025

Hey @weberda,

 

Great to hear from you, I hope all is good. 

 

Thanks for sharing this, it's an interesting one. The good news is I've been able to find an internal ticket already open and more importantly it has had a fix already applied a few weeks ago.

 

 Regarding the roll out, if you are not seeing this already working I would check/keep an eye out for new versions it's slightly depends on few different factors. I'm going to see if I can get a bit more clarity on this, but hopefully this useful. 

 

Hope to hear from you soon. 

 

Thanks,

Lizzie

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    W
    weberdaAuthor
    Level 2.0: Eclair
    July 4, 2025

    Hi @Lizzie 

     

    thanks for reaching out! Great to hear that there is already an internal investigation ongoing.

     

    I am participating in the beta of Google Messages app and just installed a fresh build. Unfortunately the issue is still there. Installed version messages.android_20250701_01_RC00.phone_samsung_openbeta_dynamic

     

    Did you find out any more details on this and the release of a fix? 

     

    Thank you, I appreciate it!

     

    Daniel

    M
    Moombas
    Level 4.4: KitKat
    July 4, 2025

    As you use Samsung devices, ever tried the (most likely preinstalled) Samsung Messages app as an alternative?

    Even it's 3rd party as well but it should be already there if not blocked.

    W
    weberdaAuthor
    Level 2.0: Eclair
    July 17, 2025

    Hi, thank you @Moombas No it is not feasible as a general workaround.

    My personal device (Samsung S25) has migrated the Samsung Messages App into the Google Messages app a few month ago. The Samsung messages App is no longer installed on the device.

     

    I must install a "real" 3rd party app to bypass the Google Messages app. For my own personal issue this may be fine but not as a corporate solution.

     

    @Lizzie Any news from your side on this? Thanks a lot!

    M
    Moombas
    Level 4.4: KitKat
    July 17, 2025

    Funny thing, i didn't notice but you are right (i have a Smsung phone as well but nearly ever use SMS).

    So, someone needs to fix this behavior in the app.

      W
      weberdaAuthorAnswer
      Level 2.0: Eclair
      September 5, 2025

      The Google Messages fix has been released!

       

      Steps to recover:

       

      • Delete the message thread with the short code number
      • Clear cache of Google Messages app
      • Restart the Google Messages app and start a new thread for the short code number

      The message is now being transported correctly.

      A
      AdamA
      Level 1.5: Cupcake
      September 10, 2025

      Hello,

       

      We are experiencing the same issue.
      I tried the procedure suggested by @weberda , but the problem persists. I also tested it on a new smartphone configuration.The country code is always added to the shortcode  ☹️

      Google Message version : 20250808_03_RC04

       

      @Lizzie : Do you have any updates, please ? Which version fixes the bug ?

       

      Thank you in advance for your help.

      W
      weberdaAuthor
      Level 2.0: Eclair
      October 13, 2025

      My messages app is on messages.android_20251006_02_RC00.phone_samsung_openbeta_dynamic

      But we tried the steps on multiple devices where we saw the issue before and it was solved after for all of our test devices (3-4).

       

      Unsure about the actual version on those device, though.

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