Cell phones are a blessing and a curse to anyone familiar with them. The endless ways to use them also come with endless problems. One such problem experienced by some iPhone users is messages that appear in the incorrect order.
When this issue occurs, you will notice that text you just sent may not appear at the bottom of the message. Instead, it may show up ahead of the response you receive from whoever you are messaging. This leads to frustration and befuddlement for both parties. If you are dealing with this, follow the steps laid out in this article to try and resolve this annoying bug.
Check for Updates
Navigate to Settings>General>Software Update. If you an update is needed, download and install the update before attempting the next fixes. If this is happening on your Mac, find the Apple Menu and navigate to About This Mac>Software Update, and perform any pending updates.
Check the Date and Time Settings
Even if your time and date appear to be displaying correctly, try this fix. Find Settings>General>Date & Time. Next, make sure you have “Set Automatically” turned on. If it is already active, turn it off for about 15 seconds and then switch it back. For the Mac, this is found in the System Preference app under Date & Time>Time Zone. Make sure you are using “Set time zone automatically using correct location.”
Reboot Just the App for Messages
If this doesn’t do the trick, the next step to try is to force the Message app to start over. To get this done, follow the steps below for your device:
- Any device iPhone 8 or older: Tap the home button twice, quickly. This reveals any apps still running in your phone’s background. Simply locate the Message app by swiping left and right. Once you find it, swipe it up.
- For iPhone X: Once the device is unlocked, swipe your finger up on the screen. After you find the Message app in the list, touch and hold until the “-“ icon (minus sign) appears in red. Next, simply tap the icon to shut down the app.
This will not delete any of the app’s information, so simply reopen the app to find out if it worked.
Reboot the Phone
One of the rules of thumb with nearly any issue with any electronic device is this: Try turning it off and then back on. The different ways to accomplish this task include:
- Click and hold the side button (or both side button and one volume button for the iPhone X).
- Open your phone and navigate to Settings>General>Shut Down.
Turn iMessage off Temporarily
Sometimes, the function that allows iMessage to operate needs to be restarted. To do this, find Settings>Cellular. Once there, use the toggle button to turn the function to “off.” After a few seconds, turn it back on and see if the issue is resolved.
Restore Default Network Settings
If none of the previous strategies work, there is one last resort setting. It is important to note that this WILL erase any network settings and Wi-Fi passwords that may be stored on your phone. If you are unsure about what information will be lost, you may want to contact Apple Support for further details. To reset the network settings, find Settings>General>Settings and then tap on the “Reset Network Settings” option.
At the end of all these steps, if you are still experiencing problems, call Apple for more in-depth help. Apple does offer live support via chat, for your convenience. Sometimes, no matter how many tips and tricks the internet may provide, we still need the experts!
