Have you ever gotten a text from a friend of yours one day, but right when you try to reply, are sent this automated response from AT&T?
“From: 1 (121) 611-611
Error invalid number. Please re-send using a valid 10-digit mobile number or valid short code.”
Many iPhone owners who have the carrier AT&T have experienced the infamous “Error invalid number” texts, and wonder what they are about, and most importantly, what they can do to stop them.
These texts are often meaningless, and only hinder your ability to communicate with friends or family. When asked, AT&T will blame Apple, and Apple will blame AT&T, but neither will respond to the problem.
One user who frequently received these texts figured out that the problem seemed to occur when he added a contact on his iPhone without adding the area code.
Although this seems like a problem that could be easily fixed, he found that even after he edited the phone number in his contacts and added the area code, he still got the “invalid number” texts when he tried to communicate with that contact.
When that did not work, he tried creating a completely new contact for the person and clearing the conversations between them. Neither of these allowed him to get rid of the annoying notifications.
Finally, after a lot of trial and error and what must have been many frustrating notifications, he found the solution: to completely delete the conversation from the Text Messages app.
If you are not sure how to delete the entire conversation, do not worry; it is very easy. Simply press the “edit” button on the main page of your Text Messages app (the one that lists your conversations). From there, you should be able to tap the red minus symbol next to whichever conversation has led to the notifications, and confirm that you want to delete it.
If that was a little hard to follow, here are the steps mapped out, so that you know exactly what to do:
1. Remove the name and number from your contact list, recent call list, favorites list, and any and all conversations (remember to make sure to delete group chats with the person in them as well).
2. Start a new text, and begin to type the person’s name (or number) and they should still pop up in a drop down box to be the recipient.
3. Instead of selecting them, select the “i” beside their name.
4. Select REMOVE from the top right corner of the menu that pops up.
5. Try a new text. Make sure nothing pops up when you enter their number.
6. Turn the phone off and on.
After this process, it seems that you will finally be rid of the terrible notifications, and can make your friend a contact again. And remember, when you add new contacts, make sure to always include their area code right off the bat.
I got no “Remove” prompt after tapping the “I” next to the contact name.
I tried to text someone today and received the infamous error message. I did everything, deleted the contact, restarted the phone, and manually typed in the number. Still same issues. The person texted me and i was able to respond to the text with no issues. I have an Android and im with Cricket Wireless.
I have a buddy and he may know someone who k ones this cat that says it’s a relay error when someone near you within two miles or so is running a Stingray. And form time to time because they Intercept everyone not just one here and there things get konbobulated from time to time basically someone was being tapped and you the unknowing caught up In big brother cheating g ass big phishing expositions
Thanks for this! I have an Android phone but also had this issue, and re-entering the phone # in the contacts list, then deleting the conversation and starting from scratch seems to have fixed the issue.
My NIN number is not correct
For me the individual texts work but I only get the invalid number error on group texts…to two separate and distinct groups. Other group texts work just fine….so how do I know which number, if any, are the problem?