Quick Answer
There are a few common reasons why you may not be receiving verification codes on your Samsung phone:
- Your phone number is not updated correctly in the app or service requesting the code
- You have call forwarding or call blocking enabled, which prevents codes from coming through
- Your phone’s messaging app lacks permission to receive special SMS codes
- Your phone is in airplane mode or has no reception when the SMS is sent
- Your phone storage is full, preventing new messages from coming in
- Your SIM card is damaged, deactivated, or registered incorrectly
- You have a third-party messaging app that is interfering with codes
- Your phone’s OS is out of date and unable to process verification messages properly
Checking these common issues can help identify and resolve problems receiving verification SMS on a Samsung device. Making sure your phone number is listed correctly, disabling call forwarding, granting messaging permissions, and updating your phone are good steps to take.
Checking That Your Phone Number Is Entered Correctly
One of the most common reasons for not receiving verification codes on a Samsung phone is that the app or service requesting the code has the wrong phone number on file. Here are some tips for making sure your number is entered properly:
- Double check that the phone number listed in your user profile or settings in the app matches your actual Samsung device number. Even one wrong digit will prevent codes from reaching you.
- When entering your phone number on a website or app, carefully type it instead of relying on auto-fill. Auto-filled numbers can sometimes be out of date.
- If you have recently switched device numbers, update your number in any apps or sites that use SMS verification. They may still have your old number on file.
- Some apps allow multiple phone numbers in one account. Ensure your Samsung device number is set as the primary or default if you have more than one listed.
- Remove any unrecognized phone numbers listed in your apps or sites to prevent codes being sent to unused numbers.
Taking a few minutes to verify your device number is listed properly anywhere codes are sent can fix the issue quickly.
Disabling Call Forwarding or Call Blocking
Many Samsung devices have call forwarding and call blocking features that reroute numbers matching certain criteria. While useful for filtering spam calls, these can inadvertently block incoming verification codes if set up too broadly.
Here are some suggestions for checking call forwarding or blocking settings:
- Open the Phone app and go to Settings to view current call forwarding rules. Disable any forwarding not specifically needed.
- Check the Blocked numbers list under Settings > Block numbers and remove any that may be blocking verification codes.
- Go to Settings > Connections > More connection settings > Call > Additional settings and disable any unnecessary call barring or identification restrictions.
- Dial *#62# and hit call to check if forwarding is enabled. A message will confirm if no forwarding is active.
- Consider temporarily disabling more aggressive spam call blocking apps if codes are getting blocked.
Tweaking your call settings can allow vital verification codes through while still filtering unwanted calls and spam.
Granting Messaging Permissions
For security reasons, the default messaging app on your Samsung device won’t have access to read or receive special verification SMS codes until you grant it permission.
Here are steps to check and grant messaging permissions:
- Open your phone’s Settings and go to Apps.
- Tap the Messaging or Samsung Messages app.
- Tap Permissions.
- Enable all permissions, especially SMS and Special access.
Granting these permissions allows the app to access code data from incoming SMS. Leaving permissions off blocks the app from receiving verification messages.
Checking Airplane Mode and Reception
If your Samsung phone is in Airplane Mode or lacks cellular reception when a verification code is sent, you won’t receive the SMS.
To rule out these issues:
- Confirm Airplane Mode is off in Settings or the quick settings pulldown.
- Check that your phone has adequate cellular signal by going to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators.
- Try manually switching networks if your operator has poor reception. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators.
- Move to an area with better signal and request a new verification code.
Staying in a well-covered area on a cellular network allows your device to receive verification codes reliably.
Checking for Full Phone Storage
If your Samsung phone lacks available storage space, incoming SMS messages can’t be saved and notification won’t occur.
To check for full storage:
- Go to Settings > Device care > Storage.
- Check if available space is lower than 500MB on internal shared storage.
- Tap Internal shared storage > Files to view and delete unnecessary apps, media, and files.
- Or, insert and format an SD card for extra storage capacity.
- Clear the Messages app cache and data to free up message storage.
Keeping at least 500MB free ensures there’s room for the Messaging app to save incoming verification SMS.
Inspecting Your SIM Card
Damaged, deactivated, or incorrectly registered SIM cards cannot receive SMS verification codes.
To rule out SIM issues:
- Remove your SIM card and check for damage or dirt on the gold contacts.
- Insert the SIM card into another phone to see if it works properly.
- Contact your mobile operator and confirm your SIM is active on their network.
- Have them check that your phone number is properly mapped to your SIM card.
- If necessary, obtain a new SIM card from your operator and activate it correctly.
With a clean, undamaged SIM properly activated and registered, your Samsung phone will be able to receive verification codes.
Disabling Third-Party Messaging Apps
Using third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp or social media messaging can disrupt proper SMS verification code delivery.
Try the following if you use a third-party messaging app:
- Go to Settings > Apps and disable or force stop the third-party messaging app.
- Uninstall messaging apps you no longer use to rule out conflicts.
- Clear cache and data for the Samsung Messages app after disabling third-party apps.
- Check that Samsung Messages is set as your default SMS app in Settings > Apps > Default apps > SMS app.
Sticking with your default messaging app prevents conflicts that can block verification codes sent by SMS.
Updating Your Operating System
Outdated OS versions on your Samsung device may have bugs that interfere with processing verification codes.
Here are tips for keeping your OS up to date:
- Check Settings > System updates for any pending Android OS and security updates.
- Install available updates and reboot your device to complete the installation.
- Consider switching on automatic system updates to keep your OS current.
- If your Samsung device is old, you may need to reset to factory settings after major OS upgrades.
Staying on the latest OS via prompt updates helps ensure optimal performance for verification SMS.
Conclusion
To recap, most issues with missing verification codes on Samsung phones stem from incorrect phone numbers in profiles, call forwarding and blocking settings, lack of SMS permissions, poor reception, full storage, SIM card problems, third-party messaging app conflicts, or outdated operating systems.
Checking each of these factors can help narrow down and resolve the specific reason codes are not coming through. Taking steps to enter your number properly, disable unnecessary call rerouting, grant app permissions, ensure adequate signal and storage, inspect your SIM card, remove third-party messaging apps, and stay up-to-date on your OS are good ways to allow verification codes to reach your Samsung device reliably going forward.