OTP Not Received on Android? How to Fix Missing Verification SMS

Are you trying to log in to an app, verify your phone number, or access your bank account, but the OTP (One-Time Password) is not arriving on your Android phone?

Missing verification codes can be frustrating, especially when you need them for banking, UPI payments, social media accounts, or other important services.

The problem is not always caused by your phone. It can also happen because of weak mobile coverage, SIM-related restrictions, message filtering, incorrect account details, or a temporary problem with the bank or service sending the OTP.

The best way to troubleshoot it is to determine whether all SMS messages are missing or only OTP messages from one particular app or service.

This guide explains how to identify the cause and fix common OTP delivery problems on Android.

1. Check Whether You Are Receiving Normal SMS Messages

First, determine whether your phone can receive ordinary text messages.

Ask someone you know to send you a regular SMS. You can also request a test message from a service you trust.

Now check the result:

• Normal SMS and OTP both missing: The problem may involve your SIM, mobile network, messaging settings, or carrier.
• Normal SMS working but one app's OTP missing: The problem may be with that particular app, bank, or its SMS delivery provider.
• OTP visible in Messages but not detected by the app: The message has arrived; the issue may be with the app's automatic verification process.

This distinction is important because changing Android settings will not necessarily fix an OTP delivery problem on the sender's side.

Jio's official SMS troubleshooting guidance makes a similar distinction: when other messages arrive but an OTP from one particular bank or app does not, the sender may need to investigate the issue.

2. Check Your Mobile Network Signal

A weak or unstable mobile network can interfere with SMS delivery.

Try these steps:

1. Check the signal indicator on your phone.
2. Move to an area with better mobile coverage.
3. Turn Airplane mode on for a few seconds.
4. Turn Airplane mode off again.
5. Wait for your mobile network to reconnect.
6. Request a new OTP only after checking whether the previous request was successful.

You can also restart your Android phone to refresh its network connection.

If you are in an area with poor reception, try again somewhere with a stronger signal.

Remember that an OTP can also be delayed because of the sender's delivery system, even when your mobile signal is strong.

3. Check the Spam and Blocked Messages Folder

Your messaging app may automatically identify certain messages as suspected spam.

Google Messages includes spam protection that can filter suspected unwanted messages.

To check whether an OTP has been filtered:

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial.
3. Select Spam & blocked.
4. Review the messages in that folder.
5. Check whether an expected verification message is present.

If you find a legitimate message, follow the app's available instructions to mark it as not spam.

Do not disable spam protection completely just to receive an OTP. It helps protect you from fraudulent messages and phishing attempts.

Only trust a verification code that you genuinely requested.

4. Verify Your Registered Mobile Number

An OTP may be sent to a different number if your account has an outdated or incorrect phone number.

This can happen when:

• You recently changed your mobile number.
• You registered with an old number.
• Your bank account is linked to another number.
• You entered an incorrect number while logging in.
• You are using a different SIM from the one registered with the service.

Check the registered mobile number through the official app or website.

For banking and UPI services, the mobile number linked to your bank account is particularly important.

If the registered number does not match the SIM currently in your phone, contact the service provider or bank to update your information through its official process.

5. Check Your SIM Card and Dual-SIM Settings

If your Android phone has two SIM cards, check which SIM is active and which number is registered with the account.

This is especially important when using banking and UPI applications.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to SIM cards or Mobile network.
3. Check whether both SIM cards are enabled.
4. Confirm that the registered SIM has network coverage.
5. Check the default SMS SIM setting if you need to send a verification message.
6. Make sure the correct phone number is selected in the app.

The exact menu names depend on your phone manufacturer.

For Google Pay bank-account verification, Google specifically recommends using the SIM associated with the bank account when sending the verification SMS.

Important: Receiving an OTP and sending a verification SMS are different operations. Some UPI activation processes send an SMS from your phone to verify your registered number. In that situation, the outgoing SMS SIM must be correct.

6. Check Whether Your SMS Inbox or Phone Storage Has a Problem

If your messaging app displays a storage warning or is having trouble loading messages, investigate its storage and application status.

Try these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Select your default messaging app.
4. Open Storage or Storage & cache.
5. Review its storage usage.
6. If appropriate, tap Clear cache.

Clearing cache removes temporary application files. Avoid selecting Clear storage or Clear data unless you understand what information may be removed.

You can also remove unnecessary files if your phone is almost completely full.

Do not delete old SMS conversations blindly, especially if they contain important information.

7. Update Your Default Messaging App

An outdated messaging application can sometimes cause problems with message handling.

If you use Google Messages:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for Google Messages.
3. Open its app page.
4. Tap Update if an update is available.
5. Restart your phone if necessary.

Also check that your preferred messaging application is set as the default SMS app.

To check:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Find Default apps.
4. Select SMS app.
5. Choose the messaging app you actually use.

Android menu names vary by manufacturer.

Google also recommends checking the default texting app, SIM installation, carrier support, and network signal when messages cannot be received.

8. Check Whether Your Mobile Plan Supports SMS

Your mobile plan may affect SMS functionality, particularly when an application requires your phone to send a verification message.

For prepaid connections, check:

• Whether your plan is active.
• Whether outgoing SMS is included.
• Whether you have any applicable SMS balance or allowance.
• Whether your SIM has any restrictions.
• Whether your operator has a service outage.

You can try sending a test SMS to someone you know.

If the message fails, contact your network operator.

For Google Pay bank-account verification, Google's support documentation specifically recommends checking the outgoing SMS pack and available balance.

Keep in mind that an incoming OTP problem and an outgoing verification SMS problem are not necessarily the same issue.

9. Restart Your Phone and Try Again

Temporary software or network problems can sometimes interrupt normal message handling.

Restarting your phone is a simple troubleshooting step.

1. Save anything you are working on.
2. Open your phone's power menu.
3. Select Restart.
4. Wait for the device to reconnect to the mobile network.
5. Open your messaging app.
6. Check whether the expected OTP has arrived.

If the OTP is still missing, do not keep requesting new codes repeatedly. Wait for the service's stated timer or expiry period before making another request.

Some services invalidate an older code when a newer one is generated. Always use the latest valid OTP.

10. Check Whether Your SIM Was Recently Replaced

If you recently replaced your SIM card, received a replacement SIM, or changed your connection, certain SMS services may be temporarily restricted.

For example, Jio's official support page states that incoming and outgoing SMS remain barred for 24 hours after a SIM change.

This is a carrier-specific rule, not a universal timeframe for every mobile operator.

If your SIM was recently replaced, check your operator's official guidance before repeatedly requesting OTPs.

You may need to wait until the temporary restriction ends.

11. Check Whether the Bank or App Is Experiencing an OTP Delivery Problem

Sometimes the phone is working correctly, but the service sending the OTP is experiencing a problem.

This is especially likely when:

• You can receive ordinary SMS messages.
• OTPs from other services arrive normally.
• Only one bank or application is affected.
• The OTP timer expires without a message arriving.
• Other users are reporting a similar problem.

In this situation, try the following:

1. Confirm that your registered phone number is correct.
2. Check the service's official status or support page.
3. Wait a little before requesting another code.
4. Use the service's official alternative verification method, if available.
5. Contact the bank or app's support team if the problem continues.

Jio's official guidance also recommends contacting the concerned institution when OTP messages from one particular bank or app are missing while other messages are arriving.

Do not assume that your Android phone is faulty just because one service cannot deliver an OTP.

12. Special Case: Google Pay SMS Verification Not Working

Google Pay bank-account activation may require your phone to send an SMS from the mobile number linked to your bank account.

This is different from simply receiving an OTP.

If Google Pay cannot complete SMS verification, check the following:

1. Confirm that your bank account and SIM use the same registered mobile number.
2. On a dual-SIM phone, select the correct SIM for outgoing SMS.
3. Check that your mobile plan supports outgoing SMS.
4. Check your network signal.
5. Make sure your prepaid plan has the required SMS allowance.
6. Clear the messaging app's cache if necessary.
7. Follow Google Pay's official troubleshooting instructions.

Important Google Pay attempt limit

Google's support documentation states that NPCI limits SMS verification attempts for bank-account activation to three within a 24-hour period.

More than three attempts can result in a 24-hour block. Attempts made before the block period expires may extend the restriction.

Do not repeatedly retry the activation process when it is failing. Follow the waiting instructions shown by Google Pay.

For the complete procedure, read Google Pay's official SMS verification troubleshooting guide.

13. Contact Your Mobile Operator or Service Provider

If you have tried the basic checks and OTPs are still missing, contact the appropriate support team.

Contact your mobile operator when:

• You cannot receive normal SMS messages.
• Your SIM has no network service.
• Outgoing SMS messages are failing.
• The problem started after a SIM replacement.
• Messages from multiple unrelated services are missing.

Contact the bank or app provider when:

• Ordinary SMS messages work.
• OTPs from other services arrive.
• Only one particular service is affected.
• The verification process repeatedly expires.

When contacting support, explain whether ordinary SMS messages are working and whether the problem affects one service or several.

This information helps identify whether the problem is on your phone, mobile network, or the sender's side.

14. Protect Yourself While Troubleshooting OTP Problems

OTP messages are used to verify account access and authorize certain transactions.

Keep these security precautions in mind:

• Never share an OTP with another person.
• Do not send verification codes to someone claiming to be customer support.
• Avoid clicking unknown links in SMS messages.
• Do not install APK files sent through unsolicited messages.
• Request OTPs only through the official website or application.
• Never give remote access to your phone to someone offering to fix OTP delivery.

A legitimate support representative should not ask you to reveal your banking OTP or password.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why am I not receiving OTP messages on Android?

Possible causes include weak network coverage, an inactive SIM, incorrect registered mobile number, spam filtering, carrier restrictions, or a problem with the service sending the OTP. First check whether ordinary SMS messages are arriving.

2. Why am I receiving normal SMS but not OTP messages?

If regular messages arrive but OTPs from one particular bank or application do not, the issue may be with that service's SMS provider or delivery system. Contact the affected service if the problem continues.

3. Where can I find blocked OTP messages on Android?

In Google Messages, tap your profile picture and open Spam & blocked. Review the folder for messages that may have been filtered.

4. Does dual SIM affect OTP delivery?

It can affect verification processes that send an SMS from your phone. Make sure the correct SIM is selected for outgoing verification messages and that it matches the number registered with your bank or service.

5. Can clearing the Messages cache fix missing OTPs?

Clearing the messaging app's cache may help with certain app-related problems. It does not guarantee OTP delivery because the message may be delayed or blocked before reaching your phone.

6. Why is my Google Pay SMS verification failing?

Google Pay bank-account activation can require an outgoing verification SMS from the SIM associated with your bank account. Check your registered number, dual-SIM selection, network, and outgoing SMS allowance.

7. Can a recently changed SIM stop OTP messages?

Yes, some mobile operators temporarily restrict SMS services after a SIM replacement. Check your operator's rules. For example, Jio states that incoming and outgoing SMS are barred for 24 hours after a SIM change.

8. Why is my OTP arriving late?

OTP delivery depends on the application or bank, its SMS delivery provider, and the mobile network. If a code arrives after the timer expires, request a new one through the official service and use the latest valid code.

9. How many times should I request an OTP?

Follow the timer and instructions shown by the application. Avoid repeated requests because some services impose attempt limits or invalidate previous codes. Google Pay bank-account verification has a specific three-attempt limit within 24 hours.

10. What should I do if no SMS messages are arriving?

Check your network signal, SIM status, Airplane mode, default SMS app, and carrier service. Test both incoming and outgoing SMS and contact your operator if the problem affects multiple senders.

Final Thoughts

When an OTP does not arrive on Android, the first step is to identify whether the problem affects every SMS message or only one particular service.

Check your network, SIM, spam folder, registered number, and messaging application before changing advanced settings.

For banking and UPI verification, pay special attention to dual-SIM selection and outgoing SMS requirements. Avoid repeatedly requesting verification codes when an application has an attempt limit.

If regular SMS messages work but one bank or app cannot deliver its OTP, contact that service instead of repeatedly changing your phone settings.

The most important thing is to identify where the delivery problem occurs before trying to fix it.