While sending shortcode, Premium SMS, or texts to your contacts, you may have seen the error 0, and this is very common in Vodafone, EE, GiffGaff, Sky Mobile, and Three network services. Let’s figure out what it means and how you can get rid of it to restore your communication.
What does error 0 mean while sending texts?
Error 0 is a generic message that means your phone failed to send an SMS, usually indicating a temporary network or routing issue rather than a permanent SIM problem. It pops up when you are texting a non-standard 5-digit shortcode, the text format is incorrect, or the Dial Assist is activated.
How do I fix error 0 on Vodafone, EE, GiffGaff, Sky Mobile, and Three?
You can quickly fix error 0 while sending texts by turning off and on the Airplane mode for 30 seconds, checking the text formatting, resetting the network or APN settings, and verifying the SMSC number.
1. Wait 24 hours
You may have recently bought your SIM card, and it takes 6–24 hours to complete the activation process. During this time, the service won’t let you send any messages and throws an error 0 code. Wait for the specified time and try again later to see if the issue is resolved.
NOTE: Ensure you send the text to a number with the correct format (+44 or 07 before it) for the UK. Otherwise, your network won’t let you send any SMS and will show the error.
2. Delete and add the contact again
It may sound a bit strange, but try deleting the person on your contacts list and adding them back again.
Although we are not sure why this solution works for the time being, there might be an issue with the phone’s software, causing a temporary conflict between the Contacts app, Messages app, and your SIM.
The error code 0 also appears on your phone if you listen to an unknown number’s voicemail and then try to send a message without saving it first. In this case, save it to your Contacts list, which will potentially resolve your problem.
3. Check SIM credit
GiffGaff
If you have not activated the Giffgaff goodybag or have run out of credit, this can result in an error 0 message on your phone. To check these resources:
- Open the Dial or Phone app.
- Type *“100#.”
- Tap Call to view your resources.
- If there is not enough credit, recharge your account before sending texts to others.
Three, Vodafone, Sky Mobile
Your balance might be low for sending premium-rate messages, which is why you are getting the 0 error. PSMS costs extra, and if you are currently on a package that does not cover these expenses or you have no amount in your PAYG SIM, consider topping it up or upgrading to a better package.
EE
If the spend cap on your phone is set to £0 outside your monthly allowance when you took out the EE contract, you won’t be able to send text messages to premium rate numbers.
To fix this, you can change the EE usage outside of your monthly allowance from £10 to £50. For this, open the app, select your plan, go to Settings > Restrictions > Spend Cap, and choose the required one.
You can also text “Spend Cap” to 150 and change the limit from there.
IMPORTANT: An increase in the EE spend cap immediately takes effect, but a decrease will activate it at the start of your next billing month.
4. Force stop the Messages app
It’s possible the Messages app on your phone is glitching and causing the error 0. To clear out this suspicion, force-stop it this way:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Choose Messages.
- Select Force Close.
- Now, re-open the Messages app, send a text to a premium SMS, and verify the fix.
5. Change Messaging app
On Samsung phones, there are two messaging apps for sending texts. Sometimes, the SIM you send fails to pick the default. As a result, the service throws an error 0 code.
To fix this conflict, choose the app that has a speech bubble and three dots, which is the default for Samsung phones.
For this, head to Samsung’s phone Settings > Apps, tap “Google Messages, and uninstall or disable it. Now, whenever you send a text to a contact, the phone will stop adding the +44 code before the number and allow you to send the text message.
NOTE: If the method fails, disable the Samsung Messages app in the Apps section instead of Google Messages, which has a speech bubble and 3 lines.
6. Check if the service is down
There might be an issue with your carrier messaging service, causing error 0 to pop up on your phone. These can range from no coverage to system outages.
So first, try to change the location or area and see if the signals restore, and then send a PSMS. If this fails, check the service status on your career website or call them for an update. You need to wait for it to be restored to get the messages sent again.
7. Unblock Shortcodes for Three
While sending a premium message from a Samsung phone, the 3 error 0 can show up if the shortcodes are blocked in the settings. To unblock it:
- Open Samsung Settings.
- Go to Application Manager > All > Messages >Permissions.
- Find a drop-down menu with the Three options for sending premium texts.
- Select Always allow.
Another way of disabling the shortcode block on your Samsung phone is as follows:
- Head to Samsung Settings > Application Manager > All, and tap the menu icon.
- Select Special Access.
- Choose Use Premium text message service.
- Tap Always Allow.
After enabling shortcodes, send a premium SMS and verify that the error is gone.
8. Remove the bar on your Vodafone Account
There might be a restriction bar on your Vodafone account, and that’s why you can’t send a message to avail of the premium rate SMS service to pay for various services. To remove them:
- Open the My Vodafone app.
- Tap Manage Bars and Extras.
- Find the bar on premium messages and tap it.
- Select “Remove” and confirm that error 0 is gone when you send a premium rate SMS.
9. Disable Dial Assist/Assisted Dialing
Enabling the “Dial Assist” or “Assisted Dialing” feature on your phone automatically places the +44 code before your non-standard five-digit shortcode number. So, when you send a text to such a premium service, Vodafone, Three, EE, or any other service provider throws the error 0 code and won’t let you perform the task. The quick fix here is to turn off these features. Here’s how:
Android:
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the three dots.
- Go to Settings, select Assisted Dialing, and toggle it off.
iPhone:
- Open iPhone Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Toggle off Dial Assist.
If you still can’t send text, go to the career’s login page using a browser on your phone and sign in to your account. Here, make sure the “Outgoing premium calls” and “Incoming premium calls” options are activated (green toggle). After that, open the Messages app and send the message again to verify the fix.
10. Try manual roam
The next solution is to roam the network service on your phone manually. Doing so will reset any incorrect settings and help you send messages without getting error 0.
Android:
- Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks.
- Choose Network Operators.
- Search for networks and select any of them other than O2-UK.
iPhone:
- Head to Settings > Mobile/Cellular Data > Network Selection.
- Toggle off Automatic.
- Select a network other than O2-UK.
Wait for the connection to fail, repeat the process again, and choose “Automatic” this time. Then, send a text message to confirm if this fix works.
TIP: Changing your network mode from 2G to 3G or 4G may also help you resolve the error 0 code while sending messages.
11. Configure SMS Center Number
If the Giffgaff message center number on your phone is incorrect, it won’t route your SMS to its destination or recipients. To fix this, reconfigure it on your Android phone by opening the Messages app and going to Settings > More Settings > Text Messages > Message Center, and type the following number:
GiffGaff: +447802002606
Three: +447782000800
Vodafone: 447785016005
EE: +447958879879
Sky Mobile: +447785014317
On iPhone, these SMSC numbers are stored by default. You can’t change them, but they are correct most of the time.
12. Reset Network Settings
If the above steps don’t work, reset your phone’s network connections entirely. Note that doing this will erase any saved Wi-Fi passwords.
Android: Go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (menus may vary slightly by manufacturer).
iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
13. Reset APNs
The APN settings establish a data connection between your phone and your phone network, and this allows you to access the internet and communicate through messages.
But if these settings are misconfigured, you may lose the ability to send or receive texts and face other connectivity errors as well.
To resolve this, reset the APN settings on your iPhone or Android phone in the following way:
iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular Data.
- Choose Cellular Data Network.
- Select Reset Settings to restore your APN settings to the network provider’s default values.
Android:
- Open Settings and go to Connections > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names.
- Tap the three dots and choose Reset to Default.
- Select Reset to confirm.
Contact Support
If none of the above methods work, contact customer support. They will look into other issues with your account and resolve them at their end to get rid of the error 0 code while sending premium SMS, texts to shortcodes, or messages to your contacts.
