Why Do Text Messages Get Split Up? Long Texts Explained

One long and one short chat bubble illustration

You know the drill: you just wrote a lengthy, heartfelt message to a friend or family member. (Or, in the worst-case scenario, you sent one of those classic long break up texts.) You’re waiting for a response. Then it comes, and all it says is: lol wut? Or, worse, you don’t get a response at all. Then, when you see the recipient in person, they show you the text—it’s chopped up and out of order.

Sending or receiving split text messages is a common problem, especially for Android users. It can interrupt important conversations, lead to misunderstandings, and become just plain annoying. Understanding why text messages get split up will help you prevent it in the future.

Let’s explore what’s going on behind the scenes when long texts split up—and how you can stop it from happening.

Why Send Long Text Messages?

There are two types of texters in the world: those who send text after text after text (sometimes called double texting) and those who send a single long message.

People might send long text messages to:

  • Explain a complex thought or situation
  • Rant or vent
  • Get their thoughts across all at once, so the recipient doesn’t interrupt
  • with questions
  • Reduce the number of notifications the recipient receives (multiple dings can be perceived as annoying)

But—as we well know—sending long text messages can cause problems. When texts get split up, recipients can’t read the entire message at once and the message might be delivered out of order. Plus, recipients will receive multiple notifications.

Mobile phone with split up texts

Why Do Long Texts Get Split Up?

Text messages splitting up is a problem with both Android and Apple devices, though it does seem to happen more often with Android. Here are a few reasons that texts get split up, based on the type of device you use:

Split text messages: Android

Many SMS network providers have a limit of 160 characters per message. When the network receives messages with a higher character count, it chops them up and sends them as individual messages.

Your texts include both the characters that make up what you’re saying and signaling information, like timestamps. However, when long texts are split up quickly (which they almost always are), the timestamps for each text may be the same. The receiving phone can’t differentiate between them. That’s why some broken-up messages arrive in a mixed-up order while others don’t.

TL;DR: SMS networks only accept 160 characters, so they break up longer texts.  

Split text messages: Apple

While it’s not as common, Apple users do experience split texts.

Apple’s Messages app automatically sends messages through its own unique, encrypted system that relies on Wi-Fi or cellular data. If Messages is turned off, it will send long texts as MMS messages. But when Messages is turned off and Apple users haven’t set up MMS capabilities or when they message someone who is using an Android phone, Apple automatically reverts to SMS.

Just like with Android, when Apple devices send long messages over SMS, the SMS networks cannot handle them. Anything longer than 160 characters is chopped up and delivered as multiple individual messages, sometimes out of order.

TL;DR: Apple devices usually send messages over WiFi or your data, but sometimes they have to resort to SMS. Since SMS networks only accept 160 characters, they break up longer texts.  

How to Send a Long Text Message without Breaking It Up

If you’re noticing text messages broken up with either an Android or Apple device, it can be frustrating. Here’s how individuals and businesses can fix the problem:

Individuals: Turn on MMS

The MMS network allows nearly limitless character counts, as well as photos and videos. Both Android and Apple devices have their own MMS options.

On Android:

With most Android devices, you can send MMS messages through the Messages app automatically—as long as you have WiFi. Here is the process for sending MMS messages through Android even when you don’t have Wi-Fi:

  1. Open Settings, then navigate to Network & internet

Select network and internet on Android phone

2. Select Mobile network.

Select mobile network on Android

3. Turn on Mobile data.

Select mobile data on Android

On Apple:

As we explored earlier, Apple’s Messages app sends messages through its Wi-Fi/cellular data system. If Messages is turned off, it sends long texts as MMS messages. To ensure you’ve got MMS set up, you can:

  1. Navigate to Settings.
  2. Open Messages.
  3. Ensure MMS Messaging is on.

 

 

Individuals: Use another messaging service

Alternatively, you can turn to a new app to send messages. There are several popular messaging apps available at little or no cost. With billions of users worldwide, it’s likely that your friends and family also use these tools. Options include WhatsApp, Weixin (WeChat), Facebook Messenger, QQ, Snapchat, and Telegram.

Businesses: Use an enterprise-approved tool

While you won’t want to send long marketing texts to customers, there’s a chance you may need to send longer messages for customer service conversations. In these cases, use an SMS marketing platform or text service for business that allows you to send MMS messages. (Even so, you may want to stick to short messages, just in case your recipients don’t have MMS capabilities.)

Alternatives to Sending Long Text Messages

There are plenty of thought pieces and articles about the problem with long text messages. Skip the issue of sending lengthy messages with these three fixes:

Chop it Up Yourself

If you send several medium-sized or short texts instead of a long text, your recipient might get a few notifications. Depending on who you’re messaging, this might be a better outcome than sending a large block of text that runs the risk of getting split up.

Take action: Turn that long text into several short- to medium-sized texts. Send no more than three or four if possible to limit your recipient’s notifications.

Make it Brief

Long (and even medium-sized) texts can be hard for your recipient to focus on. It can be difficult to stare at a small screen for an extended period of time, and a big block of text doesn’t make it any easier. Sending a single short text instead might be preferable.

Image of a text message with the words: Did you hear about the test? I got a C—I'm so upset.

Take action: Cut words, remove repetitive sentences, and replace sentences with emojis to keep your message under 160 characters.  

Make it a Call or a Meetup

There’s a good chance that your long text involves an emotional topic. Before you press send, consider that your message might be misconstrued. After all, only 30% of communication involves the words we use. The rest of it relies on body language and pitch of voice, among other things. To get your point across without risk of miscommunication, make a call or meet up in person instead.

Take action: If you’re addressing an emotional topic, talk on the phone or meet in person.

Conclusion: Long Text Messages and Your Alternatives

Sending or receiving split text messages can be frustrating. Now you know why this problem might be happening—and how to fix it or find a different way to express yourself.

Regardless of how you choose to get your words across, there are a few things you can do to ensure your message (whether or not it’s split up) will be well-received:

  • Follow proper texting etiquette. Receiving split texts will probably not bother most people—but it might bother them if it happens in the wee hours of the morning. Follow texting etiquette (like texting during the day) to stay on your recipient’s good side.
  • Be transparent. Explain to your recipients what’s happening. They may have ideas about how to fix the issue or simply offer their support.
  • Communicate openly. Ask your recipients whether or not your messages are being split, and whether they’d prefer you to send multiple messages or use a different messaging app.

With these tips, you can keep texting your friends and loved ones those long texts without interruption—or make the leap to try a different way of messaging.


Share via
Copy link