The error “Handset Memory Full for SMS” (sometimes shown as “Message memory full,” “Cannot receive SMS – memory full,” or similar) means your phone has run out of storage space for text messages — either in the SIM card memory, the phone’s internal SMS storage, or the messaging app’s data cache.
Let’s go through what causes it and how to fix it step by step.
⚙️ What “Handset Memory Full” Means
When an SMS arrives, your phone must have:
Free space in device memory (used by the SMS/Messaging app), and
Sometimes, free space in the SIM card’s SMS storage (especially on older phones).
If either is full, new messages cannot be received, and the network returns this error.
Common Causes
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Too many stored messages | Your inbox and sent folder have hit the phone’s or SIM’s storage limit. |
| Low device storage | Internal phone memory is full (apps, media, cache). |
| SIM card SMS storage full | Some phones still store SMS on the SIM; the SIM may hold only 20–50 messages. |
| Messaging app cache or database bloated | The Messages app data has grown large and cannot store more. |
| Corrupted message database | Rarely, a damaged SMS database prevents new messages from saving. |
Step-by-Step Fix
1. Delete Old Messages
Open your SMS/Messages app.
Delete old conversations, especially group or multimedia (MMS) threads.
Empty both Inbox and Sent folders.
Tip: Sort messages by size (if your phone allows) and delete the largest threads first.
2. Check SIM Storage
Older or feature phones may store messages on the SIM itself:
Go to Messages → Settings → SIM messages (the wording may differ).
Delete all unnecessary messages from the SIM.
3. Clear Messaging App Cache
If you’re using Android:
Go to Settings → Apps → Messages → Storage & cache
Tap Clear cache, then (if needed) Clear storage/data
(Note: clearing “storage” deletes all message history.)
4. Free Up Device Storage
Low system storage can block the SMS database from saving new messages.
Delete unused apps, photos, or videos.
Move files to SD card or cloud.
Restart your phone after freeing space.
5. Restart Your Device
After cleanup, restart your phone — this triggers the messaging app to rebuild its internal database and reconnect with the SMS service.
6. Check SIM in Another Phone
If the error persists:
Insert your SIM into another phone.
If the new phone can receive SMS, the issue is device-related.
If the same error appears, the SIM’s SMS memory is still full — clear it as above or replace the SIM if it’s old.
7. Update or Reset Messaging App
If your device still won’t receive SMS:
Update your Messages app from Play Store or App Store.
As a last resort, reset network settings (Settings → System → Reset → Network Settings Reset).
Quick Fix Summary
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Delete old texts (Inbox + Sent) |
| 2 | Clear SIM card messages |
| 3 | Clear messaging app cache/data |
| 4 | Free up phone storage |
| 5 | Restart device |
| 6 | Test SMS again |