Have you ever sent a message to someone and wondered if it was delivered, especially when their phone is dead?
If Someone’s Phone Is Dead Will It Say Delivered?
If someone’s phone is dead, messages sent to them will not say “Delivered” until the device is powered on and has a network connection.
In this article, we will explore the intricacies of message delivery when someone’s phone is dead.
By the end, you will have a clear understanding of how messaging apps handle delivery in such scenarios.
Table of Contents
Understanding Message Delivery
Before diving into the specifics of what happens when someone’s phone is dead, it is essential to understand how message delivery works in general.
When you send a message through popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or Facebook Messenger, the app uses the internet to transmit the message to the recipient’s device.
Once the message reaches the recipient’s device, it is marked as “delivered” to indicate that it has successfully arrived.
What Happens When Someone’s Phone Is Dead?
When someone’s phone is dead or turned off, the messaging app cannot establish a connection with the device.
As a result, the message cannot be delivered immediately.
However, the behavior of messaging apps in such situations varies depending on the app and its settings.
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, handles message delivery differently when a recipient’s phone is dead.
When you send a message to someone whose phone is off or out of battery, WhatsApp will try to deliver the message for a certain period.
If the recipient’s phone remains unreachable during this time, WhatsApp will mark the message with a single gray tick, indicating that it has been sent but not delivered.
Once the recipient’s phone is turned on or recharged, WhatsApp will attempt to deliver the pending messages.
When the message is successfully delivered, the gray tick will turn into two blue ticks, indicating that the recipient has received the message.
2. iMessage
iMessage, the default messaging app for Apple devices, also handles message delivery differently when a recipient’s phone is dead.
When you send an iMessage to someone whose phone is off, the message will remain in a pending state on Apple’s servers until the recipient’s device is turned on and connected to the internet.
Once the recipient’s device is back online, iMessage will attempt to deliver the pending messages.
If the message is successfully delivered, you will see a “delivered” status under the message.
However, if the recipient’s device remains offline for an extended period, iMessage may eventually show a “not delivered” status.
Examples
To further illustrate how messaging apps handle message delivery when a recipient’s phone is dead, let’s consider a few examples.
Example 1: WhatsApp
John sends a message to his friend Sarah via WhatsApp. Unfortunately, Sarah’s phone is dead at that moment.
WhatsApp attempts to deliver the message for the next 24 hours. After 24 hours, Sarah charges her phone and turns it on.
As soon as her phone connects to the internet, WhatsApp delivers the pending messages, including John’s message.
John can now see two blue ticks next to his message, indicating successful delivery.
Example 2: iMessage
Mary sends an iMessage to her colleague Alex, who has his iPhone turned off during a meeting.
The message remains in a pending state on Apple’s servers until Alex turns on his iPhone and connects to the internet.
As soon as Alex’s device is back online, iMessage delivers the pending messages, including Mary’s message.
Mary can now see a “delivered” status under her message, indicating successful delivery.
Statistics on Message Delivery
While specific statistics on message delivery when a recipient’s phone is dead are not readily available, we can look at broader statistics related to messaging apps and their usage.
- WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, making it the most popular messaging app globally.
- iMessage is used by millions of iPhone users, with Apple reporting over 1.5 billion active devices globally.
- In 2025, WhatsApp users sent over 100 billion messages per day.
- According to a survey conducted by Statista, 79% of smartphone users in the United States use messaging apps regularly.
These statistics highlight the widespread use of messaging apps and the importance of understanding how message delivery works, especially when a recipient’s phone is dead.
FAQs – If Someone’s Phone Is Dead Will It Say Delivered?
1. Can I tell if someone’s phone is dead by the “delivered” status on WhatsApp?
No, the “delivered” status on WhatsApp only indicates that the message has been successfully delivered to the recipient’s device.
It does not provide information about the status of their phone.
2. Will a message be delivered if someone’s phone is dead for an extended period?
If someone’s phone remains dead or turned off for an extended period, messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage may eventually show a “not delivered” status for the pending messages.
3. Can I still receive messages if my phone is dead?
No, when your phone is dead or turned off, messaging apps cannot establish a connection with your device.
Therefore, you will not receive any messages until your phone is turned on and connected to the internet.
4. Do all messaging apps handle message delivery the same way?
No, different messaging apps may handle message delivery differently when a recipient’s phone is dead.
It is essential to understand the behavior of the specific app you are using.
5. Can I check if an iMessage has been delivered when someone’s phone is dead?
No, when someone’s iPhone is turned off or dead, iMessage cannot deliver the message.
The “delivered” status will only appear once the recipient’s device is back online.
6. How long does WhatsApp try to deliver a message when someone’s phone is dead?
WhatsApp attempts to deliver a message for approximately 24 hours when the recipient’s phone is dead or turned off.
7. Can I send messages to someone whose phone is dead using other messaging apps?
No, if someone’s phone is dead or turned off, regardless of the messaging app you use, the message cannot be delivered until their device is back online.
8. Will a message be delivered if someone’s phone is in airplane mode?
If someone’s phone is in airplane mode, it temporarily disables all wireless connections, including internet access.
In such cases, the message will not be delivered until the recipient’s phone exits airplane mode and establishes an internet connection.
9. Can I receive messages when my phone is in airplane mode?
No, when your phone is in airplane mode, it disconnects from the internet, and you will not receive any messages until you exit airplane mode.
10. Can I send messages to someone whose phone is dead using SMS?
No, SMS messages require the recipient’s phone to be turned on and connected to the cellular network for delivery.
If their phone is dead, SMS messages cannot be delivered.
11. Can I tell if someone’s phone is dead by the “delivered” status on Facebook Messenger?
No, the “delivered” status on Facebook Messenger only indicates that the message has been successfully delivered to the recipient’s device.
It does not provide information about the status of their phone.
12. Will a message be delivered if someone’s phone is dead for an extended period on Facebook Messenger?
If someone’s phone remains dead or turned off for an extended period, Facebook Messenger may eventually show a “not delivered” status for the pending messages.
13. Can I still receive messages if my phone is dead on Facebook Messenger?
No, when your phone is dead or turned off, Facebook Messenger cannot establish a connection with your device.
Therefore, you will not receive any messages until your phone is turned on and connected to the internet.
14. Do messaging apps notify the sender if a message cannot be delivered?
In some cases, messaging apps may notify the sender if a message cannot be delivered. However, this behavior varies depending on the app and its settings.
15. Can I check if a message has been delivered when someone’s phone is dead on other messaging apps?
The ability to check if a message has been delivered when someone’s phone is dead may vary depending on the messaging app.
It is recommended to refer to the specific app’s documentation or support resources for accurate information.
Summary – If Someone’s Phone Is Dead Will It Say Delivered?
When someone’s phone is dead, messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage handle message delivery differently.
WhatsApp marks the message as sent but not delivered, while iMessage keeps the message pending until the recipient’s device is back online.
Statistics show the widespread use of messaging apps globally, emphasizing the importance of understanding how message delivery works in various scenarios.
By knowing the behavior of different messaging apps and their settings, users can have a better understanding of message delivery when someone’s phone is dead.
