How to Stop Sending Duplicate Text Messages on Android

Matthew S. Smith has been writing about consumer tech since 2007. Formerly the Lead Editor at Digital Trends, he's also written for PC Mag, TechHive, and others.

Updated on January 15, 2024 Reviewed by

Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA-certified technologist with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.

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This article explains why your device is sending messages twice and how to make it stop.

The Cause of Duplicate Text Messages on Android

Several problems can cause an Android device to send duplicate text messages but typically the issue tends to fall into several broad categories.

In most cases, duplicate texts are caused by the first two of these four problems. If so, it can be resolved quickly. Problems with an app or device, however, are more difficult to fix.

How to Fix Duplicate Text Messages on Android

Follow the steps below to stop sending duplicate messages on Android. Walk through these tips in order to try the most likely solutions first.

  1. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on again. A weak or intermitted Wi-Fi connection problem could cause your Android to attempt re-sending a message after it was already sent, causing a duplicate message.

Toggling Airplane Mode on and off is the same as completing these first two steps simultaneously. This could also be a quick and smart solution for an opposite problem, where you're not receiving texts.

This will not delete anything on your phone. Your apps, texts, photos, etc., will stick around during a reboot. See how rebooting differs from resetting for more on this.

Everything will be deleted during this process (custom apps, downloads, texts, photos, etc.). If you don't want to lose those things, back up your Android before you complete this step.

Why do I receive duplicate text messages on Android?

If you have a weak Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, your network may try to deliver the same message to your phone several times. Likewise, the same problem could be causing the other person to send duplicate texts.

How do I back up text messages on my Android?

To back up text messages on Android, download SMS Backup and Restore from the Google Play Store and launch the app. You can save messages on the device, your computer, your email, or an online storage service.

How do I delete duplicate text messages on my Android?

When you back up your messages with SMS Backup and Restore, it automatically omits duplicates by default, so just back up and restore your messages to get rid of all the duplicates.

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