> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Why did my chat message fail to send? > What each chat error message means, from message length to your club's chat email setting, and what to do before you retry. **Must know** * **The reason shows in an error message** when you press send. The message stays as a faded bubble with a red **Retry** link until you open another conversation. * **Retry sends exactly the same text**, so fix the cause first: shorten the message, or switch the conversation to another channel. * **If your club has switched off the Chat message notification email**, every **Web & Email** message to a family fails until a club admin switches it back on. **Where the reason shows.** When a send is refused, an error message gives the reason. Your message stays as a faded bubble with a red triangle (tooltip **Failed to send**) and a red **Retry** link. Tooltips do not open on phones, so read the error message. **How to fix it.** Find the error below and fix the cause first. The text box has already cleared, so to change the text, copy it out of the faded bubble and send it as a new message. **When you send a message.** | Message you see | What it means | What to do | | - | - | - | | **Message too long** | The message is too long, on any channel. | Shorten or split it. | | **SMS messages cannot exceed 1600 characters (yours is \[number])** | A **Web & SMS** message is over 1,600 characters. | Shorten it, or switch channel. | | **Recipient has opted out of SMS messages** | The person opted out of texts. | Switch channel. Only they can opt back in. | | **Recipient account is deactivated** | Deactivated, or removed from your club. | No text can reach them. | | **SMS limit reached. You've used \[used] of \[included] messages this month.** | Your club's monthly text allowance is used up. | Switch channel, or ask a club admin. | | **SMS service is not configured** | Texting is not available right now. | Switch channel and tell a club admin. | | **Feature "sms" is not available on your current plan** | Your club's plan has no SMS. Also appears when you start or switch to **Web & SMS**, which still shows in the menus. | Switch channel. | | **Chat email notifications to families are switched off in Notifications settings.** (saved) | Your club switched off chat emails to families. | See below. | | **Member emails are paused while this organization finishes its import.** (saved) | Your club is still bringing its data into Uplifter. | Use **Web Only** until the import is done. | | **Failed to send message** | Something went wrong. | Press **Retry**. | **Saved or not.** Most refused messages are not saved, so the faded bubble is the only copy. The two (saved) rows are kept as failed, with the reason in the tooltip once the thread reloads. **When chat email is switched off.** The **Chat message notification** email is on unless your club switches it off in the admin dashboard under **Settings > Communication > Notifications > System Rules**. While it is off, **Web & Email** messages to families are marked failed and not emailed. Staff and coaches still get chat emails. **Retry** fails the same way. Switch to **Web Only**, or to **Web & SMS** if the person has a verified phone, and ask a club admin to switch it back on. **When you start or switch a chat.** | Message you see | What it means | | - | - | | **This person cannot receive athlete communications in this club** | They can't be messaged at this club. See [Which families can I message from the coach portal?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-who-can-i-message) | | **User does not have a phone number** | **Web & SMS** needs a phone number. | | **User does not have a verified phone number** | **Web & SMS** needs a verified phone. See [Why can't I pick a family member for an SMS or email chat?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-cannot-pick-family-sms-email) | | **User does not have an email address** | **Web & Email** needs an email address. | | **Failed to create conversation** or **Failed to update conversation** | Something went wrong. Try again. | **When a text fails later.** If the carrier reports a **Web & SMS** text as failed or undelivered, its grey check turns into a red triangle, with no **Retry**. On a computer, hover it for the carrier's reason, or **Failed to deliver** if none was given. Send a new message or switch channel. **Related:** [How can I tell if my message was delivered?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-delivery-status) · [Can I send photos or files in a chat message?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-attachments-and-limits) · [Why can't I text a family who opted out of SMS?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-family-opted-out-of-sms) · [How do I switch a chat to a different channel?](/coaches/coach-messaging/coach-chat-switch-channel)