As an avid Kik user for over 5 years, I’ve sent my fair share of chat messages. And sometimes, despite having a good internet connection, my messages fail to send or just remain perpetually “pending” with the dreaded clock icon.
It can be frustrating when you’ve typed out a long message or are in the middle of an important conversation and your messages won’t go through. Fortunately, with a few troubleshooting tips, you can often resolve unsent messages in Kik and get your chats flowing smoothly again.
Table of Contents
Why Messages Fail to Send in Kik
Before diving into the solutions, it helps to understand why Kik messages may fail to send in the first place. Some common reasons include:
- Poor internet connection – If you have a spotty WiFi or mobile data connection, messages may not send. Kik requires an internet connection to transmit chat messages.
- Outdated app – An outdated version of the Kik app can lead to bugs and issues with sending messages.
- App crashes or force closes – If Kik crashes or force closes while you’re typing or about to send a message, those pending messages may be lost.
- Recipient offline – If the person you’re chatting with goes offline, messages will appear as “delivered” but remain unsent until they come back online.
Check Your Internet Connectivity
If you have a message stuck with the pending clock icon, the first thing to check is your internet connectivity.
- Check if you’re connected to WiFi or mobile data and try toggling your connection off and back on.
- Run a speed test to confirm your connection is working properly.
- Try sending a test message to another chat to see if messages are going through.
If other chats are working, then the issue may be on your recipient’s end. Have them check their connectivity as well.
Update to the Latest Version of Kik
An outdated version of Kik can lead to all sorts of bugs, including unsent messages.
On both iOS and Android devices:
- Go to the App Store/Google Play Store
- Search for Kik Messenger
- Download the latest version
- Open Kik and Sign in
Updating provides bug fixes, speed improvements, and ensures compatibility with recent devices. This often resolves issues with unsent messages.
Force Close and Reopen Kik
If all else fails, try force closing and reopening Kik to reset the app.
On iOS:
- Double tap the Home button to open the multitasking view
- Swipe up on the Kik preview to close it
- Reopen Kik from your Home screen
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps > Kik Messenger
- Select Force Stop
- Reopen Kik
After reopening, your unsent messages should reappear so you can try sending again.
Resend Unsent Messages
Once you reopen Kik after force closing, you should see your unsent messages reappear in your chat window.
To resend:
- Tap and hold the unsent message bubble
- Select Retry (or Resend on older versions of Kik)
This will re-add the message to Kik’s sending queue so it can try transmitting your message again. Hopefully whatever was causing the initial send failure has been resolved with one of the previous troubleshooting tips.
Copy and Paste Message Content
If the Retry option doesn’t work and your message remains stuck, you can try copying and pasting the message content:
- Tap and hold the unsent message bubble
- Select Copy text from the menu
- Paste the message into the chat box
- Hit send
This essentially retypes your message and queues it for sending as if it was a new message.
Clear Chat History
As a last resort, you can clear your chat history with that person, removing previous failed message attempts. Note: This will delete your existing chat history as well.
To clear history:
- Open your chat with the person
- Tap the username/group name at the top
- Select Clear History > Clear
- Send your message again as if starting a new chat
If all else fails, let the recipient know messages failed to send previously and give them a quick recap of what you had said.
Avoid Unsent Messages
While you can usually recover and resend failed messages, it’s best to avoid them in the first place. Here are some tips:
- Check your internet connection first if messages won’t send
- Update Kik frequently whenever new versions are released
- Avoid switching between apps while messaging
- Turn on notifications so you know when messages aren’t going through
