My message arrived in several parts
Past the limit the network splits — and sometimes badly.
An SMS carries 140 bytes. Beyond that, the message is split into segments sent separately and reassembled by the recipient's phone. That reassembly nearly always works, but it depends on the handset, which is what produces messages shown in pieces.
The causes, from most to least common
- 1
The message exceeds a single SMS
160 characters in GSM-7, or only 70 if one character falls outside the alphabet. Beyond that, splitting is automatic.
- 2
Each segment loses room
The reassembly header takes 6 bytes per segment: only 153 usable characters remain per part in GSM-7, and 67 in UCS-2.
- 3
The recipient's phone did not reassemble them
Some older handsets, or a partial reception, display the segments separately rather than as one message.
- 4
The segments arrived out of order
The parts travel independently. If one is delayed, the display can stay incomplete for a while.
What to do
- 1
Measure your message before sending
The character counter shows the exact number of segments and the encoding chosen, before the message goes out.
- 2
Remove whatever forces UCS-2
A single emoji drops the limit from 160 to 70 characters for the whole message, multiplying the segments.
- 3
Shorten rather than let it split
A message that fits in one part arrives as one block and depends on no reassembly.
- 4
Split it yourself if you must
Two short messages sent separately read better than one long message whose reassembly failed.
Frequently asked questions
Why 153 and not 160 characters per segment?+
Because the reassembly header takes part of each segment's payload, the equivalent of seven characters.
Does a split message cost more?+
With an operator, yes: each segment is billed separately. From this site, sending remains free.
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