The present invention discloses a trigger message sending method, device and system, which relate to the field of communications technologies and can resolve a problem that a Machine Type Communications-Inter Working Function MTC-IWF device and a short message service-service center SMS-SC repeatedly send a trigger Trigger message to a user equipment UE. The method includes: receiving, by the MTC-IWF device, a delivery report sent by the SMS-SC, where the delivery report is sent to the MTC-IWF device by the SMS-SC after the SMS-SC fails to send the trigger message to the UE; and waiting, by the MTC-IWF device according to the delivery report, for the SMS-SC to resend the trigger message, or resending, by the MTC-IWF device, the trigger message according to the delivery report. The present invention is mainly used in a process of sending a trigger message.