topic Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi in Get Support

Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 07:17:52 GMT

I am only receiving text messages when connected to wi-fi. I don’t data plan so my settings might need adjusting. I am on an iPhone. Any suggestions?

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

sulagok — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:46:24 GMT

Hi @gp1953leb

You may need to check your setting under messages/ send as sms, make sure its toggled on.

Also check send and receive option too to see that your number is selected under "can be reached at"

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

ShawnC13 — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:54:04 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I am only receiving text messages when connected to wi-fi. I don’t data plan so my settings might need adjusting. I am on an iPhone. Any suggestions?

This has been a very common question lately. With the iPhone it will be sending out through iMessage and that requires data that is why you can only do it while connected to Wifi. In your settings you should be able to change it to only SMS or MMS I would think. As I am not an iPhone user I don't know exactly where that setting would be.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

CalgaryBen — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:03:29 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I am only receiving text messages when connected to wi-fi. I don’t data plan so my settings might need adjusting. I am on an iPhone. Any suggestions?

You are receiving iMessages from fellow iOS users (confirmed if you're seeing blue bubbles instead of green bubbles in Messaging when you reply). To prevent those users from using iMessage (which relies on data/WiFi) when communicating with you, and to switch them to true SMS, go into Settings --> Messages --> iMessage, and slide the enabler to the left to disable iMessage. It may take some time for your device to de-register from Apple's iMessage servers, so messages sent to you may continue to be through iMessage for a while, so there could be some delivery delays. Also, the sender will need to have the "Send as SMS when iMessage is unavailable" setting enabled (which is by default), and this will require that they are on a device capable of SMS with a plan that supports it.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:03:48 GMT

Setting appear to be correct. Thanks

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

CalgaryBen — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:08:46 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
Setting appear to be correct. Thanks

Do you mean iMessage is already disabled, yet you're still only receiving messages while connected to WiFi? That would be strange. What happens if you start typing a reply (you do not have to send)... is the circle with the 'up arrow' green, or blue? If it's blue, then iMessage is still enabled.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

krazykiwi — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:08:52 GMT

@CalgaryBen wrote:
@gp1953leb wrote:
I am only receiving text messages when connected to wi-fi. I don’t data plan so my settings might need adjusting. I am on an iPhone. Any suggestions?
You are receiving iMessages from fellow iOS users (confirmed if you're seeing blue bubbles instead of green bubbles in Messaging when you reply). To prevent those users from using iMessage (which relies on data/WiFi) and to switch them to true SMS, go into Settings --> Messages --> iMessage, and slide the enabler to the left to disable iMessage. It may take some time for your device to de-register from Apple's iMessage servers.

IMessage off will work but it will apply to all messages. You will still use the app but all messages will be sms and not capable of using wifi or data to send messages. With that being said, depending on which plan you have this may or may not be an issue.

If it just sending messages that only works on wifi than as @sulagok mentioned it is probably the settings. If you are able to send but not receive messages while not on wifi than that is a totally different issue.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:38:25 GMT

I have disabled iMessage but still not receiving and won’t let me send, getting error message saying I must enable iMessage.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

krazykiwi — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:39:40 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I have disabled iMessage but still not receiving and won’t let me send, getting error message saying I must enable iMessage.

Is calling working in/out?

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:39:55 GMT

I get an error message saying I need to enable iMessage and it won’t send.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

krazykiwi — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:41:49 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I get an error message saying I need to enable iMessage and it won’t send.

That is for texting. What happens when you try to call someone?

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

CalgaryBen — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:42:08 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I have disabled iMessage but still not receiving and won’t let me send, getting error message saying I must enable iMessage.

Is the recipient you are corresponding with on an iPad or other device which has no phone number connected, or is the recipient in your contact list only known by his/her e-mail address and no phone number? Is this a problem for this recipient only (i.e. are you able to SMS other people?). It could very well be that this contact is configured to only use iMessage either on your end or theirs...

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:43:59 GMT

Phone is working fine calling and receiving.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:51:10 GMT

I have tested with another I phone user, disabled iMessage and able to send. Message was not received on my phone that is wi-fi disabled but came through on my iPad.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

gp1953leb — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:52:25 GMT

Phone works fine

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

krazykiwi — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:09:28 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
Phone works fine

Go to settings - messages - text message forwarding.

Makes sure it is not set to your ipad.

Go to settings - messages - send & receive.

Makes sure your phone number is listed and checked.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

CalgaryBen — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:20:10 GMT

@gp1953leb wrote:
I have tested with another I phone user, disabled iMessage and able to send. Message was not received on my phone that is wi-fi disabled but came through on my iPad.

Unfortunately, in your situation, it's difficult to completely "resolve" this issue except to add a data add-on to your plan. If you don't want to, and you're okay with disabling iMessage altogether on your phone, so that the phone number is no longer associated with iMessage, you can do this on Apple's servers by visiting this link: http://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/ ... however, this is only half the equation.

In addition to this, you'd have to ask the sender to check his/her contact details for you -- if he/she has both your phone number and e-mail in the contact entry, ask them to tap the "Message" action, which should then pop up a list including your email, phone number, etc. Get them to tap your phone number, and message through that. It will start a new "thread" (hopefully using SMS), and the previous one should not be used.

It all sounds a bit convoluted, so hopefully it makes sense.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

CalgaryBen — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:26:00 GMT

@krazykiwi wrote:
@gp1953leb wrote:
Phone works fine
Go to settings - messages - send & receive.
Makes sure your phone number is listed and checked.

Actually, this is a good step that @krazykiwi mentioned -- if you UNCHECK your e-mail address(es) associated with iMessage on the phone, and continue to receive messages from your friend/sender, on your iPad, then this is confirmation that they have an iMessage thread using your e-mail, and not your phone number.

Under the same menu option (Messages -> Send & Receive), you also want "Start New Conversions From" to only have your phone number checked (and not your e-mail address(es)). Then, start a new SMS message ("thread") from your iPhone (making sure the "Send" button is green) to your receipient, and ensure they reply on that thread going forward.

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

stonechucker — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:55:20 GMT

WOW... as an Android user, I'm certainly glad I don't have to deal with this type of thing. Amazing how convoluted it seems to be for troubleshooting.

To think I had once wanted Apple to release an Android version of this app and facetime...

Re: Receiving text messages only when connected to wi-fi

smp99 — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 19:31:50 GMT

I think the issue is you are using your AppleID to work with Message app. If your AppleID is enabaled then Apple assumes a data connection. AppleID is the common piece of information between your iPhone, iPad, Mac and that allows you to see your texts on these other devices.

Try not using AppleID. Settings->Message->Send & Receive. Tap your AppleID near top and select Sign Out and test. Make sure only your number is selected as ways to send/receive messages.