topic MMS messages from overseas not being received in Get Support

MMS messages from overseas not being received

John46 — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 20:00:44 GMT

A friend is trying to send photos using MMS from an iPhone.

They are generating an error message and are not appearing on my phone (HTC running Android 7.x.x)

How do I change my plan (I'm currently on the 3month $150 plan with no add-ons) or phone settings to get these messages?

There is some urgency in getting a solution to my problem.

Thanks in advance.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

MarieHelene_L — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:36:24 GMT

Just replied to your private message @John46! Please take a look at your inbox 🙂

Everything in OP's account seems normal so we're currently testing a few things out - but if anyone else has any tips or ideas, feel free to share with us!

Marie

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

ShawnC13 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:40:12 GMT

Are the pictures going out to multiple users from the sender? I have had an issue with my parents sending out messages to me and my sister. She and my parents are iSheep and I am not (any more) They get everything going back and forth and I don't but they are getting the messgaes via imessage. Not sure if that could be an issue here or why I miss messages from them as well.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

mimmo — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:58:40 GMT

Could they not send you the pic via email or WhatsApp (I think everyone in Europe use WhatsApp) or even send you a link to Dropbox iCloud etc.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

will13am — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 21:09:12 GMT

The MMS standard is a bit of a wild wild west. I don't think all carriers run compatible editions. I can message a friend in the UK. Traffic in the other direction does not work. 21st century messaging platforms like hangouts, WhatsApp work perfectly.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

John46 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 21:59:04 GMT

For the others in this thread:

Marie sent me a detailed reply describing steps to fix the problem. One of the steps was to visit this page and create a new Access Point Name (APN)

https://apn-canada.gishan.net/settings/1844_15_public_mobile_apn_settings_for_htc_u11.php

I tried that but still had no luck. Others have suggested that I needed to send a picture first. Tried that, no luck.

Switched back to the original APN and tried again.

We did use an internet workaround to exchange pictures but it was so clumsy that I don't really want to try that again.

When my friend gets back to Canada, we'll try again and see if the issue is "out of the Canada/US area" or if it's more general. I'll check back to see if further suggestions appear.

Thanks, everyone. We tried!

John

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

Luddite — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 22:18:40 GMT

@John46 You might also ask your friend to confirm their iPhone settings. Should be

Settings >> Messages >> iMessage ON, Send as SMS ON, MMS ON >> Send & Receive should show their phone number as well a their iCloud account addresss.

Of course there is always email.

Finally, if you can receive MMS photos from anyone else it is likely an issue on your friend's phone/carrier.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

John46 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 23:40:05 GMT

My friend will be back tomorrow so we can compare phones and settings at that time. Unfortunately, we've both got commitments so I don't know when we'll actually be able to get together to check. But it's a good suggestion and I will follow up.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

John46 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 23:41:24 GMT

We did use a workaround but it would have been so much easier to share photos in text exchange.

Re: MMS messages from overseas not being received

John46 — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 23:42:40 GMT

This may, in fact, be the answer. My friend has an iPhone while I am on an Android device.