Why Won’t My Phone Send Pictures? 10 Easy Solutions  For iPad/iPhone and Android

Is your phone unable to send pictures through text messages? It can be really annoying, especially when regular texts are working fine. In this article, we’ll explore 10 troubleshooting steps to resolve this problem on both iPhone and Android devices.

Activate MMS

Ensure MMS messaging is enabled. Picture texts are “MMS” messages. If MMS is turned off, you won’t be able to send texts with images.

• For iPhone, go to Settings > Messaging and switch on MMS Messaging.

• For Samsung, open the Messages app, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings > More Settings > Multimedia messages, and turn on Auto-retrieve.

• For other Android devices, open Settings, go to Mobile Networks, select Access Point Names (APNs), and reset them to default.

Activate Mobile Data

Check that cellular data is enabled. For sending or receiving SMS or MMS, an active cellular network is required. If cellular data is off, your phone cannot send MMS.

• On an iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular and switch on Cellular Data.

• For Android devices, the steps might differ. Open the settings app, locate connections, mobile networks, or data usage, and enable mobile data.

Close or Restart Messages App

Reopening your messaging app can resolve minor issues. Sometimes, software glitches can disrupt normal function, but restarting often fixes this.

On an iPhone:

• Swipe up from the bottom (or double-tap the home button) to view open apps.

• Swipe up on the Messages app to close it, then open it again.

On an Android:

• Open Settings and go to the apps section.

• Find the Messages app and select Force stop.

• Restart the app and try again.

Reboot Device

If restarting the app doesn’t work, try restarting your phone. This can often clear out any bugs or glitches causing problems.

• For iPhones without a home button, press and hold either the volume button or the side button until you see the power-off slider.

• For iPhones with a home button, press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears. Slide it, then wait 30 seconds before turning your phone back on by pressing the side button for three seconds.

• For most Android phones, you can restart by holding the power button and selecting Restart.

Assess Data Usage Settings

Verify Low Data Mode on iPhones and Unrestricted Data Usage on Android. Limited data usage can hinder sending picture messages, as they require more data than regular SMS.

• For iPhones with iOS 13 or later, navigate to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and ensure “Low Data Mode” is off.

• On Android, the steps may differ by model. Long-press the Messages app, select App Info > Mobile Data & Wi-Fi, and enable “Unrestricted Data Usage.”

Delete Cache Files

Remove bad or corrupted data by clearing the Messages app cache. Corrupted caches can cause apps and services to malfunction.

• iPhone users can’t clear app caches like Android users can. Usually, you clear a cache by uninstalling and reinstalling the app, but the Messages app can’t be uninstalled since it’s part of iOS.

• On Android, the steps to clear the Messages app cache might differ by model. Generally, you can do this by long-pressing the Messages app, selecting App Info, then Mobile Data & Wi-Fi, and enabling “Unrestricted Data Usage.”

Verify for a System Update

Install any available operating system updates. If your phone has pending updates, some apps and services might malfunction. Updates often fix bugs and update system apps, like Messaging, which could resolve issues with sending photo texts.

• For iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install if updates are available.

• For Android: The steps may vary by model, but generally, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update and tap Check for update.

Review Phone Storage

If your device is running out of storage, it might struggle to send MMS. To fix this, check your phone’s storage and remove unnecessary photos, files, or apps to free up space.

• For iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Your available storage will be displayed at the top.

• For Android, the steps may vary by model. Generally, you can find storage details by going to Settings > Storage or Settings > Battery and device care > Storage.

Restore Network Settings

If all else fails, reset your network settings to the default. This action will delete all your Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and custom settings, including any VPN or APN configurations.

• For iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Follow the instructions on the screen.

• For Android, go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth > Reset Settings. Note that the exact path may differ depending on your Android device.

Reach Out to Your Carrier

If all else fails, get in touch with your mobile carrier for support. You can access your carrier account online to reach them, visit a nearby store, or call from another phone. Here are the contact pages for some leading US carriers:

• Verizon

• T-Mobile

• AT&T

• Boost Mobile

• Tracfone

• Mint Mobile