Group Text Messages Won't Download On My Droid Razr Maxx HD

[toddbike]

Many times my Droid Razr Maxx HD will not receive group text messages.  Often, not always, when I receive a group text I get a message notification and when I look at the screen it simply says "downloading."  This downloading can go on for hours.  Two days ago one simple text message took 7 hours to download.  This is a recent problem probably only going back 3 weeks or so.  The other phones in this group text are two I Phone 5's, an I Phone 5 s and a Samsung Galaxy SIII.  My phone is used for business and my inability to receive a text quickly is hurting my business.  I may as well not have a cell phone.  Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

[vzw_customer_support]

Oh wow toddbike, this certainly doesn't seem normal. Having a working phone, especially for work is always important. While trying to get these messages, are you connected to WiFi? You shouldn't HAVE to, but what can happen is these messages can convert over to "picture messages" if they contain more than 140 characters. Please test on the cellular network and while connected to WiFi and keep us posted on your findings. Thanks.

Erin W.
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[toddbike]

Erin, it seems to be primarily when I am connected to wifi. But this is a

new problem. In the past I would be connected to wifi and I would get

texts problem free. I would prefer not to eat up my data plan with texts

when a wifi is available! Thanks for your thoughts.

On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 11:10 PM, Verizon Wireless Customer Support <

[vzw_customer_support]

Thanks so much for taking the time to follow up. Does the issue occur while the device is Safe Mode? http://vz.to/1oJIpet What text messaging service is set to default? ( Message , Messaging or Hangouts )

YosefT_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[toddbike]

If connected to wifi and in safe mode group text messages still do the

prolonged "downloading" thing which it does not do when not connected to

wifi (they download instanteously.) The default SMS app is set to

"messaging."

On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 12:53 PM, Verizon Wireless Customer Support <

[toddbike]

Well, this has ground to a halt.  To sum up, my Droid Razr Maxx HD will not receive text messages while connected to wifi.  This happens even when the device is started in safe mode.  While connected to wifi the message shows as "downloading" and will take hours to download.  If I switch off wifi the text message immediately downloads.  This occurs at all wifi spots I use related to my business.  This has the potential to eat up my data plan.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[vzw_customer_support]

I'm sorry for this inconvenience toddbike! Group Messages do go through as MMS, which cannot be used via WiFi; therefore, will not work unless you're connected to Mobile Data. Only standard text messages will go through via WiFi.

Thank you,
VanessaS_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[toddbike]

Is this new? A month ago I was receiving group messages via WiFi. Why do

the other phones in this account successfully send and receive group

messages via Wifi even now?

On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 10:17 AM, Verizon Wireless Customer Support <

[guitarwez]

I am also having this exact same issue as toddbike on my Droid Razr Maxx HD.  I think it has something to do with a recent update as this just started happening out of the blue for me about 6 weeks ago following an Android OS update.

If Verizon is saying that this is "normal" for people connected to WiFi, that just can't be true.  The rest of my family can use WiFi just fine while receiving Group Texts.  So, there obviously is a bug with the phone or with the Android OS update somewhere along the way.  I'm tried of seeing "Downloading..." on group texts.  I have no idea what the person is trying to communicate to me! 

[stephen_w]

I, too, am having the same issue.  I also notice the phone gets fairly warm/hot at times.  This all started after the most recent update.  It's highly annoying, as you all know, to see "Downloading  0kb" or "Downloading 30kb" over and over for both group texts as well as standard MMS.  Having to turn off WiFi, get the messages/downloads, then re-enable it is a hassle and not one that was present prior to the update.

I've been with Verizon for a little less than 2 years but if pushing out mandatory patches to their phones causes problems like this then I would have no qualms switching to AT&T. 

I like my phone and, for the most part, I've liked my service.  I've Googled this issue and TONS of people are having it since the update.  I hope Verizon is listening to it's customers and working on a patch of some sort. 

[toddbike]

I received a call last night from a very knowledgeable support person. He

says the issue is a Motorola one and Verizon is trying to get them to

address it. He advised using a third party text handling app or waiting it

out until there is an update, if any. I am fairly close to the discounted

new phone and will do that ultimately and it won't be with a Motorola

product.

The Verizon support here who say that this glitch --- not being able to

receive texts with the Wifi on -- are just plain wrong. Period. This all

occurred after a Motorola update.

On Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 7:33 PM, guitarwez <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[pjdauria]

Todd,

The knowledgeable support person who contacted you is correct.  This is a Motorola problem and needs to be corrected in the next update.  Same for the warm phone / poor battery life issues mentioned in this thread.  I am a former 25+ year employee who also started getting these same exact symptoms immediately after the last OS upgrade.  I logged into this forum for some suggestions / answers and when I saw so many others complaining of the same things, I called some old contacts at VZW HQ who have confirmed the issue and are escalating it with Motorola.  Don't know why the reps monitoring this thread don't have that info, but I'm told that is being addressed as well and as you can imagine they do have to deal with many different reported and unconfirmed issues day to day.  Not making excuses but it appears for now the only work around is to disable WiFi, or try the Verizon Messaging app.  I just installed that (didn't even know it existed until my HQ contact recommended it) and I am no longer experiencing the problem of delayed MMS replies.  The problem seems to be limited to the native Droid messaging app (green icon).  Hope this helps...

Paul

[stephen_w]

Thanks for the info, Paul.  Like you, I have no idea why anyone monitoring (which doesn't seem frequent) this thread would have no clue.  Although using a 3rd party or Verizon Messaging app fixes the issue it is frustrating that something that should "just work", doesn't.

[toddbike]

Thanks for your response.  Motorola has to realize that many users will never buy one of their products again because of this.  I know I won't.

[Bone19990]

Paul,

Thanks for the response on this. In a way, I guess it's good to know that it isn't just my phone personally but that it seems everyone who has this model phone is having the exact same problems that I am. The situation and the lack of a solution by Motorola is certainly dissuading me from purchasing any of their products in the future.

How do you find the Verizon Messaging app to work for you? Does it work well? Does it work any better than the standard Droid factory installed messaging app?

[guitarwez]

Paul, thanks so much for the Verizon Messaging app suggestion.  I downloaded it yesterday and love it.  No more problems with group texting and I dig all the customizations I can make to it.  It's awesome!  I suggest everyone else try it out even if they aren't having issues with the default text messaging app that came with the phone.

[pjdauria]

So far so good with the Verizon Messaging app. See the latest post, I agree with his opinions so far.

[vzw_customer_support]

I can certainly understand your concern with a change, toddbike. This is not something new, as picture and group messages (MMS) are all sent through the cellular network. But no need to worry about the data use! MMS messages do not "Eat up" your data plan allowance. The data used by these messages are not applied to your plan allowance. As an alternative, there are applications for messaging available through your Play Store that will allow messages to send and receive over WiFi. Additionally, different model phones (such as iPhones) send messages a bit differently over Apple's messaging service at times. But in most cases, your cellular data still needs to be turned on in addition to the WiFi for MMS to go through.

 

JenniferH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/vzwsupport

[Bzimmer]

I have the same exact problem and it started after the update too.  My wife has the same phone and uses the wi-fi too, but her phone receives the text.  It sounds like B S that this problem is something that has always been this way since it didn't happen a few weeks back and the fact that my wife's phone is the same phone and it receives the texts that mine is missing.  I don't really care about the data plan, but my wi-fi is fast for cruising the internet, and I'm not going to switch my wifi off now that there has been an "update" that doesn't allow for receiving group texts while connected to wifi.  I hope some one finds a solution to this.  I really don't want to put my family through a carrier change. 

[chadandmonica317]

Same problem here.  My husband and I both have RAZR Maxx HD's and the delayed, and sometimes never received, messages is more than a minor annoyance.  We both use our phones for work and personal use and they've become a hindrance since the last Android update.  With the amount of repeated reports of the same exact issues you'd think Verizon, Motorola and the Android 'people' would be deligently working to fix the issue.  We've been very loyal Verizon customers for 12+ years and this is the first time we've been so frustrated and unhappy with the service we pay so much for.  We're not up for an upgrade until 2/2015 so we're hoping for a quick resolution.

[vzw_customer_support]

chadandmonica317,

I can understand how this can be very upsettings. I want to thank you for the many years of your loyalty. We hope to continue to being your cell phone provider for 12 more years. I depend on my phone and text messages for everything now days! So let's make sure that we get you back up and running. Are you guys using the default text message application that came on the phone, the Verizon Messages, or are you using a 3rd party application from Google Play Store (hangout, handcent, GoSMS Pro)? Do you have any kind of troubles with the data services or phone calls with the phone since the update? Please keep us posted.

KevinR_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport