Group texts not working

[Superbowlnick90]

I have a Galaxy S10 and for the last week, any text messages that are in a group text are not functioning properly. I seem to receive texts in a sporadic and ill-timed way. I'll send a text, and get a response to that text sometimes 12 hours (12 HOURS) later. I have had the same problem whether I am connected to wifi or not (as I saw people previously said to get off wifi, as the MMS messages don't work well through wifi), and nothing has worked. As I am not relying on my phone for communication with people, given our shelter-in-home orders, this bug is completely affecting my ability to communicate with coworkers. What are the solutions? This cannot continue this way. 

[Superbowlnick90]

*now relying (not "not")

[vzw_customer_support]

Superbowlnick90,

We're sorry to hear you are having troubles messaging. Generally speaking, MMS and texts are best communicated over the cellular network, so we recommend turning WiFi off. Which application are you using to messge?

KatiM_VZW

[Kdfoswald]

I'm having the same issue all of a sudden the last few weeks.  But I've discovered it's not just group messages, it also applies to individual text messages.  And it applies to regular text messages and pictures messages.  And I shouldn't have to turn wifi off, everything was working fine till a few weeks ago.  What did Verizon change?  Sometimes if I turn off SMS AND MMS the text will go through. I have an iPhone 11 Pro.  

[vzw_customer_support]

KerryC_VZW I can look into this for you. Which messaging applications are affected?

[Robert1763]

I am also having issues with group messages.  I have mms enabled and have tried using various messaging apps.  Group texts worked fine until about a week ago.  Now the messages come in sporadically and appear as individual mms messages instead of part of the group chat.  When I try to download the mms it fails.  I also can not send a group message.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi, Robert1763. Group messages are a great way to stay in touch with multiple people at once, and we want to make sure you are able to send and receive them. Are you still having issues with them? CourtneyM_VZW

[danielleconner]

I am having issues with the same thing!!!! 

[vzw_customer_support]

We are sorry to see that you are experiencing with group text messages, danielleconner. Our only goal is to resolve your service concerns and we need to get specific information about you text messaging concerns (https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/messaging/), please. When did this text group messaging issue start?

What is your phone model?

Do you experience this issue with specific contacts only?

AntonioC_VZW

[laurenGalaxyS9]

I am also having the same issues as Robert1763. I spent hours on live chat and phone support last week, and went through all of the troubleshooting steps. Nothing has worked. Tonight, I made sure to turn off wifi before a planned group chat (6 participants). I still had an insurmountable backlog of messages downloading, and was unable to send anything/participate. It has been hours, the conversation has ended, and I'm still spinning. I am the only one that has consistent issues with participating, and the others are all on a variety of non-Verizon networks. Even outside of group chat settings, it takes a long time to send an MMS to a single recipient (i.e., a picture.) Overall, MMS works moderately well about 30% of the time, and is completely inoperable the other 70% of the time.

I am using a Samsung Galaxy 9, and am currently using the Samsung stock Messages app. I was having the same issue with Verizon's Message+ app. I have the issue whether or not wifi is turned off.

When my tech support reached the end of their troubleshooting steps, they said the only thing left would be to try a factory reset. I personally do not want to deal with the hassle of having to do a complete reset to my phone, especially when tech support was unable to explain why a factory reset should have any affect at all. I feel like it was only suggested because nothing else worked.

It appears that this is a consistent issue in these Community Forums since at least 2016, which points to it being an issue with the Verizon infrastructure. Have any steps been taken on the Verizon end to address this issue?

[ELICIAD07]

Quite honestly, I've had this problem on/off for over 4 years on the Verizon network and I have still been unable to get it resolved. I don't know if I abandon Verizon or Samsung but I'm at my wits end so this NEEDS to be addressed and fixed. 

[vzw_customer_support]

ELICIAD07, 

We value your loyalty, and we want to make sure you can use all the features of your service. Let's see how we can help improve your experience! Can you tell us more about the specific issues you are having with group texting? Do you know of any other Verizon customers in your area who are experiencing similar issues? 

MichelleH_VZW

[tadpole88]

I think if you read the thread you can find several people who are all having the same issue. This is also not the only thread on the issue and Verizon has to be aware because people have spent hours on the phone and still have no resolution for the issue. 

I am experiencing the same issue. It is like the messages get jammed up when in a group setting. It will be working fine but then all of a sudden no messages will send and you can't receive new messages. You can see them come in from the individual parties but just get a spinning wheel and at that point you may as well find something else to do because by the time you get the messages conversation is over. 

I can still text other people not in the group one on one but communicating with the group is a no go. At some point in the future all messages will download and then you can message again but this may be many minutes, hours or days.

Do you know of any other Verizon customers in your area who are experiencing similar issues? 

Yes about 1000 of them.

[vzw_customer_support]

tadpole88, thanks so much for those details. Which messaging app are you using?

DiaS_VZW

[Suriv3]

I am also having the same issues as Robert1763.  LaurenS9 described it pefectly. Every time I try to participate in a group text, the messages don't download. They show up as individual messages that I cannot download/read. I currently have 105 messages that I am unable to respond to. This is so inconvenient, especially during this time when being able to communicate with colleagues is key. 

[vzw_customer_support]

Suriv3, thanks for the message. We know the importance of needing to have your group messages working the way it should. We want to find a solution to the issue. What text message application are you currently using on your device? What make and model of the device are you using as well? KevinR_VZW 

[amarie3377]

I still do not understand, to THIS DAY...how this issue is not resolved.  After years... YEARS...of people having the SAME EXACT ISSUE with group messaging.  Verizon is one of THE LARGEST providers around, and yet this issue can't be figured out?  Every thread I read is of a representative asking the same question over and over.  "What device are you using?" WHAT DOES IT MATTER?! The issue is, that group messages FAIL NO MATTER THE DEVICE and it seems to be happening ONLY with Verizon and more specifically with Android devices.  Why has it taken so long? Why can you not figure this out after so many years, Verizon? Stop FAILING your customers for crying out loud and fix it, PLEASE!  What in the world is it going to take?! GEEZUS.

[Chris610]

I'm about to just switch to AT&T. I'm having the exact same issue as all of you where the group text will just stop and you get individual messages from each member of the group text and it's just a loading wheel spinning and you can't send or receive any messages in the chat. It doesn't look like there's a fix for this any time soon.

[vzw_customer_support]

Chris610, what messaging application do you utilize with your device?

[laurenGalaxyS9]

Hey all, 3 months later here. I'm still having the same issues, despite having spent many many many more hours on the phone/email/live chat with support. I was able to get tier 2 tech support to say that we've exhausted all possible avenues, so the issue must be with my Samsung Galaxy S9 device.

So in July I upgraded to a Galaxy S20+. Same issue persists. I was then luckily able to get a ticket filed with "the engineers", who appear to have successfully sent me a picture message, then declare success and send me a link to a troubleshooting webpage suggesting that if I'm having any issues, I should make sure I'm connected to the internet and that my brand spanking new device is not defective.

Now it's September. I just had a signal booster installed in my house, so any possible out for Verizon ("hmm looks OK on our end, are you sure you have a signal?") can be mitigated. My signal is great. It matches the signal my partner has on his Sprint/T-mobile phone. Guess who crapped out of our group chat with mutual friends within 20 minutes? This gal.

[wecoan]

Same issues here. I switched my Moto G7 Play to Verizon a few days ago, and immediately started getting bizarre "file not supported" or "message expired or not available" messages on group threads. These messages go to the individual chat, not the group chat. I've tried wifi (which is a Verizon jetpack) and mobile data. I've cleared the storage and cache for the Messages app, restarted the phone, removed and re-inserted the SIM card. No change. I'm using the Messages app that came with my phone. Tech support walked me through all those same steps again and then tried to get me to do a factory reset, at which point I said no.

I've been using this phone for a year and never had an issue like this. It started the day after I switched to Verizon. It makes me give pretty serious consideration to jumping back to my old provider before my 14-day trial period is up.