No longer receiving picture messages

[hwnprnssss]

My mom got this phone in July. She had no problem sending or receiving picture messages before. Recently, instead of being able to view the pictures, it just says "downloading" and never fully loads the picture. 

I've tried looking for solutions but I can't find any that have worked.

Help ?

[Wildman]

Sounds like she is experiancing a data issue, by chance is she located in any of the upcoming 4g areas because the data is unstable at times due to the upgrade process/

Can she browser the web on the device or is she having issues there also?

[NuDroidUsrr]

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hwnprnssss wrote:

My mom got this phone in July. She had no problem sending or receiving picture messages before. Recently, instead of being able to view the pictures, it just says "downloading" and never fully loads the picture. 

I've tried looking for solutions but I can't find any that have worked.

Help ?

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  I have that problem from time to time. I notice it more when the phone has not been restarted for a while. Simply shutting the phone off and back on may fix it, or pulling the battery for a few moments should fix the issue.

[mmhmmm]

I also got this phone in July. I also get the box that says "downloading" when a picture message/forward comes in. The phone I had before had no problems sending/receiving pic messages. I called tech support. They had me do a factory reset...still didn't work. I called tech support again, long story short-they sent a new fascinate. Same story-still can't download pic messages

[AnthonyTa_VZW]

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mmhmmm wrote:

I also got this phone in July. I also get the box that says "downloading" when a picture message/forward comes in. The phone I had before had no problems sending/receiving pic messages. I called tech support. They had me do a factory reset...still didn't work. I called tech support again, long story short-they sent a new fascinate. Same story-still can't download pic messages

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Thanks for posting mmhmmm!

Looks like you went through a great deal of troubleshooting already!  I am happy to assist.

Are you using any other 3rd party messaging applications, if so uninstall.  First, I'd like you to ensure your phone is running the most current software, the most current Build number is SCH-I500.ED05.  If not, check for updates.  Next I would suggest resetting the "Messaging" application in Settings.

Please let me know how this works out for you.

[AudeKhatru]

I am glad to see a Verizon employee finally responding to this thread.

From what I can tell, this is an Android problem, but it appears to have been around since at least 2009.  This needs to get fixed.  I have yet to see anyone offer a solution, on any of the forums I have visited.

My wife's phone is a Samsung Fascinate and some pictures just say downloading forever.  All the text/picture messages I have sent my wife have been from my phone.  Some go through, and some don't.  Those that don't ever download do not have any text along with the picture.  As far as I can tell, all the pictures with text added go through.  But, some of the pictures with no text also go through.  Right now, I am trying to update the phone as suggested, it is only on ED04, and I will report back after I get it to update.

This needs to be fixed.

[AudeKhatru]

Okay, reporting back.

1. The phone is now updated to ED05.
2. The problem continues, though I have learned the following.
3. Receiving text/picture messages requires that mobile data be turned on.  Turned off, no pictures, turned on, pictures.

This is unacceptable.  My wife turns off the mobile data to save battery life, as well as to not use up her very limited data plan. 

So, I have some questions.

Do picture/text messages use up data plan?

If the answer is no...

Then, why is having mobile data on required?

And then, whether the answer is yes or no...

Then when will this be fixed?

I was able to send pictures to and from a dumb phone without having a data plan.  Picture/text messages should not require or use data plan, since they are a feature that can be added to dumb phones.

I expect to hear back from someone at Verizon on this issue, and saying that it is a problem with Android is not an answer, nor is saying that it is Samsung problem.  You sell these phones and advertise certain features.  You are not delivering those features.  No matter who the solution comes from, this is a VERIZON problem.

[vanessas_vzw]

Good morning and thank you for all of your responses!

AudeKhatru, as you mentioned, the mobile data must be turned on in order to send or receive picture/video messages on a Smartphone.  There is no charge to send/ receive these messages; however, the data network is required because pictures are saved in megabytes, which is a unit of measurement for data.  Due to the method of picture messages being saved, it travels over the data network.  Our network is designed to differentiate data transmission from picture messages and mobile web usage, (downloads/ uploads), which is why there is no data charge for picture/ video messages.  Therefore, the data portal has to be open on all devices, in order to send/ receive picture messages.  (If there was a data block on basic phones, you would not be able to send/ receive picture/ video messages either, even if you had unlimited messaging.)

If your wife continues to have the mobile data turned off and receives a picture/ video message, she can turn it on while the message is completed, and then turn back off.

I trust this information is helpful!

Thank you,

[Irish27]

Simply turning on the Mobile Data and then turning it off does not solve the problem.  The picture and text still will not come through.  Now I've noticed the same thing occuring when I receive a text (only) that has been sent to multiple recipients.

Keeping the Mobile Data on at all times is simply not an option.  My battery will be dead within an hour.  What I don't understand is why was this not happening when I first got the phone?  Now it appears the problem is getting worse.

[NuDroidUsrr]

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Irish27 wrote:

Simply turning on the Mobile Data and then turning it off does not solve the problem.  The picture and text still will not come through.  Now I've noticed the same thing occuring when I receive a text (only) that has been sent to multiple recipients.

Keeping the Mobile Data on at all times is simply not an option.  My battery will be dead within an hour.  What I don't understand is why was this not happening when I first got the phone?  Now it appears the problem is getting worse.

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  Having pictures go through the data plan has been going on for quite a long time. I had a Samsung i760 back in 2007 without a data plan, and I could not receive pictures. (This was before it was required to have a data plan with a smart phone)

 I still think the problem with not receiving text/picture messages is because of the network. My daughter has a Fascinate, and she will get a couple text messages, and then for hours, sitting in the same location, not get any. Then a while later, sitting at the same locaiton, get messages. She is located in a 4G market running a 3G phone.

 You say that if you keep your data on all the time, it will run the battery out within an hour? That issue could be an app/email/etc, Facebook, bad battery, or really weak data signal. What apps do you have installed? Facebook?

[inky34]

This problem has been happening since about June, maybe after an upgrade?  This wasn't a problem before and it is very frustrating because even if you turn on your Data when you see you have a pic message that still doesn't fix the problem.  You have to have the Data on before you ever receive the message then it works.  Kind of a pain in the butt to contact my friends and say hey can you resend that but text me right  before so I can turn my Data on.

There should be a fix for this and not to have your Data always on.  My husband has a Droid his Data automatically turns on and off when sending or receiving a pic message, why can't that be the same for the Fascinate?????? (his Data always off)

I don't pay for the unlimited usage so I do not want my Data always running plus it does drain the battery down. 

If there are any other suggestions or fixes that would be great, tired of missing out because of change Verizon wireless made.

Thanks!!

[Indianchief]

Somehow I am not understanding the problem.  I never turn my data off and my battery lasts about 1 1/2 days.  I am wondering if it isn't an app or virus protector (which you don't need) or a setting that is causing your battery to go dead (or perhaps a bad battery).   I would take it to Verizon and have it checked out.  It is my understanding that unless you are using data you are not getting charged for it.  Just because the data is on and sitting idle you shouldn't accumulate any usage.....at least that is what I was told.  Of course I may have mis-understood but my monthly usage is not very high unless I am using the Internet/GPS/downloading a lot.   Hope you get it figured out.

[pinkpoloshirt]

I'm having this same problem... It's like my phone gets stuck in a "downloading picture" loop. I would love a suggestion on how to fix this once it gets stuck.

Thanks!

[ChristinaB_VZW]

Hi pinkpoloshirt,

You mentioned that you are having an issue with downloading pictures on your device. There are many different phones listed in this thread, so I would have to ask you which model you have.

Also, have you tried any troubleshooting on your own? If so, what have you tried? I have some troubleshooting for you to try as well. 

I would suggest a soft reset first. Remove the battery from the back of the phone while it is powered on, and wait 60 seconds. Once this time has passed, re-attach the battery and power the phone on. Then, send a picture to yourself, in order to test your incoming and outgoing messaging capabilities. 

Please post back with your results. If needed, you can send me a PM with your name and mobile number and I will be happy to assist further. 

Thanks very much, 

[NuDroidUsrr]

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ChristinaB_VZW wrote:

Hi pinkpoloshirt,

You mentioned that you are having an issue with downloading pictures on your device. There are many different phones listed in this thread, so I would have to ask you which model you have.

Also, have you tried any troubleshooting on your own? If so, what have you tried? I have some troubleshooting for you to try as well. 

I would suggest a soft reset first. Remove the battery from the back of the phone while it is powered on, and wait 60 seconds. Once this time has passed, re-attach the battery and power the phone on. Then, send a picture to yourself, in order to test your incoming and outgoing messaging capabilities. 

Please post back with your results. If needed, you can send me a PM with your name and mobile number and I will be happy to assist further. 

Thanks very much, 

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 My wife (Continuum) and my Fascinate had alot of those same issues until we un-installed the app Lookout that we were using for AV and device management. Do you have that or AVG, or any other Anti-Virus app installed?

[knully]

I used to have this issues but my problem was that I had the app Juice Defender installed. Juice Defender turns off data when your phone is locked. When I was getting text messages with pics and my phone was locked I got the same "downloading" error. I removed juice defender and have not had the problem since.