Group Messages showing "Downloading"

[502k]

Google Pixel user here with version 6.6.4 of Message+.

When someone sends a group text to me that wasn't created in Message+, I see "Downloading" in the senders individual thread.  If others reply, I will see "Downloading" in their individual thread.  It will usually eventually show up correctly (as a group text).  This can take minutes, or hours or days.  Sometimes killing the app and launching again can trigger the download to complete.

This is not specific to this device.  It happens to a couple of other phones I have on Verizon.   I have trued changing: "Enable Chat", "Auto-Retrieve", "Group Conversations".

How can I fix this?

Thanks.

[vzw_customer_support]

502k,

Help is here! We want to make sure that you are able to view all images in a group text. I appreciate the details & your troubleshooting efforts. Let's roll up our sleeves to get this figured out. Can you please provide more clarity on what you mean by it showing "downloading" in the individual thread? When did this problem start to happen? Does this happen with only one particular group message thread or with any group message thread?

AliciaS_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[502k]

Sure.  Here's what I see.....

I get a text message (see 8:31 AM) from an individual that looks like this:

Then a couple of hours later, once it downloads, that text (see 8:31 AM) becomes a group message (MMS):

 

Any ideas?

[Ann154]

Does it work better or differently if you have the cellular data connection turned on and active when those messages are received?

I know Message+ can download over Wi-Fi, but generally MMS and group messages require cellular data to download on other apps.

[502k]

Thank you for your response.  Unless I'm on a plane, I will have the cellular data connection on.  And I haven't noticed any difference.  I have fiddled with a few settings.  Currently, "Sync over WiFi only" is OFF.  I haven't found a way to force the download to happen.  At this very moment, I have two texts that show downloading.  I am certain that they are group texts/responses.

It's a bit frustrating.

[vzw_customer_support]

502k,

I certainly understand the need to get your messages as quickly as possible. We want to keep you connected. I see since your initial post a new update has come out for Message+. Have you been able to download that? Does this seem to happen in all locations or only in specific ones? Does this happen with all group messages or only certain people?

Andrew_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[vzw_customer_support]

We do want everything to work properly for you, 502k. Getting your messages to work is a must. Since this issue started have you tested to see if this also happens when using the native Messaging app on your phone?

Also, have you tried clearing the Message+ app by resetting it? Here is a link with steps on how to do that https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-207811/

Steven_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[502k]

I'm on 6.6.6 which I believe is the latest.

I'll try the reset as suggested.

ThamT you for the suggestion.

[502k]

I'd like to refresh this conversation.  I'm on version 6.7.11 and this issue still persists.

[vzw_customer_support]

502k,

I'm certainly sorry to hear this is still happening after so much time. I know having your messages show up correctly is a big deal and we want to make sure that is a smooth process. 

Does that seem to happen in all locations or only in specific ones? Is this the same with all group messages or only with specific people? Does this still happen if Wi-Fi is completely off when you get these messages?

AndrewT_VZW

[502k]

Hi Andrew,

Location doesn't seem to matter.  It seems to be only when the group message originates from an iPhone.  And it happens on cell signal not just on wifi.

[dave_h1974]

This is happening on my phone since the latest Android update a few days ago.  The messages I don't get are from a friend who is using an iPhone and iMac and my ex who uses an iPhone.  Some of their messages appear just fine, then one will fail to download.  The only way I get them to download is to reboot the phone.  It terrible rebooting several times a day!

[dave_h1974]

I should add that there could have been a Message+ update but I'm not sure.  I just know that it wasn't happening before the system update.  My Message+ version is 6.8.1

[vzw_customer_support]

Those restarts I agree are bothersome, and keeping you connected with the latest group messages is vital. Does the basic messaging app work? Here’s where that can be updated and tried:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging

Another suggestion to keep Verizon Messages consistent is to reset the app. No messages will be lost when following these steps:
https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-211228/ 

DavidH_VZW

[TinaG08]

That knowledge base link doesn't work, there is no information there. I have tried making sure all the required permissions are right, researched many trouble shooting tips. NOTHING is working.

I have been having the problem ONLY since the new OS update rolled out. I have had the same group message with 7 other people from work and again, this worked fine UNTIL the recent OS update about a week or so ago. Now when anyone sends a message, it shows up with a gray "download" tab in their individual text thread. And I will have multiple of them till I open the Message + app and initiate the download. Then I will get ALL the messages blowing up my phone at once. I am missing important information from work with this issue.

Most of them, if not all are iphone users. I am using a Note 8.

[Llander45]

I am having the same issue. Since the last software upgrade my message + has not worked right. All the group messages have needed downloading. I had 16 downloads today from 1 group chat. Is there a way to roll back the software update or fix this issue?? 

[vzw_customer_support]

We're sorry to hear you've been having trouble with your Message+ app since the update, Llander45. Let's take a closer look into what's going on with your messages. What is the make and model of your phone? Does this happen while on Wi-Fi and cellular data? Do you have any trouble using data on the phone?

DanielleR_VZW

[kebtmom]

I am also having this same issue and it is very frustrating.  I have used the basic messaging app and the messaging+ app and it is happening on both.

[vzw_customer_support]

This is not the type of experience that we want for you when using your text messages! We'd love to dig deeper into this problem, and in doing so, we'd like to ask some questions. When did this issue start? Are you connected to Wi-Fi or our network when this issue happens?

AbrahamS_VZW

[jeffreamartin]

I also have the same problem. I get "downloading" on the Message+ app and the stock app. I have the latest version of both. I even tried downloading Go SMS Pro and still got the same thing. It only applies to MMS messages. In my case that usually translates to group messages, but it also happens when a picture is sent. I've reset my network settings and I use less than 25% of the phone's memory. I reset te app by clearing the cache and memory. It happens whether I am on the cell network or wifi. Restarting the phone will not cause the messages to download. Sooner or later, and usually a lot later, the messages start rolling in, though I never get them all.

This is causing me to miss work messages, which is really forcing me to think about trying another network.

[vzw_customer_support]

It’s critical to be able to rely on messages to work, jeffreamartin. There’s no way we’d want you to have to consider leaving the Verizon Wireless family, and so we’ll do all we can to ensure full resolution of the group messaging issue you’re having. We appreciate all the information you’ve given and would like to clarify a few things, since you mentioned you’re having the same problem as others in this thread. Contributors to this thread have narrowed this down to a group MMS that originates from an iPhone user. Is this also the case for you, or does this happen to all your MMS group messages, all the time, and in all places? When did it start happening to you? Include details such as dates, “when I got a new device,” “When my phone’s operating system updated,” etc. Also share more detail regarding what happens with pictures when they’re being sent. Lastly, be sure to run any testing when connected to the data network, as both MMS and picture messaging require data (non-Wi-Fi) connections.

GeorgeS_VZW