Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
boobdole
Contributor - Level 2

This is actually not a new problem, I think I've had this problem for a while.  Sometimes I'll send a picture message and it'll just say "pending" indefinitely and won't send it.  Sometimes restarting the phone will fix the problem, sometimes it takes days and multiple resents to get the message sent.  Once one picture message is pending though, all picture messages attempted to be sent have to wait for that one to go through. 

Maybe it's an easy fix, maybe it's not but I figured it never hurts to ask.  Thanks!

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

Boobdole,

This is just a guess but maybe the picture is to big (very large file size).  As I remember once when I tried to send a very large photo by "email" it offered to downsized it for me but maybe the messaging system cannot do that and it just "clogs up" the message system.

Or, maybe the photo was in a file format (.extent) that the phone does not like.  Everything I have sent is either a .jpg or .png.

JerryF

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
winnersmw
Contributor - Level 1

Have you noticed whether WiFi is enabled when you have these issues? Try disabling WiFi and retrying. MMS uses the mobile network, and sometimes the phone has trouble re-enabling the 3G radio for just one message if WiFi is replacing the mobile data connection.

I know that sometimes on my Charge SMS won't even get through, let alone MMS, if WiFi is on.

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
kanisueb
Newbie

I have just the opposite problem,  I can send picture messages but for some reason all of the sudden, I cannot receive them.  Anyone know what I can do to get this fixed?

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
boobdole
Contributor - Level 2

It's possible I guess but all I'm doing is taking standard pictures using the phone and it downsizes it for me like it always does.  I don't think this particular one is any bigger than any of them in the past but it doesn't mean you're wrong about the file size (maybe they're not downsizing it correctly or something dumb like that . . .). 

Thanks for the suggestion, though I'll admit I don't know what else I can do about it apart from decrease the quality and size of my camera pics (which I think is a bad solution). 

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
boobdole
Contributor - Level 2

You know, come to think of it, I usually have wifi on when I'm at home and that could be the issue.  I'll pay more attention to what I'm connected to next time. 

Do you know if it will send it if I only have wifi on or does it need access to the mobile data to send text messages?  Cuz I do occasionally turn off mobile data when I'm at home to save battery but honest truth, I have no idea what I had setup when I had this problem.  At least I know where to look.  Thanks a lot!

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

Boobdole and everybody else,

I have two Charge phones so I could run a good test and what I found amazed me!!! 

I sent an 867KB picture and a 362 KB picture back and forth and it worked perfectly AFTER I learned the following.

For messaging to work properly with WiFi you MUST leave the 3G/4G data on too.  For example if you have 3G/4G DATA turned ON and then put WiFi ON the WiFI "TRUMPS" Data. 

By looking at the top of the display screen you will be able to see that the WiFi is doing all the heavy lifting (transmitting) even though DATA is enabled at the same time.  Every time I turned DATA off and left only the WiFi on things went South such as pictures were NOT sent.  It locked in the pending mode.  Furthermore, when you pull down the notification screen you will see that both DATA and WiFi are enabled at the same time but when you slide the notification screen up and look at the top of the display you will see that ONLY WiFi shows.

Try this I think you'll like it.

JerryF

PS,  BTW, when I sent the 867KB picture with ONLY 3G/4G DATA on (no WiFi) everything worked perfectly too.

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
winnersmw
Contributor - Level 1

Yes, you definitely need to have mobile data turned on to send/receive picture messages. If you leave it enabled, it should fix the issue you were having.

But like I said, I still sometimes have problems even after I leave mobile data on along with WiFi. This is more of an actual defect with the phone that should not be happening. I could probably have it replaced if I really wanted to, but it's not a big enough issue for me yet.

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
winnersmw
Contributor - Level 1

When someone sends you a picture message, what happens on your Charge? Does it receive the message but not show the attachment? Does it receive the message, show the attachment, but fail to download it when you try? Or does it just not receive any message at all?

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Re: Anyone know how to fix problems with sending picture messages?
JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

I have found that sometimes something just quits like my voice input feature has.  I check to see that the settings okay and then re-boot...it's easier than shooting my phone.  Then all is well for a couple of months or longer and something else or the same thing quits...try rebooting.  I am not suggesting an, every time you want to use it reboot, just a reboot once in a "Blue Moon."

Another thought is sequence such as maybe it's best to first enable DATA and then WiFi or vice versa.

Smart phones are really touchy and often maddening.

JerryF

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