13 Fixes for MMS Messages Not Downloading on Android
Are your MMS messages stuck on downloading? Or do you have to manually download them every time? Let’s understand why MMS messages are not downloading on your Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy phones, and what you can do to fix this issue.
Table of Contents
Why Won’t My MMS Messages Download
Here are some possibilities as to why MMS messages won’t be downloaded on your Android phone:
Now let’s check all the ways to fix MMS messages downloading error.
1. Restart Your Phone
The first thing that you must do is restart your Android phone. Sometimes, due to a temporary bug, the MMS messages might not download on your Android phone. Asimple restart should fixthe issue. So turn off your phone, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it on again.
2. Check Mobile Data
Unlike regular text messages, MMS messages requiremobile datato send and receive media files. You must check your phone settings and make sure it’s enabled.
1. Go toSettings > Network & internet > Internet.
2.Tap on theSettingsicon next to your service provider and enable the toggle next toMobile data.
3. Turn off Wi-Fi
Generally, MMS messages will download automatically using your phone’s mobile data (provided it’s on),even if Wi-Fi is turned on. However, if you are experiencing issues with downloading MMS messages, you should try turning off the Wi-Fi on your phone.
If MMS messages are not downloading automatically on your Android phone, you need to enable a setting for that. If the setting isn’t enabled, you will have to manually download each MMS message.
To enable the auto-download MMS setting on Google Messages, follow these steps:
1.In theMessagesapp, tap on theprofile picture iconat the top and go toMessage settings.
2.Tap onAdvancedand enable the toggle next toAuto-download MMS. Make sureAuto-download MMS when roamingis enabled if you are in a different city.
Tip:For the Samsung Messages app, tap thethree-dot iconand selectSettings. Then go toMore settings > Multimedia messages. EnableDownload automatically. If you are in a roaming city, enableDownload automatically while roamingas well.
5. Update Messages App
Next, if the above settings are enabled, you mustupdate the Messages app. Be it the Samsung Messages or Google Messages. There are chances that the MMS now downloading issue is associated with any particular version of the app and you have the same version. Updating the app should fix it.
Pro Tip:ensure you are using the latest version of your phone’s software too.
6. Clear Messages App Cache and Data
You should also tryclearing the cacheand the data of the default messages app on your phone to fix the issue of MMS messages not downloading. If you are worried that clearing data will delete the messages from your phone, that will not happen. It will only delete temporary files and restore the customizations to default settings.
Open theSettingsapp and go toAppsfollowed byMessages. Tap onStorage. Then, selectClear cachefollowed byClear data. Restart your phone after clearing the data.
7. Use Correct APN Settings
To connect to mobile data, your phone needs to have correct Access Point Names (APN) settings. If wrong or old settings are selected,mobile data will not workand you might not be able to download or even send MMS.
1.Go toSettings > Network & internet > Internet.
2. Tap on theSettingsicon next to your service provider.
3.Then, tap onAccess Point Names.
4.Select the correct setting. you’re able to try switching between the available settings to see which one works for you.
Tip:On Samsung Galaxy phones, go to Settings > Connections > Data usage > Access Point Names. Choose the correct setting.
8. Reset APN Settings
If none of the available APN settings work, you should request new settings. For that, you will have to reset your current APN settings.
1.OpenSettings > Network & internet > Internet.
2.Tap on theSettingsicon next to the service provider. Go toAccess Point Names.
3.Tap thethree-dot iconat the top and selectReset to default.
For Samsung phones, go toSettings > Connections > Data usage > Access Point Names. Press thethree-dot iconand selectReset.
9. Turn off Battery Saving Mode
If battery saver or low power mode is enabled on your Android phone, you might not be able to download MMS messages automatically. So turn it off.
For that, go toSettings > Battery > Battery Saverand turn it off.
10. Check Available Storage
MMS messages won’t download properly if your phone’s local storage is full. you may free up some space by deleting old messages from your phone. We have compiled a handy list oftips to free up storageon Android phones.
11. Check Wi-Fi Calling
With the introduction of theWi-Fi Calling feature, Android phones can send or receive MMS messages over Wi-Fi as well, provided Wi-Fi Calling is enabled. However, this feature is carrier-dependent and may not work for you. Considering this, Wi-Fi Calling can sometimes be the reason for MMS messages not downloading issue. You can try enabling or disabling the feature and see what works for you.
To enable or disable Wi-Fi Calling, open theSettingsapp and go toNetwork & internet > Internet.Select theSettingsicon next to your service provider and tap onWi-Fi Calling.Enable or disable it on the next screen.
Tip:On Samsung Galaxy phones, go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Calling.
12. Turn off RCS
Typically, MMS andRCS (Rich Chat Communication) servicesare two separate things and they shouldn’t affect each other. But with RCS being relatively newer as compared to MMS, there might sometimes be a bug that could cause MMS messages to not download on your phone.
What you can do is try turning off RCS temporarily. For that, open theMessages appand go to itsSettings. Tap onRCS chatsand turn off the toggle next toTurn on RCS Chats.
13. Reset Network Settings
Lastly, if nothing seems to fix the issue, you should try resetting network settings on your Android phone. Doing so will restore all the network-related settings to their default values. What that means is your saved Wi-Fi networks will be deleted, paired Bluetooth devices will be removed, and so on. You will need to set them up again. However, doing this will have a benefit as it will fix the MMS not downloading issue.
In theSettingsapp, go toSystem (or General Management)>Reset options>Reset Mobile Network Settingsfollowed byReset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi.
Tip:You can also try resetting all settings on your phone.
Final Things to Try
Message Quickly
We hope MMS messages start working properly after following the above fixes. Once everything is back on track, know how toadd the Messages app to the home screenfor faster access.
Mehvish Mushtaqis a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps. You can also find her work onMake Tech Easier,Guiding Tech, andNerds Chalk
