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dnjester's profile

Tutor

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3 Messages

Friday, February 15th, 2019 3:49 PM

Text Message (Groups) Delays

I have been having problems for over a year with group text messages being delayed (not always).  I can receive over 100 messages in a single shot, sometimes 12-24 hours later than when they were sent.  The problems have significantly worsened over the last month or so.  I use my phone for business, and missed a group text message last week that was canceling a meeting, so I was the only one that showed up.  The message was sent at 9:15am, and I received it finally at 8:45pm.  

 

I tried calling AT&T for assistance, but because the rep was successfully able to send me a text, she said the problem was with my iPhone (iPhone 8), and not AT&T.  The problem I have with her response is that I know of other AT&T customers who use other devices and have the same problem.  In fact, I work with AT&T for my business and we received a written warning about a month ago saying AT&T was changing how they handled text messaging and that it could result in significant delays on receipt.  The rep I spoke with today said AT&T hasn't made any changes and that the problem was a "known issue with iPhones and that Apple is aware of it and actively working on the problem."  I'm skeptical at best.

 

Any other thoughts?

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Community Support

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225.4K Messages

5 years ago

Hello @dnjester

 

We understand how keeping updated with important group message can be, allow us to offer a helping hand!

 

Are the recipients of the group messages have similar issues after a message was sent from your device? Have you checked to see if your device has been updated with the latest software?

Have you enabled the MMS messaging on your iOS device?

 

To help get your cellphone up to speed, you can follow these steps:

 

Step 1

Tap Settings > Scroll down and tap Messages > Scroll down to SMS/ MMS

and disable the feature.

 

Step 2

Go back to Settings > Tap on General > Scroll down and tap Reset > Select Reset Network Settings Enter your pass-code > Tap Restart Network Settings

 

Step 3

Turn Messaging back on by performing the step in step 1, go back the messages. You will see MMS Messaging. Enable text messaging by sliding the button to the right. You may need to turn your phone off and back on to restore text functionality.

 

If you have an Android, please verify that the settings allow you to group message. Make sure they are enabled by:

 

Open Messages > Tap on the 3 dots Settings More Settings Multimedia Messages Verify group conversations is enabled. In some instances, you need to perform a combination of the above and a Network Reset. If you are using a 3rd party app to troubleshoot, disable it and test from the default messaging app. this will help determine where the issue lies.

 

If the group messaging features still persists, you can also use our Troubleshoot & Resolve/ iPhone 8,8+ by selecting (Messaging) and use the how-to steps to get your mobile phone fully operational.

 

We hope this helps and have a good day!

 

Dwight, AT&T Community Specialist

Tutor

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3 Messages

5 years ago

Thank you, Dwight.  

 

  • For clarification, this isn't a problem with sending to a group, but receiving messages on my iPhone in groups.  
  • I always update my phone to the latest software the same day I'm notified of an update's availability.  
  • Yes, I've always had MMS turned on.  

I found the steps you outlined above in another string after I posted my original message.  Once I followed the steps, a bunch of old messages immediately came to my phone.  I am hopeful that maybe it corrected the problem, but won't know for a while until I am confident I'm receiving all messages in a timely fashion.  

 

Thank you for responding!

 

Dawn

Community Support

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225.4K Messages

5 years ago

Hello @dnjester,

 

Thank you for letting us know that the steps Dwight provided corrected the delay of messages! If you continue to experience issues, please reach back out so that we may continue troubleshooting to determine the root cause. 

 

Thanks again!

 

Bobbie, AT&T Community Specialist 

Tutor

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8 Messages

5 years ago

Good luck Dawn!   I have spent countless hours on the phone with AT&T as well as Apple over the last 3 days on this issue.   Rebooting / resetting will result in my receiving all the messages but then they stop again.   Both companies blame the other.   I’m on a 6 week old iPhone XR.    I’m convinced this is an AT&T issue as no one I know on Verizon is having it

 

Tutor

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3 Messages

5 years ago

Thanks.  I've actually been having the problem for almost a year, but it got markedly worse in the last 2 months or so.  I also believe the problem to be with AT&T, as many of the people in my group messages (both business and personal groups) have other providers, and the only other people with issues are those who have service from AT&T (including those on iPhones and Androids).  I hate the finger-pointing that goes on between two service providers (i.e. AT&T and Apple), but this time I'm 99% sure it's AT&T's issue.

 

These days, we all rely on text messages!  I rely on them for emergency business needs and am growing concerned that I may not timely receive an emergency message.  That could be devastating!

 

Dawn

Tutor

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2 Messages

5 years ago

I did all of the above steps and I still have not received any of the group texts that I am in since Tuesday, February 26th. It is very frustrating when you are missing important information that is coming through those text messages. At & t needs to get it together or I am going to start looking for another carrier.

 

Traci

New Member

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2 Messages

4 years ago

i have the same issue with Iphone X. At&t is lying to us. I just got off the phone with CS and they have been absolutely rude.

New Member

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2 Messages

4 years ago

AT&T does not give a (Edited per community guidelines) about Customer service. They have a monopoly. They are rude and abnoxious.

(edited)

New Member

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6 Messages

4 years ago

The problem is definitely ATT. I bought a brand new iphone just because the problem with receiving group texts delayed was so bad. Thought it might be the phone. But nope, I get the exact same problems on my brand new iphone XS. So ATT has had this issue for years if you google it and they just respond with the same useless crap about resetting the phone. Done that a thousand times and it still does not fix the issue. It is beyond annoying and doesn't look like there is any fix other than dropping ATT.

Tutor

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14 Messages

4 years ago

3 weeks ago I transferred my service to AT&T. I'm having this issue on a Google Pixel 3. Group messages that I send are arriving sometimes 12 hours later. It's sporadic. It's also super irritating and annoying. This is not an iPhone only problem. The problem is with AT&t. Any suggestions? Has anyone actually resolved this problem??
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