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iPhone 12 not receiving group texts

Since upgrading from my iPhone X to IPhone 12 Pro I’ve noticed in a group text (SMS) that I’m randomly missing texts. My husband is in the group too so I can see I’m missing multiple texts at random. Anyone else having this issue?


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Posted on Oct 30, 2020 10:14 AM

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Posted on Oct 31, 2020 6:17 AM

Yes, I have been having the same issue since upgrading, however I have the iPhone 12. My phone also says I have left the conversation on every group text on my phone, which I know is not the case. I've called Apple a few times and they say its just carrier issue. There are posts on MacRumors about this same issue. I do not believe this is a carrier issue if it's happening to multiple people.

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Oct 31, 2020 6:17 AM in response to Cardey

Yes, I have been having the same issue since upgrading, however I have the iPhone 12. My phone also says I have left the conversation on every group text on my phone, which I know is not the case. I've called Apple a few times and they say its just carrier issue. There are posts on MacRumors about this same issue. I do not believe this is a carrier issue if it's happening to multiple people.

Nov 3, 2020 2:26 PM in response to Cardey

I'm in the same boat as most of you. Upgrade to 12 Pro and passed down my 11 to my wife. Few days later she asked why I wasn't responding to the group message thread we have for my family and then I noticed I was not getting them.


Did all the regular troubleshooting: reset network settings, disable mms/group then reenable, deleted old conversation threads, even reset and setup device as new. I was running the iOS 14.2 beta on the 11 prior to update and did not notice the issue. Even now my wife has the 11 running the 14.2 beta and no issues there. T-mobile checked all account settings and it appeared fine, they recommended getting a new 5G SIM card which I did last week but issues remain.


At this point I have to assume the problem is one of two possibilities:

1. there is a bug in iOS 14 that is only related to the new devices (iPhone 12) or

2. the new cellular radios/chips in the iPhone 12 are having issues with all carriers and this needs to be worked out between the carriers and apple

Nov 1, 2020 6:05 PM in response to Cardey

I'm having this same issue on my new iPhone 12 Pro with iOS 14.1 and my carrier is AT&T. By the way, the missing texts are also missing from my iPad and Macbook that are both supposed to synch with all of my messages. So, it seems it's not just an iPhone 12 Pro issue.


Be aware that Apple doesn't see these forums, so be sure to submit a report at the Apple Feedback site specifically for iPhones:


https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html


Thanks!

Nov 8, 2020 6:17 AM in response to mangoesbananas

Just wondering if anyone sees "outgoing" on top of a green bubble group conversation when you are having messaging issues? Here are the facts that I have gathered so far:


  • When I am out of the house in a strong 5G signal, I dont see "outgoing" and I dont have messaging issues.
  • When I get home and go in my basement, where I have 2 bars of signal and wifi on, I occasionally see the "outgoing" header where the # of people usually are. I never see this when I am out of the house on a strong 5G signal.
  • It is at home when I am missing messages. Although I have to admit it has worked better over the last few days.
  • I am wondering if the issue has to do with some kind of wifi/5G switching issue? Or a weaker 5G signal having an issue? See below for the "outgoing" header.

Nov 10, 2020 6:21 PM in response to Cardey

I’ve been having issues ever since getting my new phone. I transferred the data from iPhone X to the 12 Pro. When you switch phones apparently the phone number did not settle and needs to be “reconnected”. T-Mobile support had me:


1. From the Home screen, tap Settings > Cellular (iPhone)

2. Tap Network Selection.

3. Slide the Automatic slider to the off position to start scanning for networks.

4. Select desired carrier (T-Mobile)


  1. Restart phone
  2. Settings > Messages > Turn on Send as SMS
  3. Click Sent & Receive
  4. Make sure the Number and Apple ID are listed and correct
  5. Remove the check on your phone number by tapping it. And select Remove.
  6. Now that it’s unchecked, tap to apply it again. This reconnects your phone.
  7. Done.
  8. So far so good
  9. Screenshot of Step 5

Nov 11, 2020 5:44 AM in response to Cardey

SMS group messages on iPhone 12 pro only coming through sporadically. I’ve been working with Apple for the last seven days along with my carrier. Verizon did a full reboot at work briefly with one group and stopped that night. Here’s my case number if any of the rest of you are having the same issue. Apple says they’re going to be researching this and hope to get back to me within two days. https://getsupport.apple.com/GetCaseDetails.do?caseid=101233588806&locale=en_US

Nov 11, 2020 8:20 AM in response to Cardey

Review (so you don’t have to read all 30+ pages):


iPhone group chat with a non-iPhone user in the group - missing texts


Doesn’t matter if the non-iPhone user has an older phone or newest, Android, Pixel 

Problem is with all carriers

Predominantly iPhone 12, but happening on other iPhones


“Fixes” that do not work:


Reset All Settings (after backup and then restore)

Reset Network

Erase All Settings

Toggle off/on all Message’s settings

Carrier reset local cell towers

Doesn’t matter whether you are on wifi or not

Resetting/ turning on “Integrated Messages” (Verizon only)

Turning on iCloud Messages

Upgrading to iOS 14.2

Swapping out SIM card

Turning off 5G


Some data points to add:


There was a “Preferred Line” option on several contacts during edit. This is a function of having two lines, available via eSIM. I fixed that, chose my cell, thought it fixed… but did not.


I pinned the group chat in question, moved it up to the top of my message stack… and it disappeared. Cool!



Latest problem solve: 


Timult (page 29)… not working according to latest posts

Verizon users: downloading Message+ app, doesn’t solve the problem, but lets you know what you missed.


Best advice (from mangoesbananas), fill out this form. Give as much data as possible to help with trouble shooting:


https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html


Cheers, Rob

Nov 13, 2020 6:46 AM in response to teancum72

I'm pretty sure it's not related to 5G. I have a 12 Pro, but my AT&T plan doesn't have 5G, so my phone doesn't even have a Setting option for switching to 5G. So, I'm fully on LTE only. Yet, I am still having all of the problems reported in this thread.


The best thing for anyone to do at this point is report this "missing group texts" issue to the Apple Feedback website as a bug report...


https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html


And, in your feedback comments, be sure to also include various news article links such as the following...


https://www.imore.com/some-iphone-12-owners-are-missing-text-messages-group-chats

https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/iphone-12-messages-bug-3797519/

https://www.techtimes.com/artichttps://macnews.me/2020/11/06/some-iphone-12-owners-are-missing-text-messages-in-group-chats/


And, in the dropdown on the bug feedback page, be aware that they don't even have iOS 14.2 as an option, so be sure to put "iOS 14.2" in the subject field of your bug report.

https://macnews.me/2020/11/06/some-iphone-12-owners-are-missing-text-messages-in-group-chats/


The more reports they get, the better the chances of this issue being fixed.

Nov 18, 2020 7:09 AM in response to Pb9479

I installed the Beta version of iOS 14.3. It’s easy and seems to have smoothed things out.


do it and let us all know YOUR experience with it.


go here:


https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/welcome


enroll in the program (one click) with your Apple ID email address and install the profile in settings.


your phone will then say it has an update. Install the new iOS.


i was running beta 1 and today they released beta 2. I also updated to that... next - will be a release candidate and then a couple days after that - the public release will be available.


the profiles are easy to remove when you want to go back to public iOS only.


let us al know - I’m having good success with it.

Nov 24, 2020 9:20 AM in response to aliciavmata

I was just on my 4th or 5th call with Apple, this is also the second time they brought a Verizon representative (I also called Verizon once my self independently of Apple) into the conversation. The Verizon person I talked to Saturday had a brilliant idea to truly check if it was Verizon or Apple. Verizon has a Messaging app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/message/id885557198?mt=12) it works just like the native Apple App, it is just a Verizon texting app instead. He asked me to send some SMS/MMS messages to some Android phone users I know and all them went through but I still couldn't send them over the Apple App. So the conclusion is that if they went through it is not a Verizon account permission issue since they all went through their system.


The good news is the Verizon Message App is a good work around for now. You can also send group text to groups that have Android phones and you can also down the app to your Mac's just like the Apple Messaging app. Additionally, if you were on a group text that you stopped received texts from because of this issues, once you start using the app and someone on that thread sends a text you will get back in the group. It does suck that you have to use a separate app to send SMS/MMS texts to Android phones or group messages with Android phones.


After another hour phone call with Apple today, it has been escalated again, they actually took logs from my phone but I was told I probably wouldn't hear back from them until Monday.

Nov 24, 2020 9:21 AM in response to Cardey

I was just on my 4th or 5th call with Apple, this is also the second time they brought a Verizon representative (I also called Verizon once my self independently of Apple) into the conversation. The Verizon person I talked to Saturday had a brilliant idea to truly check if it was Verizon or Apple. Verizon has a Messaging app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/message/id885557198?mt=12) it works just like the native Apple App, it is just a Verizon texting app instead. He asked me to send some SMS/MMS messages to some Android phone users I know and all them went through but I still couldn't send them over the Apple App. So the conclusion is that if they went through it is not a Verizon account permission issue since they all went through their system.


The good news is the Verizon Message App is a good work around for now. You can also send group text to groups that have Android phones and you can also down the app to your Mac's just like the Apple Messaging app. Additionally, if you were on a group text that you stopped received texts from because of this issues, once you start using the app and someone on that thread sends a text you will get back in the group. It does suck that you have to use a separate app to send SMS/MMS texts to Android phones or group messages with Android phones.


After another hour phone call with Apple today, it has been escalated again, they actually took logs from my phone but I was told I probably wouldn't hear back from them until Monday.

iPhone 12 not receiving group texts

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