On iPad Pro, wifi only, iOS 14.6, I just started receiving group messages that only shows as from the sender, not group. Previous group messages show ok. I have also noticed that I no longer have mms and group message on/off buttons in message settings. I’ve gone as far as reset all settings but still same problem. Fresh install of iOS is next. Any less extreme steps would be appreciated.
iPad Pro 10.5-inch, Wi-Fi
Hi Rmatlin,
We understand you have questions about your message settings. We're happy to help.
The options you're talking about are not present on iPad. You'll only find those options on an iPhone. MMS messaging is a service from a wireless carrier for sending media through regular SMS text messages. The Group Messages option combines messages that are sent through the regular SMS message service so they all appear in one thread like iMessage group messages do. Since an iPad cannot natively use SMS/MMS through the cellular network, it does not contain the "MMS Messaging" and "Group Messaging" options in the Settings menu. This is expected.
Now if you're just using iMessage on the iPad through your Apple ID and don't have an iPhone linked to it, we'd recommend trying to turn iMessage off and back on to see if that helps. If you are having the messages forwarded from an iPhone, we'd recommend checking Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone to make sure the iPad is still selected as a device to forward to. If it is already on, you can also try toggling it off/back on to reset the forwarding.
If you just have the issue with one specific group message thread and all others are working fine, you can try deleting the thread from your message history so a new thread is started the next time someone in that group sends a message.
If you continue to have issues with group message threads, we'd recommend contacting Apple for assistance: Get Support
We hope this helps. Take care!
Hi Rmatlin,
We understand you have questions about your message settings. We're happy to help.
The options you're talking about are not present on iPad. You'll only find those options on an iPhone. MMS messaging is a service from a wireless carrier for sending media through regular SMS text messages. The Group Messages option combines messages that are sent through the regular SMS message service so they all appear in one thread like iMessage group messages do. Since an iPad cannot natively use SMS/MMS through the cellular network, it does not contain the "MMS Messaging" and "Group Messaging" options in the Settings menu. This is expected.
Now if you're just using iMessage on the iPad through your Apple ID and don't have an iPhone linked to it, we'd recommend trying to turn iMessage off and back on to see if that helps. If you are having the messages forwarded from an iPhone, we'd recommend checking Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone to make sure the iPad is still selected as a device to forward to. If it is already on, you can also try toggling it off/back on to reset the forwarding.
If you just have the issue with one specific group message thread and all others are working fine, you can try deleting the thread from your message history so a new thread is started the next time someone in that group sends a message.
If you continue to have issues with group message threads, we'd recommend contacting Apple for assistance: Get Support
We hope this helps. Take care!
Some additional information. I have tried turning off and on the forwarding of messages from my iPhone. The iPad still shows this new Group text as coming from single senders. My daughters and wife all have iPhones. I deleted those group texts and asked my daughter to send a group text to my wife and I. It showed up ok as group on my iPad. The group text that is not showing up as group on my iPad has a non-iPhone sender. Is this the problem? My iPhone handles it but my iPad does not.
MMS option not in settings
