Messages app not working properly

bgirl_,

SMS and MMS messages are delivered and managed by your carrier's servers. As the community here we can offer some basic troubleshooting, as you've mentioned performing already such as restarting, updating, deleting threads and starting new ones, etc.

One other thing you can do, if you haven't already is disable both Group Messaging and MMS Messaging in Settings > Messages, restart, enable both of those again and then start a new group and test. Do also be sure that cellular data is enabled (4G/LTE/5G) from both Control Center and Settings > Cellular.

If you continue to have an issue, we'd next suggest making sure nothing on your account through your wireless carrier has changed, such as not having cellular data (MMS messaging) or group messaging on your account. Then connect with Apple Support - Contact Apple Support.

Thanks.

Hi bgirl_,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! If you go to MMS Messaging is enabled? This can be found in Settings > Messages >  MMS Messaging or Group Messaging:

Send a group text message on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If so, we would also recommend the steps in the following article under the section "If you have issues with a group message":

If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Hope this helps!

Have a great day.

Lissy_12,

In the article we had provided, it advised to test starting a new group and also deleting the thread from the old group. Were you able to both create a new group and send/receive messages, as well as delete the old thread? Here are the steps:

If you have issues with a group message

If you’re in a group message and stop receiving messages, check to see if you left the conversation. Open Messages and tap the group message. If you see a message that says you left the conversation, then either you left the conversation or you were removed from the group message. You can rejoin a group message only if someone in the group adds you.

To start a new group message:

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button.

2. Enter the phone numbers or email addresses of your contacts.

3. Type your message, then tap the Send button.

If you have other issues with a group message, you might need to delete the conversation and start a new one. To delete a group message:

1. Open Messages and find the conversation that you want to delete.

2. Swipe left over the conversation.

3. Tap Delete.

When you delete a message, you can't recover it. If you want to save parts of a message, take a screenshot. To save an attachment in a message, tap the Download button. The photo or image will be saved to your Library in the Photos app.

Another thing to consider is whether you're in a different group chat with this same non-iPhone user and able to send/receive messages in the group. That would isolate things a bit further for us.

Lastly, this is expected behavior for a Group SMS thread. That's different from a Group MMS thread (which is what a group chat usually is when combining iPhone and non-iPhone users). Do you know if the orginator of the group's device supports MMS and group chat?

Thanks.