Since the upgrade, trying to send a photo via Messages to a non-iPhone user fails. This has to be some type of problem with MMS. I've toggled MMS messaging off and on, toggled iMessage off and on, powered the phone off and on - no difference.
iPhone 12, iOS 16
UPDATE: I had a second app stop working when the VPN was connected. ExpressVPN support had me try to change protocols with no luck. However, I *did* get a good answer about the app from support. I'll need to wait until my friends wake up, but this might also be the solution for the MMS issue:
To resolve the issue, please turn off the "Network Protection" feature on your ExpressVPN app by doing the following:
1. Tap "Options" then "Settings".
2. Tap "Network Protection".
3. Toggle off "Block internet when unable to reconnect to VPN".
Once you're done with using the apps you may toggle on "Block internet when unable to reconnect to VPN" again.
UPDATE: I had a second app stop working when the VPN was connected. ExpressVPN support had me try to change protocols with no luck. However, I *did* get a good answer about the app from support. I'll need to wait until my friends wake up, but this might also be the solution for the MMS issue:
To resolve the issue, please turn off the "Network Protection" feature on your ExpressVPN app by doing the following:
1. Tap "Options" then "Settings".
2. Tap "Network Protection".
3. Toggle off "Block internet when unable to reconnect to VPN".
Once you're done with using the apps you may toggle on "Block internet when unable to reconnect to VPN" again.
When I turned off my VPN (Express VPN), it seems to have resolved the mms issue for the time being.
Have tested until I'm blue in the face, and some of my friends are getting tired of helping!
iOS 16 has some pretty severe issues with both SMS, MMS, and iMessage. Totally inconsistent results using a fairly static environment. Have tried with and without WiFi on, with and without my VPN (ExpressVPN), and have enlisted support from the VPN vendor. All finger point to iOS 16 in general. Looks like Apple is releasing 16.0.1 for iPhone 14 models with fixes to Messages - perhaps we ALL need this fix?
Possible update to this issue. It might be possible that this is related to sending SMS/MMS while a VPN is in effect. Never been a problem prior to iOS 16. Will require more testing to confirm.
This is likely because the gateway your cellular provider uses for MMS is not reachable while your VPN is enabled.
You may want to contact your cellular provider to see whether this is an issue they are aware of.
The technical issue is that Express VPN must implement a "split VPN" where normal Internet traffic gets routed over the VPN but MMS traffic gets routed via your cellular data connection.
Whether that is due to Express VPN, your cellular provider or an issue in iOS, it's not possible to say.
You may also want to reach out to Apple Support:
iPhone - Official Apple Support
Agreed. I believe I have narrowed my situation down to the iOS 16 with Express vpn connected. When connected, I cannot send or receive to android addresses in group threads. With the vpn disconnected, I can.
Will do. Thank you for the advice. ✌🏼
iOS 16 MMS Send failure
