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I attach pictures saved to my phone in text messages to friends. They can see them and respond to them. However shortly afterwards, I go back to messages and only see question marks where the picture I sent was. Other text recipients I see fine. See attached. I am updated to 16.1.1 and am on an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Hello HowieG1954,
Is your device near capacity? We ask because it might be making space as part of Optimize Storage: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
"In the Storage section of Settings, your device might offer recommendations for optimizing your storage. To optimize your storage:
What is your used and available storage? Is that Optimize storage for photos and videos enabled? Thanks.
Hello HowieG1954,
Is your device near capacity? We ask because it might be making space as part of Optimize Storage: How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
"In the Storage section of Settings, your device might offer recommendations for optimizing your storage. To optimize your storage:
What is your used and available storage? Is that Optimize storage for photos and videos enabled? Thanks.
Hello HowieG1954,
Thanks for getting back to us with those additional details. hear you experiencing this behavior with multiple apps or with the native Messages App only? Do you own multiple Apple devices? If so, is this happening on all your devices? Also, do you use iCloud with Messages on your iPhone? If not sure, check out this link or more information about this feature: Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices - Apple Support
Do you recall anything changing on your device around the time this issue started?
We'll be waiting for your response. Kind regards.
And herein lies the problem. I’ve done that, I went to the Genius Bar, where they deleted and re-installed iOS 16.1.1 from one of their computers and reset my network settings. The only advice they can give me which to be honest is bullsh*t, is to wipe my phone and start from scratch redownloading all my apps one at at a time and going through reinstalling passwords etc. I’m not sure they realize or care that the procedure is a 4-5 hour ordeal and probably longer if you consider writing down the apps, usernames and passwords etc.
Hi HowieG1954,
We understand you're unable to view photos in the Messages app, as it displays a question mark. We'll be happy to help.
To get started, can you please answer the following questions:
• Have you tried a normal restart of the device? This simple step can resolve issues like this. Restart your iPhone - Apple Support
• Does this occur on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks?
• Does it occur in other conversations?
Kind regards.
The problem is that no one at Apple can explain it or fix it. Their “simple” solution which seems to be their answer to everything is to wipe the phone clean and reinstall everything. Easier said than done. I have like 3 dozen various apps, all with user names and passwords. Not to mention about 6-8 Bluetooth devices. It would take me the better part of a day between writing down the user names and passwords, re-installing the apps, re-entering all the info and starting from scratch.
When you say “normal restart” I assume you’re saying turn it off, wait 30 seconds and restart. Yes I have done that as well as resetting network settings, and I had the Apple genius people erase the software from their computer. It does occur on both Wi-Fi and cellular, but it does not happen on all of the contacts that I text to.
I have my iPhone 14 pro max and a gen 6 iPad mini. I only use the “Native” message app The iMessage is checked on both devices, and it only does it on my iPhone. My iPad is WI-FI only. I did not notice any changes on my phone. I am running 16.1.1. I have not downloaded any “New” apps to either device.
Howie,
I am experiencing the EXACT same issue. And all the criteria you mention (reboot, space available, etc) are identical to what you describe. Super frustrating that Apple does not know why this is happening!
I'll keep searching but rest assured you are not the only one with this issue.
Teri
same issue. it's inconsistent, but images and videos will always show up on my macbook pro (2015) but will inconsistently show up on my iphone 13 pro since upgrading to 16.1 (now 16.2 and still have the issue). shows the same "question mark on a document" icon or sometimes a "two intersecting rectangles on a document" icon with the file name next to it. tapping on the icons does nothing.
potentially related, sometimes when i send GIFs to people, it will send to them as an "empty message" (like if someone sent a message with a space, no text, no nothing) and they don't receive the GIF.
all interactions are only on iphone/apple devices, only through the native messages app.
restarted phone, it's an iPhone 14, no one can send me photos and I can't send photos. with wifi, without wifi, with 5g service, without service. just shows up as the weird white box and if I tap it, it turns into a ?
some will say jpeg and some will HEIC formats, but always a blank white box
tried restarting the phone
We appreciate the additional information HowieG1954. From here, as the issue remains, we'd recommend reaching out to Apple Support: Contact - Official Apple Support
Regards.
See attached, plus I have extra storage through I cloud.
I’m having this issue too. It’s weird. I can see the images on my iPhone 11 but can’t see the images on my iPhone 12
Yeah I am also having this issue, but it only started for me once I updated to ios 16. whatever we are on now.
Exactly the same for me. Ever since I updated my iphone to IOS 16 I can’t see the pictures in Imessage. On my mac I can see everything though
Photos not showing up in iMessage after sending
