Can’t send photos from iPhone to Android

SMS/MMS is a feature provided by your cellular provider. Contact them for help with this.

SMS/MMS can only use the cellular network; it cannot use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. SMS uses the voice network control channel (SS7 network). MMS uses cellular data, so you need both a voice network connection and cellular data to send MMS, but only voice for SMS.

This is an incorrect statement. Some providers do in fact support mms via wifi calling. The iPhone however has an issue where it automatically defaults to sending mms messages via cellular data even if you are connected and using WiFi calling.

Turning off the cellular data in settings will remove that choice from the iPhone and it will then send it via WiFi as long as your carrier supports it. T Mobile is one that supports it.

Are you attempting to send the MMS messages via WiFi or over the cellular network? There are a couple of issues. iPhones save pictures taken on the phone in a special format that is unique to IOS and not compatible with any other operating system. You need to change your iPhone camera setting to save pictures as jpg files. Also when you send a picture to another iPhone it is sent as an iMessage which is a completely different protocol and only functions iPhone to iPhone. If youre sending it to an android phone it will be sent as an mms message.

If you’re trying to send it via WiFi calling because you live in a poor reception area the IPhone for some reason will automatically send voice calls and sms text messages via WiFi if connected but defaults to sending mms messages to cellular. If you have insufficient signal strength in cellular the mms will “fail to deliver”. This makes it seem like it’s an incompatibility issue between iPhone and Android when it’s not. It is a bug in the iPhone software. Try going into settings under cellular and toggle off cellular data. This will force the iPhone to send the mms via WiFi.

Thank you because this is the only tweaks that have worked for me. Changed my camera setting to the jpeg option and turned off my cellular. Now my pictures are sending to my android friends. :)

HAPPENS AFTER EVERY SINGLE IOS UPDATE. FIX THIS ALREADY

had these problem for many years all you have too do is turn off data and place on Wi-Fi to send pictures or contact your phone provider reset phone but this is only a temporary fix

Thanks so much, Hogstir. Turning off Cellular Data when on my home network (where my cell signal is non-existent) finally fixed this. I had switched my photo option to jpg long ago for other reasons. I could easily send when not on my home network with a decent cellular signal. My cellular provider is Verizon.

Where in settings did you change the camera setting to the jpeg option? And did you completely turn off cellular, or in a specific setting? I can't find these settings on my iPhone 13; the iOS is up-to-date. Thanks!

Resetting all settings fixed my issue

Same problem here now going on a month. Can’t send a pic to an android or non iPhone device. Also can’t respond to a group chat with a noniphone user involved. I’ve done everything! Spoke to apple, spoke to AT&T. Whiped my phone and reset it 3 times now. Nothing works. Apple blames AT&T and AT&T blames apple. So incredibly frustrating!

I'm the same as you! So incredibly frustrating for sure, and have also tried all the fixes.

Hi @Truckwomanshana - I miraculously got a solve! As mentioned earlier, I did all the troubleshooting - off/on, cellular data off/on, mms off/on, reset network settings - no go. However, I came across the following article:

https://www.airdroid.com/file-transfer/iphone-wont-send-pictures-to-android/

In this, it recommended turning airplane off and on. I did this from settings, however didn't help. I followed the instruction on this link and turned airplane off and on from the control centre view - & for me it worked?! I'm on SE 3rd gen.

I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm posting this as it's been very frustrating. Hope it helps someone!

This should fix it.

1. Go to photos app and select photos that you want to send.
2. Press the share button.
3. At the top of the share menu press options.
4. Select iCloud link in order to send to android devices as they do not support iMessage.

Then send to the person as normal either through messages or email.

They will then be able to download the photos from iCloud.

Considering I have zero bars at home and at work this means I will never be able to send pictures to non-iPhone users. Lovely!