Q: iPhone to Android iMessage bug fix

So after two months, it seems I found the problem (at least on my end).

Recap:

I turned off imessage on old phone.

I changed imessage password.

Apple confirmed (twice) my phone number was not linked to imessage.

Deleted my contact info from my wife's phone.

Deleted EVERY message that had me or my number in it.

Began testing.

If my wife sent a text from her apple to my android, it would begin sending as imessage, faile, then resend automatically as text.

If my wife sent a group text to an iphone user and me, it would not resend me text as a text.  It would only send as an imessage and I wouldn't get it.

After trying EVERYTHING, I called Apple again today as my wife and I are both home from work.

Turns out (as suspected) it was an apple problem on my wife's phone.  We reset the "network settings" on her phone.

I manually entered my phone number to send a text (cellular only) after the network reset.

The text was sent as a text only!

Entered wifi info.

Deleted previous message and tried again.

The text was sent as a text only!

Tried another message....

Again, it worked!

Deleted that message and sent a group message to an iphone user and me.  The message was sent as a text message!

Although I'm agrivated that it took so long, I'm releived that I can get messages from my wife again.

Hope that helps others.

Congrats on fixing your wife's phone, that's got to be a relief.  Unfortunately, everyone else you know that has an iPhone still can't text you. The only real fix is getting a new phone number.  It sounds inconvenient, but it feels so good getting a fresh start and knowing anyone and everyone who wants to text me can.  I hope you figure it out.

I've been able to narrow down the people that are having problems.

I'll ask them to reset network settings as well and that should resolve the issue.

Same steps I followed above.

Is it REDICULOUS I have to do that?

Yes.  It is.

But at least the problem is addresses.

Hi,

Read the posts and still nedd some guidance.

I switched from an Verizon iPhone 4 to a Moto X. I am unable to get text/group text messages from my roommates having iPhones.

I have sent the code provided my Verizon to Apple to unregister from iMessage.

Using iCloud I unregistered the old iPhone.

None of which worked.

I understand there is an SMS switch in settings but I asssume it effects all the messages sent.

Is there a set of settings I can ask my roomates to make that will send messages to my telephone number in SMS and not effect their iMessages to their other iPhone users?

The only thing, that I can suggest is to ask your friends to delete that group thread conversation and restart group message again. Looks like their phones cached your iMessage information. Since you are probably only one who does not get those messages, their phones ignore decline of iMessage server and do not update your info properly. Best of luck.

This is infuriating - especially since I see history of this issue going back to 2011. I switched to an Android as well, and discovered too late that everyone I know with iPhones and iMessage history with me are going to be sending iMessages into a black hole! I'm to believe that my only recourse is to (a) change my number, which I've had for 15+ years, or (b) track down 300+ people I know with iPhones and have them delete my contact info, delete all message history, and maybe do a few cartwheels for good luck? And then it still probably won't work? I've done this all with my wife's iPhone, and it still defaults to iMessage. W T F. Between work and personal, I'm easily $10k into Apple products over the last 5 years and I'm about an inch away from abandoning them.

Also on the senders phone, you can go into settings> messages under imessage, select if imessage fails send as sms. Problem solved.

That's great if you're just looking for a quick hack so your significant other can send you text messages again. If you have 300+ people in your contact list, 90% of whom have iPhones, it is not reasonable to suggest that the fix should be contacting everyone one of them to ask them to repeat that procedure. That should be default behavior. So, problem not solved.

So call AppleCare and have them clear the iMessage account. Problem solved.

How naive ! I have done EVERTHING that Verizon and Apple have suggested.

My last call to Applecare told me they are aware of the problem, the problem has existed for over a year, he was told NOT to submit anymore trouble tickets on this subject for fear of disciplinary action.It has been nearly two weeks and my number has yet to drop off iMessage servers.

Ask to be transferred to the Account Security Team next time and see if they can help.

Isn't naive, I know more than one person who has done this and it has worked.

Calling apple hasnt done anyyhing. According to them my phone isnt registered. They escelated the issue and a supervisor came on and told me there is nothing they can do, and told me it isnt an apple issue anymore but an issue with the persons phone. So if u get that far and they tell u that, its a **** good bandaid.

The thing I was doing was if my iPhone sent an imessage to an android phone I just held my finger on the message and a menu pops up and it gives you the option to send as text message.

Hi _RT_  and Group
I recently got an iphone 5s and seem to be having similar problems that your wife experienced.

I can send individual texts to my friends with Androids - but I cannot seem to send them a group text. I've tested this and can successfully send group texts to various generations of iPhone users but if there is One Android person in the group - the text fails to send.

Can you tell me how you reset your wife's phone back to 'Network Settings'? Are there any other solutions to this headache that you or the group is aware of?

Thanks for any feedback group!

reset network settings: settings>general>reset>reset network settings