iMessages Picture/Video Not Delivered

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Level 1

3 points

iMessages Picture/Video Not Delivered

For the past few months, with increasing frequency, sending pictures or videos through iMessages on my iPhone to other iOS devices results in a "Not Delivered" response.

At this point, around 25% of the time, when I try to send a picture/video via iMessages, the progress bar at the top of the screen appears as though the picture/video is sending. Upon the progress bar reaching 100%, the picture/video seems like it was successfully sent; however, 10-20 seconds later, the red "!" button and red "Not Delivered" text appear by the picture/video. Sometimes the "Try again" option will work after several attempts; other times, I have to send it as a text message in order for it to go through.

This issue does not appear to be related to certain contacts, as it happens randomly to all my AT&T iOS recipients, as well as Wi-Fi iPad recipients.

I have spoken to some of my friends/family about this, and this issue seems to be widespread, at least among AT&T users.

iPhone 4S, 64GB, iOS 6.1.3, AT&T

iPhone 4S, iOS 6, 64GB

Posted on Jul 5, 2013 12:47 PM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Jul 5, 2013 12:57 PM in response to MaxGraphics

You can troubleshoot Messages here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755

There are a lot of variables when it comes to iMessages. Both parties have to have an active data connection. Any disturbance in either connection during transmission can cause an issue. I'm not so sure that speaking with a few friends and family qualifies as widespread. I am an AT&T customer, as well as all of my family (4) devices. I have experienced some issues in iMessage sending of photos, I'm not sure I have ever sent a video, but that has been traced to one of us having a connection issue. My work has many dead spots, and the recipients have experienced problems where they were at the time, so that is the only reason they failed. A second try usually gets it through.

If it is random as you speak, this supports the data connection explanation.

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Answer 2

MaxGraphics Author

Level 1

3 points

Jul 5, 2013 1:53 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I checked that troubleshooting page before posting anything, and I have completed every step short of a restore.

I should have qualified my 'widespread' statement by saying 'widespread throughout my area,' though you are correct that tens of people does not necessarily mean anything.

This occurs both on 'fast, reliable' Wi-Fi networks and cellular data (4G for my iPhone 4S and LTE for my contacts using an iPhone 5).

The strange thing is that sometimes I am sending a picture/video to someone in my household via Wi-Fi on our 50mbps/5mbps broadband. Speedtest, Pingtest, and Speakeasy indicate no issue during these times.

Stranger still is that this was never an issue prior to a couple months ago.

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Jul 5, 2013 1:59 PM in response to MaxGraphics

Well, if you read more results you will see that the Apple servers that handle iMessage are not always the most reliable and can be down on occasion. This can explain occasional downtime too. I've not read of any issue that is unique to a certain version of iOS, and we all have the most current here in our house with the 4 phones I spoke of earlier, an iPhone 4, 2-iPhone 4S and an iPhone 5.

I'm sorry I had no idea that you had done any troubleshooting since that was not mentioned in your post. If you have done all of the troubleshooting short of restore, you know that as a user, that is the last resort for troubleshooting the device. Anything else can be the network, either the Apple server or your cellular connection, unless of course you were on wifi. Up to you how to continue. Good luck and I hope you get it straightened out.

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