brianamacarthur

Q: Messages won't send images or files

For the past 2 or 3 weeks Messages will not let anyone in my office send or receive images, screenshots, or files. This is really disrupting our work because we chat each other screenshots and pdfs all day long to get quick feedback. When send an image it acts totally normal and seems like it has been sent (it doesn't say it can't be delivered or anything), but the person on the receiving end never gets it or any kind of notification about it.

 

The first time this happened, I just quit the program and restarted it then sent the image immediately and it went through. But now nothing will get it to send. It was working fine right after we all got Yosemite but then just randomly stopped. Anyone have any ideas how to fix this?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 24, 2014 12:05 PM

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Q: Messages won't send images or files

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Nov 25, 2014 1:13 PM in response to brianamacarthur
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Nov 25, 2014 1:13 PM in response to brianamacarthur

    Hi,

     

    Which Account type ?

    An AIM account for instant, changes from the Login port of 443 to port 5190 and also changes the internet protocol used (less important).

    If this is not open in your router there can be issues.

     

    The Yahoo Account will only send text despite the File Transfer window showing it started the process.

     

    In the Window Menu use the File transfer item to display the window of the same name.

    What does this tell you ?

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:13 PM      Tuesday; November 25, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by bobbysattler,

    bobbysattler bobbysattler Dec 10, 2014 6:24 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 10, 2014 6:24 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    I've also been having this issue since upgrading to Yosemite. I've tried switching the port from 443 to 5190 with no luck. Says the image/file has sent, while the other person never receives the file, or a prompt to download a file.

     

    This is becoming a huge issue for exchanging files … any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • by kupfers,

    kupfers kupfers Dec 11, 2014 10:25 AM in response to brianamacarthur
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Dec 11, 2014 10:25 AM in response to brianamacarthur

    I have this problem, too.

     

    My contacts and I are experiencing lots of issues with image transfer via AIM since Yosemite, especially if two people have different OS versions. If one party is on Yosemite, image transfer with the standard server settings doesn’t work anymore. I read in one of the other threads that port 5190 is required for image transfer and it would automatically change temporally from the default port 443(?). Is it possible that something with the ports or the SSL behavior has changed for Messages 9 on Yosemite? I have computers with 10.10 and 10.8 and experience issues both ways chatting with someone on a different OS. If I chat with someone from Yosemite to Yosemite, the image transfer fails without error message like described above.

     

    It seems to work if everyone switches off SSL which changes the default settings to login.oscar.aol.com and port 5190. If both parties have this setting it seems to work. If one uses port 443 and SSL on it doesn’t. But switching off SSL is not a sustainable solution. Any other ideas? I tried to force port 5190 and slogin.oscar… with SSL but then can’t connect.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 11, 2014 11:51 AM in response to bobbysattler
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Dec 11, 2014 11:51 AM in response to bobbysattler

    Hi,

     

    Historically iChat logged in on port 5190 using the TCP internet Protocol

    File sending (And Pics-in-chats) was also on port 5190 but moved to using the UDP protocol.

     

    From about iChat 3 the regular posters who posted about iChat started to recommend using port 443 anyway as it is more likely to be open in most routing devices.

    At iChat 6 this became the default Log in port.

    The App still uses the UDP Protocol on port 5190 to send Files or Pics-in-chats.

     

    As most routers have the ports up to and including port 1024 open by default the higher port may be closed.

    Most routers nowadays have a UPnP settings that allows the Computer(apps) to say which Ports they needs open and when.

    The ports tend to Close after a period of Non use.

     

    I would also get the Buddy to go to the Window menu and select File Transfers which opens a separate window.

    This may give different info as pic-in-chats tend to arrive in the chat with no fuss.

    The File Transfer window may indicate that have been received.  (Sometimes only Preview will see the Pics.)

     

    The Buddy may get a small almost round empty Bubble if nothing is arriving (i.e there is normally some indicator).

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:51 pm      Thursday; December 11, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 11, 2014 11:59 AM in response to kupfers
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Dec 11, 2014 11:59 AM in response to kupfers

    hi,

     

    For me my 4 or 5 AIM valid logins are the ones not have trouble.

    Bonjour will not do it from Yosemite (Messages 8 as it is still called) to Snow Leopard and iChat 5

     

    Google to other Jabber Server Buddies also seems fraught now and then.

     

    I have just Checked and it seems the Yosemite install has defaulted all to port 443 and api.oscar.aol.com

     

    My router uses UPnP to make sure the File Transfer ports is open as well as the Login ports for Jabber accounts  which should be the same ports for File Transfers for those accounts.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:59 pm      Thursday; December 11, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by kupfers,

    kupfers kupfers Dec 14, 2014 4:39 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Dec 14, 2014 4:39 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thanks for the detailed info about the ports across versions, but alas, that doesn’t solve my problem. Bobbysattler, did you have any luck meanwhile? It is still that I have to keep SSL off all the time and stay on port 5190 to be able to send any images to other buddies, and even then it’s flickery. I do not succeed to send images or other files with the standard settings (port 443 and api.oscar…). I have not changed anything in my router or connection otherwise, so all ports should be open as they have always been. I’m looking for a way to use an SSL connection and still be able to share inline image via AIM.

  • by bobbysattler,

    bobbysattler bobbysattler Dec 14, 2014 4:21 PM in response to kupfers
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 14, 2014 4:21 PM in response to kupfers

    @Kupfers … I haven't had much luck either. The other day, I turned off the SSL which forced it to use Server: login.oscar.aol.com and Port: 5190 and was able to transfer and receive some files from a buddy. But, it didn't work with others. Still very spotty … and wondering if has anything to do with computers being on different OS. (This would be baffling if it's the reason.) Could it be an AIM problem?

     

    Still looking for help/solution … to spread the good word to all users I know. So many of us are encounter this issue.

  • by ltines18,

    ltines18 ltines18 Dec 30, 2014 3:17 PM in response to bobbysattler
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2014 3:17 PM in response to bobbysattler

    We utilize AIM internally with 16-20 users.  Until recently we've never had the persistent errors we are running into now.  Been scanning every forum looking for others having the same problem and am running into a wall when it comes to a solution.

     

    The biggest problem we are running into is 60-70% of the time, picture messages sent do not appear on the recipients end.  There is no error, or indication they did not go through.  The bulk of the issue seemed to appear after a few internal machines were upgraded to Yosemite, but this hasn't necessarily been the causing factor.  Nothing has changed in our network setup since it did work properly, and our router is not setup to block any ports. Occasionally we can get it to work, it the two users sending files back and forth both quit messages and re-open at the same time.  This only sometimes will fix the problem.

     

    Maybe me need another solution? Unless I'm mistaken, iMessage is not a solution due to the inability to have multiple iMessage accounts setup on one computer.

     

    Any advise or solutions appreciated. Hopefully I've given enough background on the problem - happy to share any additional details.  Hopefully we can find out what this bug is.

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Dec 31, 2014 12:31 PM in response to ltines18
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Dec 31, 2014 12:31 PM in response to ltines18

    Hi,

     

    Pics and File can fail silently but the Window Menu > File Transfer will open the File Transfer window which will tell you.

    Sometimes it is a barber pole "waiting" icon.

    Sometimes it will tell it failed.

     

    I run Little Snitch (An app to check and tell you ports and IP addresses your apps are connecting to).

    This IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent.xpc is what connects the Jabber and Yahoo accounts.

    A similarly named FileTransferAgent  is also supposed to do the File Transfers.  However for me in Yosemite I don't have this popping up in Little Snitch.

    I am not sure if Apple have moved the function to something else or whether it just is not there any more.

     

    One Computer can have multiple iMessages account but only if they are in Different Users.

    However the Received At list can be expanded to other emails which can be Apple IDs but they may link several other devices and other iMessages set ups that you need to think carefully about who and what is linked.

     

    Whilst it is not that difficult to remove and iPhone from the iMessages account other emails can seem to linger even after you remove the .plist they are stored in.

     

    Whilst it might seem an odd test, do Pics work or get transferred if the Pic is zipped ?

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:31 pm      Wednesday; December 31, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Julius from Holland,

    Julius from Holland Julius from Holland Jan 27, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Ralph good evening. I just read this this thread and wonder why it stopped with your question about the zipped files. I am experiencing the same transfer problems as the others and indeed, when zipped most files appear at the other side. But why zipped yes and normal files no? Or is there already a solve of this problem in another thread? Kind regards, Julius

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 27, 2015 2:12 PM in response to Julius from Holland
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Jan 27, 2015 2:12 PM in response to Julius from Holland

    Hi,

     

    I have several AIM based accounts and  Google (Jabber) one plus Bonjour and some other computers to test that with.

     

    I find that it has changed between Messages 7 (Mountain Lion) and the so called Messages 8 in Yosemite (it was also Messages 8 in Mavericks).

     

    I get different results using different Accounts that are supposed to use the same subroutines.

     

    In Messages 8 Yosemite I can plain Pic or File in Bonjour to iChat 4.x.x. but not iChat 5 (Snow Leopard).

    I can send plain Pic and Files between all my AIM based Accounts.

     

    I have a Buddy/contact that I have AIM, Google (Jabber) and Yahoo IDs for and Apple ID for iMessages.

    We have no trouble with iMessages or AIM but Google to Google in Yosemite on both ends appears to be a problem.

     

    I have not, recently, tried zipping a pic over Google.

     

    In the past AIM have stopped hidden URL links as these could contain Code (of the malicious sort)

    As jpegs can also be used as a corrupt delivery system  (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_%28computer_worm%29 delivery and Infection)

    It seemed logical that ways to prevent Auto loading of such items might be to zip them so they could be checked when on the Desktop/Downloads folder.

     

    AIM has the servers set to allow File (Pics included) as a matter of course.

    Jabber servers need the protocol to be turned On and sometimes to allow Server to Server Proxy sending to help out.

    It could be that Google have turned this Off (it would require much more testing than I have done to come anywhere near proving it)

     

    I am not aware that anyone has discovered a fix as potentially it effects all four "Services" that accounts can belong to across the app.  (The Yahoo Account has never done anything beyond Text Chats).

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:12 pm      Tuesday; January 27, 2015

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Julius from Holland,

    Julius from Holland Julius from Holland Jan 27, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    We use aim accounts with messages at both sides. PDF, JPG, PNG and Adobe AI and PSD files mostly disappear into thin air while the senders Messages tells okay, everything sent well. A PSD of 80MB simply can't transfer in half a second (not even with glassfiber) Another odd thing is that in the older versions Messages asked the sender "do you want to send this file"? And the receiver had to click in the transfer window to accept  the file. This has become absolute random behavior. One time we are prompted to accept, the other time Messages does it all by itself... Very strange. So what to try? Set up another account  at both sides or wait for an Apple fix?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 28, 2015 11:45 AM in response to Julius from Holland
    Level 9 (73,087 points)
    Applications
    Jan 28, 2015 11:45 AM in response to Julius from Holland

    Hi,

     

    Yes.  Up until and including Messages 7 you could set the Actions for several Functions separately.

    The Auto Accept could therefore be set to text Chats, File Sending (if separate from the Text Chat) and Audio only and Video chats.

     

    In the Mavericks and Yosemite version (both called version 8) this cannot be done.

    You can in fact link the AppleScript that does it but the text Chats already Auto Accept making it redundant and it is not clear if it works for the other functions when set this way.

     

    Most of what I send is only a few Mbs as they are Screen Shots.

    I would tend to zip bigger ones anyway.

     

    There is little chance that Apple will do anything about this as it is so random.

     

    With the AIM account the login is on port 443 in more recent versions.

    However the File Sending is on port 5190 using the UDP Protocol.  This would have to be allowed in your router as it is above the 1024 port level which are open. (i.e ports 1 - 1024 are open by default, you would have to use UPnP or Port Mapping Protocol on an Apple Router to work with multiple computers on a LAN).

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    7:45 pm      Wednesday; January 28, 2015

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Julius from Holland,

    Julius from Holland Julius from Holland Jan 28, 2015 12:51 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2015 12:51 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Ralph thanks! I'll check the router settings at both ends for UPNP and port 5190 at UDP to be sure settings are the same. I'll let you know if the transfers improve. Best regards, Julius

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