Messages app deletes attachments instantly or never downloads them

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Level 1

9 points

Messages app deletes attachments instantly or never downloads them

After updating to iOS 8.3, Messages app has behaved erratically with attachments. The following things have happened within a short time:

- I have received two contact cards as iMessages. Both showed up as icons in Messages, but refused to open and after a while, only displayed question marks.

- I have received photos, which show up on the lock screen with a preview, but when swipe into Messages app, they only show up as "Downloading 100%" After a while these get replaced by question marks as well.

In Settings app, "Keep Messages" is set to "Forever". MMS messaging is set to "On", iMessage is set to "On". I have plenty of disk space and my internet connection is working properly and at 100 Mb, pretty fast.

So, I'm guessing bug. Anyone else have this problem? Googling revealed nothing.

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.3, 16GB

Posted on Jun 17, 2015 7:53 AM

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Answer 1

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

Jun 17, 2015 9:23 AM in response to Stiksi

Try a reset first:

Close all open apps by double-tapping the home button, then swiping up and off the screen with the app window (not the smaller icon).

Reset your device: hold down the home button along with the sleep/wake button until the screen goes black and you see the Apple, then let go. (No data loss)

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Answer 2

Stiksi Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 17, 2015 12:48 PM in response to Stiksi

Thanks, a hard reboot was the first thing I tried. That didn't help, but I did find out that if I go to the Messages thread, tap "Details", the photos and contacts show up there as attachments. But still not in the conversation view. So, yeah this is most definitely a bug.

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Answer 3

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

Jun 18, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Stiksi

Do you have enough free space on your device to be able to download more stuff?

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Answer 4

Stiksi Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 18, 2015 8:56 AM in response to AmishCake

Thanks for commenting but "I have plenty of disk space and my internet connection is working properly and at 100 Mb, pretty fast."

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Answer 5

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

Jun 18, 2015 9:38 AM in response to Stiksi

When you say "disk space," you're talking about on your phone, correct? How much is "plenty?" You can tell me the exact amount by going under Settings > General > Usage and looking at the total Available under Storage. And your internet connection is 100 MB on your computer but not on your wireless connection, surely.

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Answer 6

Stiksi Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 18, 2015 12:04 PM in response to AmishCake

AmishCake, I appreciate your trying to help, but as I explained earlier, the attachments are there, downloaded and complete, they just aren't linked properly to show up in the thread. This isn't a space issue. It's a bug in Messages app.

I say disk space whether it's solid state or actual platter drive because otherwise some people will think I'm talking about ram. My internet connection is 100 Mb. That means it is max device capability, whatever the device, so the exact number is irrelevant.

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Answer 7

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

Jun 18, 2015 12:38 PM in response to Stiksi

I'm not asking about disk space on your computer, I'm asking about free space ON YOUR PHONE. And your internet connection is not 100MB when you connect via wi-fi to your router, either. Or are you connecting through cellular?

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