Troubleshooting texting, group and picture messages
Updated
October 22, 2026
Having trouble sending or receiving messages? We’ll help you figure out what’s going on and get you back to chatting.
Switched between iPhone and Android? Start here
Your phone number can stay linked to your old phone’s messaging service, even after you turn it off or stop using that phone. When that happens, some texts never reach you. Unlinking your number fixes this, and it works whether or not you still have your old phone.
Switched from iPhone to Android? Unlink your number from iMessage on Apple’s deregister page.
Every phone can send regular texts and group or picture texts. iPhones can also send iMessages, and Android phones outside of Ting can send RCS chats. Each type works a little differently, so knowing which one isn’t working helps you find the right fix.
Regular texts
Sent over the Ting network.
Text messages
SMS
Plain text sent to one person
Letters, numbers, and basic punctuation
Works over the cellular network, even without data
Shows up in green bubbles on iPhone
✓ Works with Ting
Group and picture messages
MMS
Any message sent to more than one person
Photos, videos, GIFs, voice notes, and audio files
Some very long texts
Needs mobile data to work
✓ Works with Ting
Chat messages
Sent over Wi-Fi or mobile data, like an app.
iMessage
iPhone
Works like a messaging app, not a regular text
Uses Wi-Fi or mobile data to send
Works between iPhones only
Messages show up in blue bubbles
✓ Works with TingiMessage is an Apple service, so Apple support is the best place for iMessage questions:
You'll see words like "RCS message" or "Chat message" in the typing box
✕ Ting doesn't support RCSTexts not going through? Turn RCS off, or unlink your number from RCS so your phone sends regular texts instead.
Find out what’s not working
This quick test takes about a minute and tells you which steps to follow.
Turn off Wi-Fi on your phone.
Send a short text-only message (no emojis or pictures) to one person.
Send a photo to that same person.
Send a text to a group of two or more people.
What your results mean:
The text-only message didn’t send? You’re having a texting (SMS) issue. Work through Quick fixes, Check your settings, and Update your phone.
The text sent, but the photo or group message didn’t? You’re having a group or picture messaging (MMS) issue. Work through the same sections, then the Extra steps for group and picture messages.
Everything works, except with one person? Jump to Check your settings.
Troubleshooting Steps
Show steps for:
Quick fixes
Start here. These take just a minute or two.
Try making a call and opening a website with Wi-Fi off. If those don't work either, the issue is likely with your service, not just your messages. Troubleshoot no service
iPhone
Swipe down to open the Control Center.
If the airplane icon is highlighted, tap it to turn Airplane mode off.
Android
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.
If Airplane mode is highlighted, tap it to turn it off.
A quick restart refreshes your connection to the network and fixes a lot of issues.
Log in to your Ting account and make sure your number is active.
Ting Mobile works in the US, Canada, and Mexico. If you're outside those countries, messaging may not work.
Check your settings
Still having trouble, or only with one person? Check these next.
Remove the contact from your phone and add them back. This makes sure their number is stored correctly.
A blocked number can stop texts from coming through.
iPhone
Go to Settings.
Tap Phone.
Select Blocked Contacts.
Android
Samsung Galaxy
Open your Phone app.
Tap More (three dots).
Select Settings.
Tap Block numbers.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Open your Phone app.
Tap More (three dots).
Select Settings.
Tap Blocked numbers.
iPhone
Go to Settings.
Tap Messages.
Make sure iMessage is turned on.
Android
Open the Messages app.
Tap your profile picture or icon at the top right.
Select Messages settings.
Tap RCS chats.
Turn RCS chats off. This tells your phone to send regular texts instead of chat messages.
These steps are for Google Messages, the main texting app on most Android phones, including Samsung and Pixel.
Update your phone
These steps take a little longer, but they often fix stubborn issues.
iPhone
Go to Settings.
Tap General.
Select Software Update.
Android
Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings.
Tap Software update.
Tap Download and install.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Go to Settings.
Tap System.
Select Software updates.
Tap System update.
Your iPhone needs Ting's carrier settings to send messages.
Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Go to Settings.
Tap General.
Select About.
Check the Carrier line. It should say Ting.
Not seeing Ting? Wait a few minutes on this screen. A prompt will pop up to update. Follow it to install.
Using a physical SIM? Take it out, wait a few seconds, and put it back in. This refreshes your connection to the Ting network.
Using eSIM? You can skip this step.
📌 Note: This will erase your saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and Bluetooth connections.
iPhone
Go to Settings.
Tap General.
Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Choose Reset Network Settings.
Android
Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings.
Tap General management.
Select Reset.
Tap Reset network settings.
Tap Reset settings to confirm.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Go to Settings.
Tap System.
Select Reset options.
Tap Reset Mobile Network Settings and confirm.
Go back and tap Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi and confirm.
Extra steps for group and picture messages
Only having trouble with group or picture messages? Try these after the steps above.
Group and picture messages need mobile data, even when you're connected to Wi-Fi. Make sure it's turned on in your phone's settings.
iPhone
Go to Settings.
Tap Cellular.
Turn on Cellular Data.
Android
Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings.
Tap Connections.
Select Data usage.
Turn on Mobile data.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Go to Settings.
Tap Network & internet.
Select SIMs.
Turn on Mobile data.
Then test it: turn off Wi-Fi and open a website or app. If it loads, your data is working.
Go to Settings.
Tap Messages.
Turn on MMS Messaging.
Turn on Group Messaging.
iPhone
Open Settings.
Tap Cellular.
Select Cellular Data Options.
Tap Voice & Data.
Choose LTE or 5G.
Android
Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings.
Tap Connections.
Select Mobile networks.
Tap Network mode.
Choose an option with 5G or LTE.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Go to Settings.
Tap Network & internet.
Select SIMs.
Tap Preferred network type.
Choose 5G or LTE.
Step 1: Reset your APNs to default
Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings.
Tap Connections.
Select Mobile networks.
Tap Access Point Names.
Tap More (three dots) and select Reset to default.
Google Pixel and most other Android phones
Go to Settings.
Tap Network & internet.
Select SIMs.
Tap Access point names.
Tap More (three dots) and select Reset to default.
Step 2: Add the new APN settings
Tap the + icon and enter the details below. Save each APN, then tap + again to add the next one.
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