MMS messages not sending/receiving

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Hi, I have a Pixel 7. I have a physical GoogleFi SIM. I switched my OS over to /e/OS and found my WiFi calling and texting compromised (can receive SMS messages, but not MMS and could not send any messages over only WiFi).

I suspected it maybe had to do with GoogleFi so I downloaded a Tello eSIM (1GB data + unlimited talk and text). When I made sure my GoogleFi SIM was disabled, and my Tello SIM was default and my data was turned off and my wifi turned on, I could then send and receive SMS messages, but I still can’t send or receive MMS messages.

The Tello website (Troubleshooting Tips from Tello for Android users - blog.tello.com) says MMS WiFi texting doesn’t work with data off in the case that you are paying for data on your plan. However, I saw a Redditor in a similar situation as me say MMS wifi texting wasn’t working and they don’t have any data (https://www.reddit.com/r/Tello/comments/13c1z6x/is_cellular_data_required_for_mms_even_if_wifi/).

Also, based on the information from the Tello website mentioned above, I manually set up my APN settings. I had the same default as the Redditor mentioned above.

Based on this /e/OS community post (Titled: “Sending MMS in Messages” Can’t link it b/c I reached my new user link max.) I manually set MMS compression to lower kB (100kB tested too), and this did not resolve my issue.

I see some comments online about needing to make sure your operating system is up to date because that is how the service providers update their APN (and other?) settings. So, I’m started to wonder if this is an /e/OS issue? Or perhaps it’s a Tello issue? But it seems like some people are able to MMS WiFi texting to work.

I love /e/OS and I really want to make it work, especially in a way that I can tell others that it is truly easy and convenient to set-up and use (especially in areas with no cell service).

Please advise. Thank you.

  1. Turn off the mobile data connection
  2. Turn on the wifi data connection
  3. A feature to allow MMS using the mobile call connection will appear :



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Thank you for the advice and walkthrough. Unfortunately, this does not resolve the issue. The MMS messages toggle was already on.

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A restart of phone my be worth a try. Check again if working. Maybe turn WiFi calling ON too.

I do not know if this is documented about “Google original” phones but I believe there are google helpers to do this on the fly; however AOSP relies on apns-conf.xml where I do not see Tello listed. This means that your save of APN will be critical. You must Save successfully, then you must go back and Select your new Entry.

Save of APN can be difficult. I think the Tello Troubleshooting Tips link covers all the bases, every item in their list must be “exact”.

An alternative is to ask the carrier to apply an “APN reset” OTA.

Thanks for this guide! I thought my inability to send MMS was some sort of incompatibility with my Fairphone. Following your steps fixed it…now I just need steps to convince my contacts to stop using SMS and MMS :slight_smile:

Since the last 3 updates my phone can no longer send or receive MMS, I have never found the solution and it’s annoying.

After that it remains occasional, I don’t really use it anymore but oh well.

So to protect my data and also the anonymity of the conversations I switch with my family to Threema which does not require a phone number or email (optional), so no personal information linked to the identifier.

There I can send what I want without the risk of saying to myself “ah I have to be careful what I send”.

It’s the best solution and there is no better.