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User profile for user: josey20
josey20 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Why can I not receive text messages on my iPhone without data?

I recently purchased an iPhone 11.

I informed the sales person that I do not have a data plan with a provider. That with my previous Samsung and LG phones I was able to receive texts messages when I was not in

a wifi area(vehicle etc) however as many people I communicate with have iPhones, I am unable to receive there phone texts or messages as they go straight to my iPhone address

i have changed the settings, but still having this issue


iPhone 11, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 13, 2021 6:24 AM

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User profile for user: Michael Black
Michael Black
User level: Level 10
80,430 points

Posted on Sep 13, 2021 6:41 AM

Note that MMS messages, via your carrier, also require cellular data. An MMS message sends the text portion over the cellular telephone voice network, just like a SMS text, but the image or data portion of an MMS text is sent over a cellular data connection (and cannot use WiFi).


iMessage, like other proprietary internet messaging services (also Skype, Google hangouts, etc) rely on an internet connection and so must use either a WiFi connection to the internet, or a cellular data connection to the internet.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Michael Black
Michael Black
User level: Level 10
80,430 points

Sep 13, 2021 6:41 AM in response to josey20

Note that MMS messages, via your carrier, also require cellular data. An MMS message sends the text portion over the cellular telephone voice network, just like a SMS text, but the image or data portion of an MMS text is sent over a cellular data connection (and cannot use WiFi).


iMessage, like other proprietary internet messaging services (also Skype, Google hangouts, etc) rely on an internet connection and so must use either a WiFi connection to the internet, or a cellular data connection to the internet.

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Why can I not receive text messages on my iPhone without data?

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