Group chats in messages using iMessage reverting to SMS on iOS 18.1

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Group chats in messages using iMessage reverting to SMS on iOS 18.1

Group chats in Messages app using iMessage reverting to SMS on iOS 18.1. Can no longer participate in any family message chats, and SMS messages are broadcasting to all individuals separately.

Some observations. The chats tested do have “former” iPhone users within them, unsure if they still have active Apple iMessage enabled accounts / devices. Also, since 18.0, SMS to Android phones is not allowing MMS as it did previously, only pure SMS (text only).

Between individuals in the chat who are on iMessage, chatting 1:1, iMessage is working fine.

In Australia on Telstra who are not yet supporting RCS.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 31, 2024 8:31 PM

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Answer 1

roryleggett Author

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Nov 3, 2024 7:07 PM in response to roryleggett

An update.

Seems that groups with 100% iPhone users are now working again.

I have 4 big family groups however where people have dropped off iOS some time ago, they are still not working. It would be ideal if these could go back to working rather than recreate the chats. Previously it just “ignored” non-iMessage numbers silently.

Also, MMS to Android completely broke in iOS 18.0, 18.1, but I’m now able to send pictures to Android phones again.

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Answer 2

roryleggett Author

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Nov 12, 2024 4:08 PM in response to roryleggett

An update.

2 of the big family groups are back to sending and receiving via iMessage, 2 are broken still. I can receive iMessages in the 2 broken chats but when I respond it reverts to text. Would love not to have to recreate these.

iOS 18.1 has been the absolute worst iOS release since launch, so incredibly buggy.

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Answer 3

roryleggett Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 18, 2024 6:16 PM in response to roryleggett

Further updates.

I have tried turning iMessage on and off.

Reset network settings.

My remaining two family chats works! Hooray! I went to send 2 iMessage messages and they stalled (on 5G before connecting to Wifi). They wouldn't send. Half way through (after a few minutes wait) I connect to our home wifi and SUCCESS! the last 2 iMessage chats get out about 2 iMessage messages.... I think this mess is done.

But then... FAILURE, they revert to SMS/Text message. Subsequent Network resets/ turning on and off aren't working.

Apple, please, PLEASE fix this. I don't want to be forced into using potato photos FB messenger because iMessage Group chats aren't working.

And no, I'm not resetting the entire handset to try to fix this, it won't fix it.

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