SMS group chat not working with iOS 18

I have a preexisting group chat with two non-iPhone users that has never not worked before. I also use a VPN that has not given me any issues with the message app. After updating to iOS 18, I could not receive messages in this group chat if my VPN was on. I’ve tried turning it off, and that worked once with the new RCS messages, but I do not want to leave my VPN off. Now I cannot receive any messages in the group chat, whether the VPN is on or off, whether the RCS messaging is on or off. Single SMS messaging works fine. I’ve restarted my phone, I’ve restarted my network settings, I’ve deleted and readded the VPN configurations

I don’t care about using RCS, so if part of the solution is to keep it off, that is fine by me. I just want to keep my VPN on and to be able to receive texts in my group chat. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 10, 2024 5:10 PM

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Posted on Nov 23, 2024 5:25 PM

I contacted my carrier (att) after the update to iOS 18 messed with my group messaging. They said they “provisioned the network”. After I restarted my phone it worked

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3 replies

Nov 29, 2024 4:42 AM in response to Casscounty

Did you find a solution for this? My iPhone just updated to iOS 18 and I am having same/similar issue. Group texts work sometimes but not always and it's same thread with same issues. Strange part is some non iPhone users are on a thread that never works but the same person is on another group thread that always works. It appears I am receiving all texts but nobody is receiving my responses on multiple group text threads. It's been extremely frustrating. I have played with VPN off/on, toggled iMessage off, restarted phone and put iMessage back on, restarted phone, done the reset network settings. Nothing seems to have fixed this issue.

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SMS group chat not working with iOS 18

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