Any issues with the latest iOS 18.3.2 software?

Did an Android user start the group chat? There are known issues when mixed groups of Google Android users and Apple Messages users mix. These issues are not easily resolved because of the required cooperation between large multinational corporations. For all we know Apple may (or may not) have resolved the interoperability issues that are on their end.

Are you near an Apple Retail Store that it might be convenient to make an appointment and share your experiences with an Apple Store Genius? A lot of times when a technician can actually see the issue it might easily be resolved.

Squirt55 wrote:

No, it is not the carrier. The problem arose when IOS 18.3.2 was put out. That is the common denominator with all of us who are having this issue. Nothing else changed other than this update. Apple needs to step up and fix the problem!

You conveniently didn't answer my question. IS ANYONE IN THE GROUP not an iPhone user? The fact it happened with an iOS update, still doesn't make it an Apple caused issue. When Apple rolls out an update, it's up to your carrier to roll out an update to your phone as well.

The groups were already established before this latest update occurred. I had the Apple tech on screen sharing so they could see my devices. I really don’t have hours and hours to do troubleshooting. I can work around the issue but it is extremely frustrating when I did nothing to change my devices. I just want the problem fixed.

i will go out and see if the Android users are having issues also. At this point, it seems to be only us Apple users.

Squirt55 wrote:

The groups were already established before this latest update occurred. I had the Apple tech on screen sharing so they could see my devices. I really don’t have hours and hours to do troubleshooting. I can work around the issue but it is extremely frustrating when I did nothing to change my devices. I just want the problem fixed.

i will go out and see if the Android users are having issues also. At this point, it seems to be only us Apple users.

And you have just proved my point. There are Android users, so none of the messages are being sent or received via Apple's iMessage. The issue is NOT with Apple. The messages are being send and received by your carrier. You can wait for Apple on this, but since Apple isn't a carrier and they don't send or receive SMS Messages, your wait may be in vain. You are free to place the blame on Apple if you want. Even if the blame really isn't placed where it belongs.

You take care and I hope your issue is resolved at some point.

There are Android users on this thread. The group has been in existence since 2023. There were no issues until this IOS update. Apple needs to step up and correct the problem!

i talked with my carrier and they thought I had 3 heads!

Squirt55 wrote:

There are Android users on this thread. The group has been in existence since 2023. There were no issues until this IOS update. Apple needs to step up and correct the problem!

i talked with my carrier and they thought I had 3 heads!

That's what carriers do even when they are the reason you may be having an issue. They'll do anything they can to get you off the phone and the person you spoke with may have been a shoe salesperson, a week before you spoke with them.

This will be my last comment to you, even if you comment back. Waiting for Apple to fix a texting issue when none of the messages are flowing through iMessage is not the way to fix this. Apple is NOT a carrier and yet the messages your group is sending come through your carrier, NOT Apple.

If you don't want to push this higher with your carrier and you prefer instead to believe wrongly that Apple can fix anything with carrier supported messaging will get you nowhere.

Again, I won't comment back, so you take care.

Squirt55 wrote:

I really don’t care what you think. I am not getting the service I pay for with Apple! They caused the issue with the update. Everything worked fine before that!

I guess we're even as I'm not bothered at all what you think either. But you're comment that you're not getting the service you pay for from Apple doesn't make sense. When it comes to SMS messages, which is exactly what you're dealing with, you are NOT paying Apple for service. You are paying your carrier.

And yes, I said I wouldn't comment back, but you just don't get or understand the difference, which is a shame.

So, who is your carrier? If you have a mixed group, you have multiple devices and multiple carriers. This could just as easily be a carrier issue. In asking your group about issues you’ll need to create a poll for devices, manufactures, OS versions and cellular carriers. Once you learn those factors, you may start to see a pattern.

I just spent 2 hours with my phone carrier trying to resolve the issue of not being able to reply in group texts. This issue came up after the iOS update on March 11. We went through all kinds of steps to try to resolve the issue. The end result given to me by them is to go back to Apple Support. So, I will get with Apple Support and hopefully get this issue resolved. Very, very frustrated!

If it’s a mixed group chat with Android users, you’re not using iMessage, but regular text and that’s a cellular service provider issue. Apple will help you troubleshoot the issue, but more than likely refer you back to your provider.

AKRBTN wrote:

An iPhone 6 can be updated to 12.5.7. There’ll never be another update for that model.

I thought security updates and the like are still released for older iPhones, but maybe not updates related to new features, etc.? Am I wrong?

Jeff Donald wrote:

If it’s a mixed group chat with Android users, you’re not using iMessage, but regular text and that’s a cellular service provider issue. Apple will help you troubleshoot the issue, but more than likely refer you back to your provider.

Which is exactly what I told Squirt55, but I was told they don't care what I think......I don't doubt they are having an issue. Whoever their carrier is, however, isn't doing their job.

Jeff,

I see the copy of your screenshot. That is exactly what I see when I go to my settings. Do you know when the RCS was implemented? I can’t find anything to tell me when that was implemented. I did spend 2 hours with last night and they finally said to go back to Apple Support. I am very frustrated.

As a Consumer I don’t feel like either side is trying to help resolve the issue. I am not a software engineer so I don’t know all the minutiae, however I am intelligent enough to keep probing for answers. It does not help to just say, “go to your carrier”. I am speaking of Apple Support. I want to know why we’re being told it’s a carrier issue.

I really wish they would talk to each other and not blame each other. There needs to be a meaningful exchange between the two to sort out the problem. If they are not willing to work with each other then all they do is anger their customers.

AT&T.

I have tried those switches. Is there a way to talk with Apple and AT&T at the same time?

After doing more research it seems as if it is Verizon not enabling RCS and/or Android phones. I’m thinking at this point, to pull out all the non Apple texters in the group, then starting a separate group for them. It seems awfully cumbersome but I see it as a possible workaround. I do use WhatsApp and that doesn’t appear to have these issues.

I have had success in the past with Apple Support but I seem to be running into a stumbling block with this issue.

Yes, I’ve had Apple engineers talking to AT&T engineers. Long story short, but it requires patience and a good presence on the phone to continuously raise the level. Once I got them talking the AT&T engineer resolved the issue in 30 seconds. I was a happy camper.

But yes, both AT&T engineers and Apple engineers can easily talk to each other.