You try to send photos from your iPhone, but they won't go through. Whether you are using Messages, Photos, or another app, nothing works. So why is it that iPhone won't send pictures?
Instead, your iPhone displays the message "Not Delivered" with a red exclamation point inside a circle or your photos get stuck in the middle of the sending process and never complete it.
Today we'll explain why your iPhone won't send pictures, as well as how to identify the problem and permanently fix it.
What You Should Understand Before We Start
These are the first two questions we need to answer in order to determine why your iPhone won't send pictures. By finding the right answer to these questions we can move ahead with the troubleshooting.
Are Images Not Sending in Text Messages or iMessages?
A text message or a picture message can be sent or received on an iPhone as either an iMessage or a standard text message.
The text messages you send appear in green in the Messages app, while the iMessages you send appear in blue bubbles.
Even though they coexist peacefully in the Messages app, iMessages and text messages use various picture-sending technologies. The two ways to send iMessages are over Wi-Fi and through the wireless or mobile data plan you purchase from your cell phone or mobile provider.
Regular text and picture messages are sent through your wireless provider's text messaging plan.
Usually, text messages or iMessages, not both, are the cause of your iPhone's inability to send pictures. To put it another way, while text and picture messages can be sent using iMessages, they cannot be sent using other messaging apps.
Even if you are experiencing issues with both, we must first address each issue independently.
Open the Messages app and start a conversation with someone you can't send pictures to in order to determine whether your iPhone is having trouble sending text messages or iMessages.
Your iPhone won't send pictures via iMessage if the recipient's previous messages from you were written in blue. Images cannot be sent using your text messaging plan from your iPhone if the other messages are in green.
Are images not being sent to a specific person or to everyone?
It's time to figure out whether you're having trouble sending photos to everyone or just one person now that you know whether the issue is with iMessages or text/picture messages.
To do this, read the following first, then send a test image to someone else.
Make sure the recipient of the test picture is using the same messaging app as the recipient to whom you are unable to send pictures, such as iMessage or text/picture messages.
- Send a test image to someone else who uses iMessage if images won't be sent to someone using the app (blue bubbles).
- Send a test picture to a different person whose text messages are delivered if your pictures won't send using your text/picture messaging plan (in green bubbles).
Generally speaking, if a picture won't send to just one person, the issue is on that person's end, and they might need to make some adjustments to their iPhone or contact their wireless provider to resolve it.
The issue is on your end if your iPhone won't send pictures to anyone.
If Your iPhone Won’t Send Pictures Using iMessage
1. Test Your Internet Connection
In order to send iMessages, your iPhone must be connected to the internet, so we'll start by checking this connection.
Sending a message using your wireless data plan and then sending a message while your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi are the two simplest ways to go about this.
Go to Settings -> Wi-Fi and disable Wi-Fi if your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi but won't send pictures.
You should see 5G, LTE, 4G, or 3G appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen after your iPhone connects to the cellular data network.
Send the photo again if necessary. If it does, your Wi-Fi connection is the issue.
When you're done, remember to turn the Wi-Fi back on!
When your iPhone isn't connected to Wi-Fi, try sending a message again after connecting to the Wi-Fi network in Settings -> Wi-Fi. If this doesn't work, try finding a Wi-Fi-enabled location.
If the message is delivered, there is most likely an issue with your iPhone's cellular data connection.
2. Make Sure Cellular or Mobile Data Is Turned On
Make sure Cellular Data is switched on by going to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. iMessages are sent when you're not connected to Wi-Fi using your wireless data plan rather than your text messaging plan.
When cellular data is disabled, pictures sent as text or picture messages will still be delivered, but pictures sent as iMessages won't.
3. Does The Other Person Have iMessage Turned On?
When someone switches to an Android smartphone but keeps their iMessage account open, it frequently leads to problems.
The situation is as follows: Your iPhone and the iMessage server attempt to send pictures via iMessage, but they are never delivered.
Fortunately, there is a quick and easy way for them to sign out of iMessage and end the issue permanently.
Tell them to click on this link to go to Apple's support page, where they can turn off iMessage by sending a text message to themselves and entering a verification code online.
4. Reset Network Settings
There is a good way to resolve all of the connection issues that can be brought on by an unintentional change in the Settings app at once.
Resetting the network settings on your iPhone is a great way to do so without affecting any of your personal data.
This method only affects the settings that control how your iPhone connects to Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Make sure you are familiar with the password before continuing because you will need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network once more.
On your iPhone, enter your passcode and tap Reset Network Settings after going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
After your iPhone restarts, try sending another test message to see if the issue has been fixed.
Using Your Text / Picture Messaging Plan If Your iPhone Won't Send Pictures
1. Make Sure MMS Messaging Is Turned On
The two message types that can be sent via the Messages app—iMessages and text/picture messages—have already been covered.
Additionally, there are two different kinds of text/picture messages, which further complicates matters.
SMS, the first generation of text messaging, can only send short messages; MMS, which came later, can send both pictures and longer messages.
Pictures won't send through if MMS is disabled on your iPhone, but regular text messages (SMS) will. Make sure the switch next to MMS Messaging is turned on in Settings > Messages to make sure MMS is enabled.
2. Check For A Carrier Settings Update
To help your iPhone's connection to your wireless carrier's network perform better, Apple and your wireless carrier frequently push updates to the carrier settings.
If the carrier settings are out-of-date, your iPhone may experience cellular problems.
When an update for the carrier settings is available, a pop-up usually appears on the screen. If the pop-up appears on your iPhone, select Update.
You can manually check for a carrier settings update by going to Settings and choosing General > About.
If a carrier settings update is available, a pop-up will be displayed here in about ten seconds. Go to the next step if no pop-up window appears!
3. Reset Network Settings
Resetting the network settings on your iPhone is a great way to resolve all of the connection issues that can be brought on by an unintentional change in the Settings app at once.
This method only affects the settings that control how your iPhone connects to Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Make sure you are familiar with the password before continuing because you will need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network once more.
On your iPhone, enter your passcode and tap Reset Network Settings after going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
After your iPhone restarts, try sending another test message to see if the issue has been fixed.
4. Contact Your Wireless Carrier or Mobile Provider
Unfortunately, you might need to get in touch with your wireless provider if your iPhone's connection to it is having issues. The only way to be sure is to call and inquire.
Customer account issues and technical difficulties can prevent MMS messages from being delivered.
Searching for "your wireless carrier's (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) wireless customer support number" on Google is the quickest way to find the number to call. If you Google "Verizon wireless customer support number," you can find the number, for instance, at the top of the search results.
If Your iPhone Still Won’t Send Pictures
If you're still unable to send pictures from your iPhone model depends on whether you're unable to send them to anyone or just one person.
Ask that person if they can receive iMessages or text / picture messages from anyone if you can't send pictures to just one person. In either case, keep in mind that they might be able to receive iMessages but not text or picture messages.
You can also send them a link to this article and ask them to perform the troubleshooting procedures on their own.
Here's what to do next if you believe your end is where the issue lies: Remove their contact from your iPhone, delete the conversation you had with them in the Messages app, and then follow the directions above to reset the network settings.
Enter their phone number into the Messages app after your iPhone restarts, then try sending them a picture message. If it submits successfully, re-enter their contact information, and you're ready to go.
If that doesn't resolve the issue, you might need to restore your iPhone, backup your data to iCloud or iTunes, and then restore your iPhone.
Restoring your iPhone clears out everything on it and reloads the software, which can fix a variety of software-related problems. I advise you to perform a DFU restore, a unique kind of restore that Apple Store technicians use.
Wrapping Up
We've seen that the issue when iPhone won't send pictures are typically associated with issues with iMessage and a few other potential issues. Once you iron these out you can start messaging with pictures again.
iPhone Won’t Send Pictures FAQs
Why am I unable to send iMessages from my iPhone?
You are unable to send iMessages from your iPhone because you have a problem with cellular data. To fix this, make sure Cellular Data is switched on by going to Settings -> Mobile Data. iMessages are sent when you're not connected to Wi-Fi using your mobile or cellular data plan rather than your text messaging plan. When mobile data or cellular data is disabled, pictures sent as text or picture messages will still be delivered, but pictures sent as iMessages won't.
Why can't my iPhone send photos to Android devices?
Your iPhone cannot send photos to Android devices beause there is a problem with MMS messaging, probably you have disabled it (intentionally or not). Another possibility is that there is a temporary glitch from your or your recipient's provider. If you have disabled MMS messaging switch it on via Settings > Messages > MMS Messages. If this is enabled, you have two more options: force restart your iPhone or quit and reopen the Messages application.
How can I fix my Android phone so it can send pictures again?
To fix your Android phone so that it can send pictures again, the messaging app's cache may be to blame so the easiest fix is to Delete all app data and cache. Try to clear the App Cache first and check to see if the error is fixed. Proceed to clear the app's data if it doesn't.
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