How to Fix Group Messaging Not Working on Your iPhone? (2024)

When group messages do not work on an iPhone, it can be frustrating to miss receiving an important text or not being able to send one. This issue can occur on any carrier and with any group, sometimes specifically when a group includes a user with an Android phone. In certain instances, you might find that you’re only missing some group texts.

How to Fix Group Messaging Not Working on Your iPhone? (1)

1. Basic Troubleshooting

Restart your iPhone.
Reinsert the SIM card: Take out the SIM card, restart your iPhone, and then reinsert it.
Update Your iPhone: Ensure your device is running the latest version of iOS.

2. Disable Wi-Fi Calling on the iPhone

Wi-Fi Calling may interfere with the sending and receiving of group texts on an iPhone, especially if it’s not compatible with your carrier’s setup. Disabling Wi-Fi Calling might resolve this issue.

Open Settings, tap Phone, and then Wi-Fi Calling.
Turn off Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone and restart your device.

3. Re-enable 5G in the iPhone Settings

Issues with the iPhone’s 5G capabilities may cause you to miss group messages randomly. Toggling 5G off and then on again in the settings may resolve these issues.

In the iPhone settings, head to Cellular > Voice & Data.
Turn off the 5G option, wait a minute or select an entirely different option (like LTE) if no 5G toggle is present.
Finally, re-enable 5G and test group messaging functionality.

4. Disable Wi-Fi and Enable Cellular

Group messaging services typically rely on cellular connections and may face issues over unsupported Wi-Fi networks. Disable Wi-Fi and use cellular data instead to confirm if this is indeed the issue.

Go to Settings and tap Wi-Fi.
Turn it off, then go to Cellular (USA) or Mobile (non-USA) and enable it.
Test the group messaging function.

5. Enable the Required SIM in the iPhone Settings

Group message functionality may not work if the necessary SIM card is not active. Activating the SIM card that corresponds to your phone number may resolve this.

6. Disable the VPN or Uninstall the Conflicting App

If a VPN or certain apps (like the Cisco Security app) are blocking group communication on your iPhone, the solution is to disable the VPN or uninstall the conflicting app.

Open your iPhone’s Settings, tap General, then VPN.
Turn off the VPN and remove any VPN profiles.
Be sure to deactivate VPNs on your other Apple devices as well, such as your iPad.
After restarting your iPhone, group messaging should work correctly.
If the problem persists, uninstall the VPN application and try messaging again.

Reports indicate the Cisco Security app can sometimes inhibit group communications on an iPhone. If you have this or any similar application installed, uninstalling it could resolve the issue.

Press and hold the Cisco Security app on your iPhone’s Home screen.
Choose Remove App and confirm the deletion.
Restart your iPhone and attempt group messaging again.

7. Re-enable Group Messaging on the iOS Device

Malfunctions within the phone’s messaging modules can lead to group messaging issues. Re-enabling Group Messaging on your iOS device can reset these modules to their default settings, potentially fixing the problem.

Open Settings, select Messages, and turn off iMessage.
Next, navigate to Settings > Messages and disable Group Messaging.
Restart your iPhone.
Turn iMessage and Group Messaging back on.
Proceed to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
Ensure that both your phone number and email address are checked.
Open the Messages app and send a group message.
If the issue reappears, return to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
Uncheck your email address and try group messaging once more.

8. Recreate the Messaging Group or Get Readded to It

Incorrect syncing of group contacts on your iPhone can cause group texting to fail. In such cases, recreating the group or being re-added by the group owner can resolve this. This method is particularly useful if the problem is with a specific group chat.

Remember to back up the chat if it is essential and make a note of the contacts before proceeding.

If you are the group owner:

Open the Messages app and select the problematic group chat.
Delete the entire group chat, not just individual messages, and restart your phone.
Access the Settings app, select Messages, disable iMessage, and ensure MMS Messaging and Send as SMS are enabled.
Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, wait a minute, then power on the phone.
In Messages, compose a new message, add the necessary contacts as recipients, and press Send. Enable iMessage afterward.

If someone else is the group owner:

Ask the group owner to remove you from the group.
Restart your iPhone and delete the group chat.
Have the owner add you back to the group.

9. Reset the iPhone’s Network Settings to Default

An iPhone relies on its network settings to send and receive group messages. Invalid network settings, possibly due to an OS or carrier update, can cause failures. Resetting the network settings to default can often fix such issues.

Be aware that you will lose network-related information (Wi-Fi credentials, VPNs, APNs, etc.), so note down any important details beforehand.

1. Power off the iPhone and remove the SIM card.
2. Turn on the phone, then navigate to Settings > General > Reset.

Tap Reset Network Settings and confirm your choice.
Once complete, power off the iPhone again, reinsert the SIM card, and then power on the device.
Try sending or receiving a group message to see if the problem is resolved.

10. Reset All iPhone Settings to Default

If group messaging fails due to altered iPhone settings after an iOS update, resetting all settings to their default values may resolve the issue.

Before taking this step, remember to make a note of any customized settings you may need later.

Go to Settings > General > Reset.
Choose Reset All Settings and confirm your action.
After the iPhone restarts on its own, reconfigure essential settings and attempt to send a group text.

11. Reprovision Messaging Through the Carrier

Group messaging issues can also arise if the carrier has not provisioned messaging services for your iPhone correctly. Often, reprovisioning can fix this.

Use a web browser to visit the Verizon website.
Sign in, then navigate to Account > Mobile > My Plan > Blocks.
Select the applicable phone line and access Block Services > Messaging.
Activate Block Picture and Video Messaging.
Wait for approximately 5 minutes before saving your changes.
Deactivate the block and save your changes once more.
Close the browser, restart your iPhone, and try opening a group chat.

For Verizon App Users:

Open the Verizon app and navigate to Device > Preferences > Block Specific Services.
Enable Block Picture and Video Messages.
After a 5-minute wait, disable the block.
Restart your iPhone and assess the group chat functionality.

Contact Carrier Support

Alternatively, you may call your carrier’s helpline to reprovision messaging for your iPhone. Following reprovisioning, be sure to restart your device.

If the problem continues, consider resetting your iPhone. However, it is advisable to contact Apple support before taking this step.