Question Keep getting MMS messages from people in my contacts, but they did not send them

[SJMaye]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S9+. A year more ago I began receiving 1KB MMS messages from people in my contacts with a link simply stating DOWNLOAD. It looked suspicious, so I checked with those contacts. THEY DID NOT SEND THEM. For the last year I thought it was a glitch with the Google Messages app I was using for text messages. This time I deleted Google Messages and started using Samsung Messages. I started getting them there as well. This leads me to this this is an issue with my phone.

Has anyone else had this problem?

This image shows such messages from just one of my contacts. I am receiving them from several of my contacts.

 

[mustang7757]

Have you tried clearing the messages apps Data then force stop it?

 

[SJMaye]

No. I don't know much about phones. When you say clear the messages apps Data. Are you referring to going into Google Messages settings and delete the data there? If the problem is with Google Messages Data why would the Samsung Messages app do the same thing?

 

[B. Diddy]

Are these people who are included in any group message text threads that you're a part of? Group messages are also MMS, and those kinds of messages that say "Download" usually appear when there's an issue with mobile data, or with the phone's APN settings.

When you get these messages, do you notice any other problems with your web connection? Also, check your APN settings and make sure they're correct for your carrier (specifically the MMS settings): https://www.androidcentral.com/what-apn-and-how-do-i-change-it

 

[mustang7757]

No. I don't know much about phones. When you say clear the messages apps Data. Are you referring to going into Google Messages settings and delete the data there? If the problem is with Google Messages Data why would the Samsung Messages app do the same thing?

On Samsung the piggy back each other, long press the message app>tap info>tap storage clear it's Data then back one page out and choose force stop

 

[SJMaye]

Are these people who are included in any group message text threads that you're a part of? Group messages are also MMS, and those kinds of messages that say "Download" usually appear when there's an issue with mobile data, or with the phone's APN settings.

When you get these messages, do you notice any other problems with your web connection? Also, check your APN settings and make sure they're correct for your carrier (specifically the MMS settings): https://www.androidcentral.com/what-apn-and-how-do-i-change-it

Yes. All the people I am receiving these types of messages are in a group chat. I don't think I am having any issue with connection. Many times I get them while at home on wifi. I am confident that is stable. I read the link you provided and reset the APN and will monitor if I continue to get the messages.

Something I need to add that may or may not be related to this issue is right now I am out of data from my wireless plan. My plan provides a fixed amount which I have exceeded. It will renew in a couple days. I did not think it was relevant since I get these messages over Wi-Fi, but thought I should make you aware.

On Samsung the piggy back each other, long press the message app>tap info>tap storage clear it's Data then back one page out and choose force stop

I tried following this, but the menus did not seem to follow your instructions.

 

[mustang7757]

Yes. All the people I am receiving these types of messages are in a group chat. I don't think I am having any issue with connection. Many times I get them while at home on wifi. I am confident that is stable. I read the link you provided and reset the APN and will monitor if I continue to get the messages.

Something I need to add that may or may not be related to this issue is right now I am out of data from my wireless plan. My plan provides a fixed amount which I have exceeded. It will renew in a couple days. I did not think it was relevant since I get these messages over Wi-Fi, but thought I should make you aware.

I tried following this, but the menus did not seem to follow your instructions.
View attachment 365225

View attachment 365226

Hi, your in the settings of the message app , try long press the message app >tap info>scroll down to storage then clear Data and force stop it , I'll show example below but u have to scroll down to see storage

 

[B. Diddy]

Something I need to add that may or may not be related to this issue is right now I am out of data from my wireless plan. My plan provides a fixed amount which I have exceeded. It will renew in a couple days. I did not think it was relevant since I get these messages over Wi-Fi, but thought I should make you aware.

I think this is the reason. Since MMS relies on mobile data, the fact that you've run out is probably affecting your ability to receive group texts properly. I don't think wi-fi can replace the loss of mobile data when it comes to receiving MMS. See if the problem goes away when you have adequate mobile data, and comes back again when your mobile data has run out.

 

[mustang7757]

I think this is the reason. Since MMS relies on mobile data, the fact that you've run out is probably affecting your ability to receive group texts properly. I don't think wi-fi can replace the loss of mobile data when it comes to receiving MMS. See if the problem goes away when you have adequate mobile data, and comes back again when your mobile data has run out.

Good point on mobile data but with Google's message with RCS wifi should work even without mobile data also going been doing lot of updates to its message apps so things can change or improve.

 

[SJMaye]

Good point on mobile data but with Google's message with RCS wifi should work even without mobile data also going been doing lot of updates to its message apps so things can change or improve.

Actually, I did a test. While on Wifi I can send SMS texts, but I cannot send MMS texts at all. I wonder if that also is creating those weird mystery texts from those contacts.

 

[mustang7757]

Actually, I did a test. While on Wifi I can send SMS texts, but I cannot send MMS texts at all. I wonder if that also is creating those weird mystery texts from those contacts.

Probably then , if other person has RCS I think it would work if not then mobile data is needed

 

[B. Diddy]

Good point on mobile data but with Google's message with RCS wifi should work even without mobile data also going been doing lot of updates to its message apps so things can change or improve.

It's worth checking to see if RCS Chat features are in fact turned on (that screenshot only showed "MMS"). @SJMaye , look in the settings for the Google Messages app, and see if Chat Features are turned on.

 

[mustang7757]

It's worth checking to see if RCS Chat features are in fact turned on (that screenshot only showed "MMS"). @SJMaye , look in the settings for the Google Messages app, and see if Chat Features are turned on.

Yeah definitely

 

[SJMaye]

Probably then , if other person has RCS I think it would work if not then mobile data is needed

The other person I tested sending an MMS text was also using Google Messages and it did not go through with Wifi. I guess I need data for all MMS. I know I have RCS turned on. not sure about the wife. Will check.

 

[mustang7757]

The other person I tested sending an MMS text was also using Google Messages and it did not go through with Wifi. I guess I need data for all MMS.

Is your chat messages on?
It should work

 

[SJMaye]

Is your chat messages on?
It should work

When you say chat messages on do you mean both my and my wife's phone should have RCS enabled?

 

[B. Diddy]

When you say chat messages on do you mean both my and my wife's phone should have RCS enabled?

Correct -- for RCS to work, both parties need to have RCS Chat turned on.

 

[mustang7757]

When you say chat messages on do you mean both my and my wife's phone should have RCS enabled?

Yeah, let us know if you both have it on

 

[SJMaye]

Yeah, let us know if you both have it on

Will do

 

[SJMaye]

I can confirm that although I am running with RCS enabled, my wife's messaging app was the Samsung app without RCS. When I changed her default messaging app to Google Messages and enabled RCS the MMS messages did go through.

With all this does it mean these mystery "Download" messages are simply an oddity caused by me being out of data on my plan?