For example, it could be due to a connectivity issue with your Android’s network setup, a corrupt application cache, or a conflicting messaging setting.
Work through the solutions below to get Google Messages to download MMS messages on your Android device as usual again.
Note: The fixes below demonstrate troubleshooting Google Messages on a Google Pixel 6 running stock Android 13. Interacting with your Android device could be slightly different depending on the cell phone manufacturer and system software version.
1. Activate Mobile Data
MMS messages require mobile data to download. Although some mobile service providers do support MMS over Wi-Fi internet connections, most don’t. To check that you have mobile data active: Multimedia messages over MMS services typically don’t count against your mobile data quota, but it’s best to talk to your carrier if you’re unsure.
2. Disable Your Phone’s Wi-Fi
MMS messages download automatically over mobile data even if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, but that may not always happen. Disable Wi-Fi and check if that helps.
3. Enable Mobile Data in the Background
Next, make sure that Google Messages has unrestricted access to mobile data. To do that:
4. Quit Google Messages and Restart Android
Sometimes, you must force-quit and relaunch an app to get it working correctly. To do that with Google Messages, you must: If the problem persists, reboot your Android phone before moving on to the next fix.
5. Clear Data in Google Messages Cache
An obsolete Google Messages app cache could be what’s preventing your MMS messages from downloading. To clear it:
6. Delete Conversation Thread and Retry
If the problem occurs over a specific text messaging thread only, delete it and ask the other person to resend the MMS messages. To do that:
7. Auto-Retrieve MMS Messages
If Google Messages won’t download MMS messages automatically, you must check if the relevant setting is active. To do that:
8. Update Google Messages
Google Messages receives regular updates that optimize how it works on your Android device. Update the app to its latest version and check if that resolves the MMS downloading issue.
9. Reinstall Google Messages Updates
If there are no new Google Messages updates, uninstall all previous updates and reinstall them. To do that:
10. Reset Your APN Settings
A corrupt or misconfigured set of APN (Access Point Network) settings on your Android phone could prevent Google Messages from using mobile data to download MMS messages. Restore them to their default settings to fix the problem.
11. Update Your Android Device
Running the latest compatible version of Android on your phone minimizes connectivity and other app-related problems. If you haven’t installed any system software updates in a while:
12. Factory Reset Network Settings
Reset the Wi-Fi, mobile, and bluetooth settings on your Android next. That should resolve MMS downloading issues stemming from a corrupt network configuration. After your Android finishes performing the network reset, it should automatically update its carrier and mobile data settings. You will lose all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, though.
13. Switch to Another Messaging App
If your Android comes with an alternative messaging app like Samsung Messages, try using it briefly. You may also want to use a third-party app like Textra SMS if you’re on a stock version of Android. That could prompt the stuck MMS messages to download, which means that they should automatically become available in Google Messages. If you want to ditch Google Messages for the time being, here’s how to switch your default messaging app:
Google Messages MMS Not Downloading Issue Fixed
Google Messages will hopefully download MMS-related stuff on your Android device again. The problem could crop up randomly going forward, so make sure to re-run through some of the easier fixes to patch things up. Contact your mobile service provider for help if it becomes a persistent issue.
