Can’t send group messages on Android? Here’s what to do

Instant messaging apps might’ve taken over but many people still rely on old technologies, especially when there’s no Wi-Fi or mobile data to use for WhatsApp, Telegram, or something else. And, some frequently use MMS to send and receive group messages on Android. Well, that’s exactly a topic we want to cover. Namely, some users report that, for one reason or another, they can’t send group messages on Android. If you are stuck with the same problem in group conversations, check the steps we listed below.

Table of contents:

1. Enable MMS Group Messaging
2. Check APN Settings
3. Reset Network Settings
4. Check with your carrier

Group messages not working on Android

If Group messages are not working on your Android, restart your device first. If that fails, check MMS and APN settings, reset Network settings and contact your carrier. We made sure to explain everything and encourage you to check it out.

1. Enable MMS Group Messaging

The first thing to do is to ensure that MMS Messaging is enabled in Messages Settings. Of course, if you are using Chat Features (RCS – Rich Communication Service) for advanced messaging over Wi-Fi or mobile data, this doesn’t apply. This applies only to users who want to send group messages via MMS, this and all other steps are for you.

You are met with two options when it comes to GSM group messaging. The first one is to send an SMS reply to all recipients and the other is to send an MMS reply to, you guessed, all recipients. Now, since the SMS option isn’t really the group messaging you are looking for, you’ll probably want to enable the MMS option.

Here’s how to enable MMS group messaging on your Android:

1. Open Messages.
2. Tap on the 3-dot menu and open Settings.
3. Open Advanced.
4. Tap Group messaging.
5. Select Send an MMS reply to all recipients (group MMS).

For Samsung devices, navigate to Messages > 3-dot

2. Check APN Settings

You can also check the APN Settings and reset the APN to its default values. Access Point Name is a configuration provided by your carrier that allows for cellular services. You can also contact your carrier via an app or dialer codes and request new MMS and data configurations.

Here’s how to reset APN settings on your Android device:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & Internet.
3. Tap Mobile network.
4. Tap Advanced.
5. Open Access Point Names.
6. Tap on the 3-dot icon and select Reset to default.

3. Reset Network Settings

If none of the previous steps worked, you can move to reset Network Settings to its factory values. Keep in mind that this will clear all Bluetooth pairings, clear all saved Wi-Fi networks, and also restore SIM settings. We already wrote a detailed article about it, but here are the basic steps to reset your Android’s Network Settings to factory values.

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose the Network & Internet.
3. Tap on the 3-dot menu and choose Network Settings Reset.
4. Choose to reset your Network settings.
5. Tap Reset.
6. You can also navigate to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.

4. Check with your carrier

In the end, if the issue persists, our last recommendation is to contact your service provider and inquire about the issue. Chances are they’ll know what next to do. Just make sure to inform them about steps you already tried, in order to save yourself some time.

That should do it. Thank you for reading and feel free to leave your feedback, questions, or suggestions in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in July 2021. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.