iPhone won’t send pictures to Android? Here’s what to do

Sending photos from one iPhone to another is as easy as it gets. You open iMessage, select a photo, hit the send button, and you. But since iMessage doesn’t work outside Apple’s ecosystem, many users will notice that their iPhones won’t send pictures to Android phones. So in this article, we’ll explain why and what you can do about it.

Table of contents:

1. Enable MMS
2. Check for carrier updates
3. The picture is too large
4. Reset Network Settings

Why won’t iPhone send pictures to Android?

Sending pictures from one iPhone to another through iMessage is pretty straightforward. You need a stable internet connection, and you can send an unlimited amount of text and media. But if you’re trying to send a picture or a text from your iPhone to Android, things will get a little different. iMessage only works inside Apple’s ecosystem, and anything you send to someone using an Android phone is treated as a regular SMS or MMS.

So, if your iPhone won’t send pictures to Android, that means that it can’t send MMS. With that in mind, we’re going to try a few solutions that could help resolve the MMS problem on your iPhone, so you can get back to exchanging pictures with your friends. Even though using a traditional way of sending pictures through text messages isn’t the most convenient option anymore. But more on that later.

1. Enable MMS

The first thing we’re going to check is if MMS messaging is even enabled on your iPhone. Because if it isn’t, you won’t be able to send pictures to Android devices. Here’s how to make sure MMS is enabled on your iPhone:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to Messages.
3. Make sure the MMS Messaging option is enabled.

2. Check for carrier updates

The next thing you should try is to check for carrier updates that would allow you to send MMS messages. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to General > About.
3. If there’s a new update available, you’ll get the message saying “New settings are available. Would you like to update them now”.
4. Go on and install the new update.

3. The picture is too large

According to Verizon, the maximum size of an image inside an MMS message can be 1.2MB. If we take into account that a single image from the Camera Roll on newer iPhones can be up to 5MB in size, it’s easy to spot the problem.

This also contributes to the fact that MMS is a thing of the past, and you should switch to more modern means of communication.

4. Reset Network Settings

If you still can’t find a way to send MMS messages on your iPhone, try resetting the network settings. But keep in mind that this will completely delete all your internet-related settings, including your saved Wi-Fi passwords. So, you’ll have to set up everything again from scratch. So, if you’re sure you want to do this, here’s how to reset the network settings on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
6. Enter your password or PIN and then confirm the selection.

Use an alternative

I hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with MMS messages on your iPhone. However, even if you can now send MMS without any obstructions, you might want to reconsider it. Exchanging media via MMS is an outdated practice today simply because it costs money and limits your possibilities.

There’s no need to devastate your precious cellular plan with MMS messages when there are numerous instant messaging apps that are free to use and only require an internet connection. Preferably you should be connected to Wi-Fi to send media through instant messaging apps, but it’s not necessary. Even if you use data to send pictures, you’ll ultimately pay less than you would for sending an MMS. That’s because messaging apps use compression algorithms that allow for media exchange while using as few resources as possible.

I don’t have to tell you which instant messaging app to use, because chances are you’re already using at least one. Be it WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, etc. On top of that, the person you’re trying to send the picture to probably uses at least one messaging app. So, instead of dealing with complex and resource-demanding MMS, just use an app, and you’re good.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in May 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.