iPhone 4S won't send SMS or MMS with photo attachments - what am I going wrong?

[PacificDogwood]

I've switched if off and on again

I've cursed at it.
I've looked at stuff in 'settings'.
WiFi and 3G working fine.
Turns out I can also not receive photos

Any ideas??
Please don't make me go to the AppleStore

[webjunkie]

I have a payg on my iPhone which allows me lots of free texts. However, included in that price is not photos. Could that be it?

[PacificDogwood]

Nope, it's a contract.
I am always miles away from using all my data allowance unless on holiday abroad

Thanks for taking an interest in my plight though

[webjunkie]

No problem. I spent ages wondering why this was happening to me. Hopefully someone else will be along soon with some more ideas

[PacificDogwood]

Any TechnoBods around this morning?

[Moondreamer]

Once I had this and the apple store guy told me to make sure I had the most recent iOS. Another time (I don't have much luck with phones) a reset where you press the top sleep button and the home button together until it restarted worked. There's also loads of other tips about checking specific settings etc if you google. Good luck, it's really frustrating isn't it

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, I've had a google and had a look at the Apply support site - just confused me more…

[Moondreamer]

When all else fails I just call my service provider and let them talk me through all the steps. It's a bit lame when the answer's probably there on the internet but sometimes even understanding the suggestions is a challenge for me

[PacificDogwood]

Oh, I could do that, thanks! It had not occurred to me to contact my service provider.
Yy to struggle understanding the proposed fixes.

[differentnameforthis]

Have you got MMS messaging turned on?

Settings
Messages
MMS button should be highlighted green

Failing that, throw it away & get a better nother phone.

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, I checked, I have.

I don't want another phone - it took me long enough to get semi-used to this one!!

[NetworkGuy]

Unsure which model iPhone my sister has, but she either sends photos as attachments in e-mail, or via WhatsApp. The transfer of the photo comes out of her data allowance.

My contract offers plenty of minutes(2000 + 5000), texts (5000), and data (unlimited), but does not include MMS (and as I have my contract capped, will block any service which costs extra such as international, MMS, premium rate).

Some contracts offer a limited number of "included" MMS but not all. Probably best check with your network. Also check whether there is anything special needed to get MMS to work (I know when I started a different contract with The People's Operator, they sent some special 'setup' texts to configure the internet and MMS settings - though I have disabled MMS permanently).

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

My contract 4s started doing this, all of a sudden, a few years ago. It would send photos to other iphones but not other makes.

I tried everything to get it sorted but resorted to getting everyone to use Whatsapp instead.

Not much help to you, I know, but wanted you to know that you are not alone!

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, it started refusing sending photos quite out of the blue too - both to other iPhones and to Android.
And it's on a contract, so no data limit.
I've never really liked my phone and this has not made me feel fonder about it
Thanks for everybody's input.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Your APN settings are probably wrong. Google or contact your service provider to find out what they are.
support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201699

[PacificDogwood]

Oh, the APN thing sounds promising, thank you!

Now tell me, is EE now 3 or something??
How do I contact my provider?
I thought there would be an easy way to find them on my actually phone… gah.

[PacificDogwood]

Ignore me, just found their number

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Hm, I just googled for you and it looks like EE locks you out of your APN settings
community.ee.co.uk/t5/The-EE-Network/EE-APN-settings-Where-to-find-them/td-p/132083

But you could try this:

"The APN data is sent from the network in the form of the carrier file update on all iPhones. The only thing you can do is make sure you have the latest carrier file by going to Settings>General>About. If a new carrier file is available, you will get a pop-up box asking to you instal it. Always completely reboot your iPhone after installing a new carrier file update."

If that doesn't work you need to contact them and complain about paying money for a service you're not getting.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Now tell me, is EE now 3 or something

I'd hazard a guess that your MMS stopped working when they switched over? They've probably changed the APN settings and not pushed the updates to your phone.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh my

So, my carrier is EE, but the contract is with Orange (that is who they changed over from, it's all coming flooding back to me now ). It's a business contract and I am a 'user', not the contract holder IYSWIM.
At least that's what the lad said I spoke to who sounded about 12.

They are sending me an SMS which I have to delete, then switch the phone off and on again and hey presto! It's all going to work. Apparently…

[PacificDogwood]

Didn't work
Crap.

He did say if might take 24 hrs…. I'll just have to wait and see, won't I?
Humph.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

You did turn your phone on and off properly (holding down button ) rather than just turn in screen on and off?...

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, I did

I'll try again tomorrow although I can only phone them again on weekdays, I think.
Ah well, it's not a life-or-death situation, I guess.

Thanks for your help, I think you nailed it.