# SMS works fine, MMS not so much on T-Mobile **URL:** \ **Category:** BraX3\ **Created:** [August 9, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446 "2025-08-09T15:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/1 "2025-08-09T15:04:13Z")
My phone is not able to receive MMS messages as the initial text. After an SMS message is rec’d, MMS works fine. Carrier is T-Mobile. Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas on how to address this? Roger ---
**Author:** ![xancudo](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/65b543/32.png) [@xancudo](https://community.braxtech.net/u/xancudo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/2 "2025-08-09T18:08:18Z")
I would check my APN settings first, for T-Mobile. Then go into the Settings in Messaging (3 dots top-right) and scroll down to Long Messages and Group Messages. These seem to be off by default. I turn them on. Also, I have never been able to send an MMS with a picture over 300KB so you may have to reduce the “Resize sent MMS images” to 300K ---
**Author:** ![fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/u/fragman204)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/3 "2025-08-09T18:28:22Z")
I just check with my phone. I have to send or receive a video. So far everything works. I’m using the stock app and my network is T-mobile. I hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/u/fragman204)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/4 "2025-08-10T13:08:39Z")
I got video message. So, I recorded a video with my Brax3. It was about 12sec long. I cut not send it because of the size. I try to use the native app for this, when back to video a press edit. The message I got was that the app was not able do that. I’m looking for app to edit the video to see if I can send it. ---
**Author:** ![fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/u/fragman204)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/5 "2025-08-10T14:15:26Z")
Well I can not send a video. I even change the restrictions on file size. Nothing I’m be working on it if I come up with something, I will keep you posted. ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/6 "2025-08-11T16:24:55Z")
This very likely is a MMS size restriction from your carrier. Video is nearly impossible to send because the size limits are way smaller than even a few second video (unless is is significantly compressed … becoming only a fuzzy blob). I _ **strongly suggest** _ you arrange to use a secure messaging service such as Signal with the people you would like to send a video, then you are secure and have the features such as “reactions”, see if they saw the message, etc. Google’s RCS messaging has caught up to Apple’s “iMessage” with these features, but implementing RCS without a Google Play Services enabled phone is not yet working well. Best to get to secure messaging regardless if able, but if you can’t get your contacts to consider that, then you can upload your video clips to various file or video sharing sites and then just send the link to it over SMS / MMS. ---
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/7 "2025-08-11T19:47:07Z")
The crazy thing is that I’m not nor is anyone trying to send a video. Just plain of text messages. The problem happens most often when there is a group text. I just don’t receive them. Even when creating the text group, and sending a message to the group I get no replies. I stopped by the T-Mobile store, they say this is not a problem with their network or my account. Frustrating Update: I’ve wiped the phone. We’ll see if a fresh start fixed the issue. ---
**Author:** ![cjs](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@cjs](https://community.braxtech.net/u/cjs)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/8 "2025-08-12T13:10:20Z")
You may need to setup a different APN. I found one for BestMVNO and it fixed my MMS issue. I don’t know what it may have broken though, if anything. ---
**Author:** ![Inigma](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/3ab097/32.png) [@Inigma](https://community.braxtech.net/u/Inigma)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/9 "2025-08-12T17:02:40Z")
> [@rik](#): > > Google’s RCS messaging has caught up to Apple’s “iMessage” with these features, but implementing RCS without a Google Play Services enabled phone is not yet working well. Hey, do you have a link or any other information about this that you can share? I’d like to play with trying to get RCS working. I haven’t found much searching on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/10 "2025-08-12T17:25:55Z")
After wiping the phone… Drum roll… Still missing texts. No pictures, no attachments, just plain text. I’m just about ready to ditch the phone. : - ( ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/11 "2025-08-12T17:48:25Z")
> [@bcbh](#): > > After wiping the phone… Drum roll… > > Still missing texts. > > I’m just about ready to ditch the phone. Yes, I don’t think there is anything in re-flashing the system that would change the issue you are having, it is a configuration problem (somewhere). Can you confirm: 1. `System Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Mobile data` is active? 2. `System Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > T-Mobile > Access Point Names` shows `fast.t-mobile.com` and it is enabled? 3. Long-press `Messages > App info > Permissions` has `SMS` allowed? 4. Messages app \> `Settings > Send group messages as MMS` is enabled (off by default)? - @xancudo did check on that above, but I wasn’t sure if you had confirmed that or not) _IF_ all the other users are on iPhones, it could be they are happily sending back and forth iMessages that would have to “downgrade” to MMS for Android users (without Google’s RCS messaging implementation), and I am not sure but possibly that causing _yet another_ problem. Nothing to do here, just noting that us USA users needing to interface with iMessage / MMS / RCS are really in a messy place, whereas the rest of the world has moved to WhatsApp or Telegram (both not great, better than iMessage / RCS in my opion though) or Signal (best) for group messaging and sharing photos, videos, video calling, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/12 "2025-08-12T18:27:43Z")
Rik Thanks for the check list. I’ve been through all of the items and everything looks good. The text threads that I’m missing are a mixture of iOS and Androids. I can text iOS or Android phones separately just fine. The funny thing is that some group texts I get, some I don’t. I can’t find a common denominator as to why some work and some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/13 "2025-08-12T19:23:27Z")
Not an answer, but just noting there is another similar thread: > [@SMS warning about too many messages](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-warning-about-too-many-messages/1595/7): > > I had found that in conversations I initiated if I had sent accidentally as “group individual SMS” then later another as a proper “single MMS” that then when iPhone users replied they kept replying to wrong things (either to me individually or something like that). I tried to wipe out all my SMS databases on the phone, have them re-send a message and it was still messed up. The best I can gather is that it is something also on their side’s cache where iMessage is smashing together the individua… I have had some muck-ups when I had sent group “several individual SMSs” and later group “single MMS” to the same people. When they replied then I get it to different threads, they don’t know when they send to one or the other, etc. It really was a mess, not certain we ever got it completely sorted, we all moved to Signal in that one case. Others that I only reply to group MMS are fine on both sides so it seems. Not sure if there is a bug or just a limitation of iPhone iMessage ↔ Fossify Messages or other. ---
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/14 "2025-08-12T19:45:13Z")
In an effort to help troubleshoot, I did switch to a different messaging app, had the same results. ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/15 "2025-08-12T23:30:38Z")
Are you by chance coming _from_ an iPhone? If so maybe iMessage is still gobbling up some of your messages? See this other thread… > [@Fdroid Fossify Messages getting constant java error](https://community.braxtech.net/t/fdroid-fossify-messages-getting-constant-java-error/1615/10): > > Yes. Maybe this will be the solution. Reboot the Brax3 after doing this. It might take a few minutes to start working properly. ---
**Author:** ![bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/bcbh/32/279_2.png) [@bcbh](https://community.braxtech.net/u/bcbh)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/16 "2025-08-13T00:04:15Z")
Nope. Coming from a Samsung S22 Ultra which I’ve been using for the past 3 years. I did attempt to deregister my phone with iMessages. It said it wasn’t registered. At this point, a refund or replacement are what I’d like to go for. UPDATE: I deregistered my phone number from Google RCS. That removed me all text threads on my wifes phones (other peoples phones I assume). Also, after wiping the phone I’m no longer able to complete the install of one app in particular (Duty Watch - an app showing location and status of forest fires). It hangs during setup. So… I’m done. I really appreciate all the comments/help! ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/17 "2025-08-13T14:49:21Z")
> [@bcbh](#): > > So… I’m done. Fair enough, I do understand. The “decoupled from big tech” smartphone world (especially for USA customers and our need for MMS, Voice over LTE which essentially killed off Ubuntu Touch and other Linux variants for USA users, other closed app ecosystems, etc.) is certainly not as polished as the Apple / Google ecosystems. A few developers on shoestring budgets vs. ?thousands? of developers and billions and billions in big money just won’t give the same result, especially when we are required to interact with their closed ecosystems. So accepting limitations will be needed, but again it is understood that there are certain “I can’t compromise on this limitiation” issues that each user has to make for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fragman204](https://community.braxtech.net/u/fragman204)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/18 "2025-08-13T20:24:51Z")
I don’t if this will help, when I first tested this it work. After rebooting the Brax3, well it stop working. So I try to send the MMS thru wifi, nothing. A, when I was in the configuration menu, for the first time I saw the toggle for sending MMS with the carrier. Toggle on, and I cut send and received SMS. So I try removed messaging app, I did when I reinstalled the app it had an update. Did it and everything since to work so far. I have rebooted the Brax3 several times and it looks like the configuration sticks. ---
**Author:** ![rik](https://community.braxtech.net/user_avatar/community.braxtech.net/rik/32/240_2.png) [@rik](https://community.braxtech.net/u/rik)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/19 "2025-08-14T16:14:44Z")
Thanks for the comment, in my understanding MMS _always_ goes through cellular data. I could be wrong, however. ---
**Author:** ![xancudo](https://community.braxtech.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/65b543/32.png) [@xancudo](https://community.braxtech.net/u/xancudo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446/20 "2025-08-15T00:48:05Z")
I actually dug into this tonight. It is true that MMS does need the carrier data, and while there are some workarounds, there is not a clear cut fix… Other than a data messenger type app. [Next page](https://community.braxtech.net/t/sms-works-fine-mms-not-so-much-on-t-mobile/1446.md?page=2)