Messages received a huge update with iOS 8, adding features like audio clips, self-destructing messages, group management and more, bringing it in line with modern messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat.
Sadly, all these new features aren’t the only new thing in Messages — iOS 8 also introduced a lot of bugs, where messages won’t get sent, you’ll get an alert sound but won’t see the actual message, photos won’t download, even after reading messages, you’ll continue seeing the unread mark and so on. If you’re facing similar issues, here are some tips on how to fix this:
Force Quit Messages
If you see that you’ve got a notification for a new message, but don’t actually see it the Messages app, a solution that works most of the time is force quitting the app. To force quit the app:
- Double press the home button to open the multitasking switcher.
- Swipe up on the Messages app, and once it disappears, the app gets killed.
- Now go back to your home screen and tap on the Messages app icon to launch the app again.
You should now see the unread message(s).
Reset Network Settings
If you see that you’re not able to send Messages despite proper phone or internet connectivity, you can try resetting your network settings. Resetting these settings flushes caches and clears DHCP settings and other networking related info, which could possibly be the reason your messages aren’t being sent.
To reset network settings, open the Settings app and navigate to Settings > General > Reset and tap on Reset Network Settings.
iMessage Activation Error
To associate your phone number with the iMessage service, iOS sends an SMS to a designated number. If you’re seeing activation errors, it’s likely that this SMS can’t be sent due to problems with your cellular connectivity. If you ensure that this isn’t a problem, you could try switching iMessage off and on again from Settings > Messages to trigger the activation request once again.
Are you facing problems with SMS, MMS or iMessage on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 8? Let us know in the comments below.
How to fix other iOS 8 problems:
➤ Fix iOS 8 battery life problems
➤ Fix Bluetooth connectivity problems
➤ Fix ‘No Service’ and Touch ID problems
➤ Personal Hotspot after upgrade to iOS 8? Here’s how to fix it
