If you’re frustrated because your iPhone won’t send pictures to Android (trust me, been there), don’t stress.
This guide has got you covered. It walks you through the steps to resolve the “iPhone not sending pictures to Android” issue.
A Quick Overview of iMessage and SMS/MMS Protocol
Before we get into the instructions, there are two things that you need to know:
- When you use the Messages app to send a text message from an Apple device to another Apple device, you’re using iMessage. These messages are encrypted and appear in blue text bubbles.
- Conversely, if you send a text message from an Apple device to an Android phone, you use the standard SMS/MMS protocol. These messages appear in green text bubbles and are not encrypted.
Now that you know how iMessage works, let’s get your iPhone to send pictures to your Android friends.
Fixing iPhone Not Sending Pictures to Android
Sending image attachments is a pretty standard feature of iMessage. But sometimes things can go wrong, and this could be one of the common iMessage problems.
When you experience this problem, you may receive a message that either says “Message Failed To Send,” “Cannot Send Message,” or simply “Not Delivered” when you attempt to send an attached picture file.
You may not even be able to attach an image as the attachment button is greyed out and inaccessible. Whatever the case might be, the steps in this guide will help you fix your iPhone not sending pictures to Android problems.
1. Check the Number You’re Texting
When attempting to share a photo from your iPhone to an Android device and it’s not going through, your initial step should be double-checking the recipient’s contact details.
It’s easy to overlook minor errors; even a single wrong digit in a phone number can hinder your message from reaching its destination.
Make sure you have the correct number for the person you are contacting. If you’ve got the correct number and still face the issue, they probably have blocked your phone number.
2. Enable Celular Data
If you’re having trouble sending pictures from your iPhone, ensure you have good signal strength. A strong mobile network reception is crucial for sending pictures to Android phones.
If you keep resending the message, but it doesn’t go through, you should check your signal bars at the top of your screen. If they’re low, move to a location with better reception.
3. Check if iMessage Is Enabled
This is unlikely to be a problem unless you have changed your message settings, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
Since we’re dealing with a problem specifically in sending SMS messages, you’ll want to confirm that SMS messaging is enabled. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on the Messages section.
- Verify that both iMessages and Send as SMS options are active (enabled).
Still can’t send pictures to Android? Move on to the next step. We’ve got more fixes for you to try.
4. Check if “Send as SMS” Is Enabled
With iMessage, sharing text, visuals, or videos with fellow iPhone users through iMessage is a breeze.
Nevertheless, to communicate with an Android device, there’s a slight tweak needed: activating the “Send as SMS” feature.
Here’s how to enable the Send as SMS option on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app and select Messages.
- Scroll down, and you’ll stumble upon the “Send as SMS” option.
- Toggle the switch next to “Send as SMS” to turn it on.
Once you’ve made this change, revisit your chat and attempt to resend your picture. In many cases, this “Send as SMS” trick proves invaluable for iPhones that have issues sending pictures to Android phones.
5. Check if MMS Is Enabled
If MMS Messaging is not enabled in iMessage, you may have problems sending pictures to Android.
To enable MMS Messaging, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select Messages.
- Toggle on MMS Messaging.
Since not all carriers support MMS Messaging, you may not find the option in your settings. If you can locate it, enable it and try resending the image.
Also, it’s a good idea to recommend Android users verify their carrier’s MMS support to ensure they can receive images.
6. Restart Your iPhone
Sometimes, the catch-all solution of restarting your iPhone is all that it takes to fix most issues.
To restart your iPhone, follow the steps below.
- For iPhone X or later, press and hold the Volume or the Side button until the power off slider appears on the screen.
- If you own an iPhone SE (2nd generation), 8, 7, or 6, press and hold the Side button until you see the power off slider.
- For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier, press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears.
Drag the slider all the way to the right, then wait 30 seconds for your device to shut off completely. After you’ve restarted your iPhone, try again to send a picture to an Android phone.
If this does not work, you may need to make sure that your iPhone is running the latest iOS version.
7. Update Your iPhone
It’s also possible that an outdated iOS version has problems with sending pictures to Android phones.
And a newer version might fix it if it’s something that has been corrected with a more recent update.
Since it’s important to update your phone, another potential fix is to verify that your iPhone is running the latest iOS version.
Follow the steps below to update your iPhone:
- Make sure to plug in your iPhone to power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi.
- Next, go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.
- If there’s a new update available, you’ll see it there.
- Tap Download and Install to install the new update.
The new update may prompt an automatic restart of your device. After the restart, check if the issue has been fixed.
8. Restart iMessage
Sometimes, the problem is with the Messages app itself. This can often be fixed by shutting down and restarting the app rather than the device itself.
This is a simple process to do. Here’s how:
- Head over to the Settings app.
- Tap on Message.
- Deactivate the iMessage option.
- Then re-enable it after about 30 seconds.
Try sending a picture again to an Android phone to see if the problem has been fixed. If it’s still not working, we’re moving to our next troubleshooting tip.
9. Check for Carrier Updates
Carrier updates can fix many phone problems, such as voicemail, messaging, and network issues.
On your iPhone, check for any available carrier updates. If there are Carrier Settings Update, go ahead and install them. Here is how:
- Tap Settings > General > About.
- If there is an update, a popup will appear saying, “New settings are available. Would you like to update them now?“.
- Tap the Update button to do the carrier update.
- If you don’t see a popup, you’re good to go.
If the carrier updates didn’t solve the problem, you’re going to try resetting your network settings.
10. Reset Network Settings
Still having problems sending pictures from iPhone to Android? As a last resort, you should reset the network settings on your iPhone. This will reset your Wi-Fi networks, passwords, cellular settings, and VPN.
And, of course, this will reset the MMS settings to ensure they’re working properly. The steps below will show you how.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- From the popup menu, select Reset Network Settings and follow the onscreen instructions. You may need to enter your password in order to reset your network settings.
Wrap-Up: iPhone Not Sending Pictures to Android
We hope the fixes in this guide can help you fix your iPhone not sending pictures to Android problems.
If none of these tips worked, you might need to contact your carrier or book a Genius appointment at your nearest Apple store.
Please comment below for any comments, concerns, or further tips.
THANK YOU!!!!!! I followed each step and finally had to reset my network settings on my brand new iPhone 13 pro max. It WORKED!!!!! I appreciate you so much!
Hey Christina, you’re welcome. Glad you found it helpful!
That’s what phone I have I’m going through each step now so I pray it works for me too!
I tried everything on this list with the exception of resetting the network settings, to no avail. But when I enabled Low Quality Image Mode (General > Settings > Messages), it worked.
This worked for me too.
Thank you sooo much. This saved me from having to go to the store. The reset was what did it.
Hey Crystal, you’re welcome. Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you! It was driving me crazy. It was my SMS setting.
Hey Lhill, you’re welcome. Glad I could help!
I went through every step. One by one. Nothing worked. UNTIL I tried the last one! Reset my network settings!! It worked!! I’m so happy. And so thankful to you!!
Hi Trish, you’re welcome. Glad you found this article helpful.
What do you do when the Genius Bar in San Jose, CA gives up and says the only solution is for your son to get an iPhone? 🙁
If you were here, I’d hug you half to death. I have an older iphone 6S Plus, and had been sent a new updated sim card. Kill me now. It erased many text msgs and stopped me from sending or receiving any photos from androids. Like everyone else, I went thru so many steps with no luck, but then the Reset option showed and honestly, I was afraid to do it. Hours went by and I decided to take the plunge and hold my breath. WOW BINGO OHWOW I am back in business! All thanks to you, Herby 🤗🏆⭐🤗. Now onward to my blasted voicemail that the new card changed, too. You have been invaluable!
Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback, JennyD! I’m really glad to hear that my article helped you resolve the issues you were facing with your iPhone 6S Plus and the new SIM card. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking to perform a reset, but I’m thrilled that it worked out well for you and you’re back in business! If you have any further questions or need assistance with your voicemail or any other iPhone-related matters, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help.