How to fix a Galaxy S7 that can’t send SMS or email with photo attachment

This troubleshooting article addresses an issue about a #GalaxyS7 being unable to send a text message or email with photo attachment. We don’t think it’s a purely MMS issue since email is also affected so there’s probably a deeper reason to it. If you happen to have the same or similar experience, then this post might very well help you.

Galaxy S7 can’t send SMS or email with photo attachment

Hi. My S7 Active had been running fine.  I have made no changes to the settings.  Unexpectedly a few weeks ago, I can no longer send photos via text or email.  If I try to share the photos, I receive a message that says “unable to load file”.  Even if I hit the edit button in the camera to attempt to edit a photo, I receive a message that says “file is not supported.”  I am using and have only used the default camera, text, and email apps.  I have taken it to my carrier who had no idea.  I have tried rebooting (volume down with power button) and I have tried to make sure all the permissions are granted.  I was hoping to avoid a factory reset.  I can not do a soft reset since my battery is not designed to be removed. Any ideas? — Mike S.

How to fix a Galaxy S7 that can’t send SMS or email with photo attachment

Hello Mike. If you are absolutely sure that there were no changes made to the system as far as you can remember, then there may be an operating system bug or an app issue that prevents messages from being sent. To fix the problem, try our suggested solutions below.

Clear your device’s system cache

Your S7 uses a set of temporary files called system cache to load apps quickly. These files actually include other stuff that your device collects over time like app installers and sorts. Sometimes, something may be downloaded incorrectly causing configuration problems, which in turn can translate into performance problems or erratic app behaviors. To ensure that your S7 uses good system cache, it’s recommended that you clear it from time to time. This will eliminate chances of the system causing problems. To clear your device’s system cache, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7.
2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
4. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
5. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight wipe cache partition.
6. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
7. Now highlight the option ‘Yes’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
8. Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
9. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Delete data of messaging and email apps

The most direct way of dealing with possible app bugs is by returning all their settings back to defaults. Because you apparently have problems with messaging (Samsung’s Messages) and email apps, you should consider deleting their data. This procedure will revert an app’s settings to its default settings by deleting all customizations and local data so make sure to back important messages up (both SMS and email). If you set your email account to download messages via POP3, make sure to create a copy of your important emails. If you are using IMAP, don’t bother backing them up since your emails will be kept in your email provider’s servers.

Once you’ve back important messages up, follow the steps below to reset each app to their default settings:

1. Open the Settings menu either through your notification shade (drop-down) or through the Settings app in your app drawer.
2. Navigate down to Apps. Once in there, look for the application and tap it.
3. You’ll now see a list of stuff that gives you information about the app, including Storage, Permissions, Memory Use, and more. These are all clickable items. You’ll want to click on Storage.
4. Tap Clear Data button for the application.

Repeat steps 1-4 for the email app.

Observe in safe mode

We mentioned that one of the possible reasons for this problem may be an app, and not necessarily the messaging and email apps. It’s possible that an entirely different one you may have installed recently or updated recently may be interfering with the operating system or with other apps. To check that, you need to boot your phone to safe mode. Safe mode blocks third party apps from running. If you’ll be able to send SMS or email with photo attachments fine, then our hunch is right.

To restart in safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Turn your Galaxy S7 off.
2. Press and hold the Power button.
3. Once the ‘Samsung Galaxy S7’ logo appears, release the Power key and immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. Continue holding the button until the phone finishes rebooting.
5. Once you see the text “Safe mode” at the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume Down button.

Install app and Android updates

Installing updates not only bring improvements but sometimes, patches for known bugs as well. Make sure you don’t miss on any updates for your device be it for apps or the operating system.

Use other email or messaging apps

Should nothing change after doing the other solutions above, install replacement apps for the ones you’re having issues with. There are many free and proven messaging apps in Play Store so you can use anything. Remember, the goal is to see what works or not. If SMS or email still fails to send even with these new apps, it’s time that you seriously consider doing a factory reset.

Factory reset

This should be the most drastic solution that you can try. We suppose you already have an idea what it does and how to do it but for the benefit of others, here’s how it’s done:

1. Create a backup of your important files and data.
2. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7.
3. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
4. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
5. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
6. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
7. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
8. Now highlight the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
9. Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
10. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

 

---