How to fix Samsung Galaxy S7 that won’t automatically download picture message and other texting issues [Troubleshooting Guide]

Since the release of #Samsung Galaxy #S7 device, some owners are trying to find ways to allow their device to download automatically when someone is sending them MMS or picture messages. There are others who can’t send an MMS and some are experiencing an error message “Insufficient message space’. This issue is an easy problem and can be fixed in minutes.

Samsung Galaxy S7 text messaging issue

Tweaking some settings is the best option to automatically download the MMS or avoid getting error messages. Just continue reading this post to learn new ways and perform basic troubleshooting procedures. The steps are easy to perform and we will guide you all the way to avoid getting new issue or making it worst. However, if this issue is something to do with the hardware, then ignore every procedures recommended and bring your device directly to the store you bought it and see if the warranty is still active or they can change the device.

Now, before anything else, if you have other issues with your phone, make sure you drop by our Galaxy S7 troubleshooting page for we have already provided solutions to hundreds of problems reported by our readers. Odds are that we may have already provided a solution to the problem you currently have so try to find issues that are similar with yours on that page and feel free to use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need further assistance, fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Samsung Galaxy S7 won’t download MMS automatically

Problem: Hi there, Ever since I’ve had my galaxy s7, I have to click “download” when I recieve a picture message or a text message that is part of a group conversation. When I had the galaxy s5, I never had to download picture messages or text messages from group conversations. I am wondering how I can fix this. Thank you so much! Alena

Solution: Hello! Since you mentioned that your Galaxy S5 was not having this issue, the question is, have you ever tried comparing the settings of your old device to the new one? By default, the Galaxy S7 is not configured to download picture messages automatically and the reason is to let the owner choose to accept or reject the download. This is a security measure for the sake of the owner and for the device as well because there were reports that some are getting a malware or virus due to MMS messages downloaded from unknown persons. However, the choice is with the owner. An option ‘Auto retrieve’ will resolve this issue by putting a check mark to it. If you haven’t explore the settings menu of your messaging app, we recommend that you should.

Step 1: Turn On Auto-retrieve option

This option is under the message settings just below the group messaging. It will allow your device to download anytime if there’s an incoming MMS or picture messages and save it. Here’s how to do it:

  1. From the Home screen, tap Messaging app
  2. Tap the More or three dots on the top right corner of the screen to access settings
  3. Scroll down and find ‘Auto-retrieve’ checkbox and put a check on it.
  4. Go back to Home screen and see if it will automatically download the MMS.

Like I said, the default setting is turned off for security reasons and avoid getting malicious files from unknown sender. However, it really depends on the owner if what option you are comfortable with.

Step 2: Force Reboot you Device

There are cases that after changing the settings, some are still encounters an issue and it’s still not automatically downloading. We recommend to perform a force reboot to refresh the device system, it can be fixed with a simple restart. To do this, you just have to ‘Press and hold the Power + Volume down key’ for about 10 seconds until the device turns off and back on.

Step 3: Delete Old SMS/MMS

If you are regularly using the text messages and MMS without removing the old messages, we recommend you to do so. In case the device messaging memory is near full it could cause an issue and it will not download the MMS. When removing old messages it’s not only giving enough space but to continuously receiving new one without an issue.

Step 4: Clear cache and Data of Messaging app

In case if the issue still occurs, it’s time make a more serious step, clearing the cache and data of your Messaging app. This procedure will clear all your messages, so we recommend to backup the important messages. There’s a lot of apps on the web to backup your messages or you can use the Samsung cloud in your device.

Here’s how to backup using Samsung Cloud:

  1. From the Home screen, tap App icon
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Navigate by scrolling down and tap Accounts
  4. If you don’t have an account to Samsung Cloud, tap Add account. You can then create your new account. In case you have an account, then sign in directly.

Note: Before you start the backup process, make sure that you are sync with the account.

  1. Tap Samsung Account
  2. Tap Back up
  3. Put a check mark on the option you would like make back up (e.g. Messages, logs, calendars).
  4. Once you’re done, tap Backup now

Then you can proceed and clear cache and data. Here’s how:

  1. From the Home screen, tap App icon
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Applications
  4. Tap Application Manager
  5. Go to ALL tab, then locate the Messaging app
  6. Once selected, tap Storage
  7. Tap Clear cache
  8. Tap Clear data
  9. Then go back to Home screen

This time, repeat the procedure on how to turn on ‘Auto retrieve’ and your device is able to receive and download MMS automatically. Then restore the messages that you made backups. Just go to Settings > Accounts > Samsung Account > Restore

That should do it.

Samsung Galaxy S7 won’t send MMS

Problem: Hi there! I have this phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) a few months ago and it’s perfectly fine until recently it stops receiving MMS after an update. This is a big problem because I’m using this for work and my colleagues are sending pictures, mostly graphs, for everyday statistics. The phone is fine and no issues to other apps except receiving an MMS. Please help.

Solution: Since you mentioned that the issue started after the update, then it might be a problem with the Messaging app. This issue is already happening since the first update came out and it’s widely spreading. The first thing that you can do is start clearing the cache and data of the Messaging app but, before you proceed make sure that you made backup to all important messages in your mailbox, steps are provided above.

In case the issue still occurs, then you can clear the system cache partition. This is an effective procedure to resolve an issue after an update. Here’s how:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  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 wiping the cache partition. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
  9. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Now, your device can already send or receive MMS after wiping the cache partition. You can ask your friends or colleagues to send you another MMS to make sure. In case the issue still appears, then we recommend to start making backups to your important files such as pictures, messages, contacts, etc. and perform the hard reset procedure. If you haven’t done it yet, 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. NOTE: It doesn’t matter how long you press and hold the Home and Volume Up keys, it won’t affect the phone but by the time you press and hold the Power key, that’s when the phone starts to respond.
  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. NOTE: The “Installing system update” message may show on the screen for several seconds before displaying the Android system recovery menu. This is just the first phase of the entire process.
  5. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
  6. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
  7. Now highlight the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ 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.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Messaging app loading slow show Insufficient message space

Problem: My phone (Galaxy S7) is okay, but when I open my Messaging app it is loading so slow that it takes over a minute. I have a bunch of messages though but my storage still has 5GB of storage left so that wouldn’t be a problem but I still get this “Insufficient message space” message. For all the apps it’s the messaging is having an issue, do you think I can uninstall it and reinstall it back? Or can you offer some suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Solution: First off! The default Messaging app cannot be uninstall, you can disable it but that’s it. The messaging app has it’s limit of how many messages to receive or stored but it really depends on how it was configured. Second, an option ‘Delete old messages’ might be disabled and it reach it’s limit causing it to display “Insufficient message space” error message. Lastly, it could be the Messaging app that has an internal issue. And to determine the issue, let’s narrow it down first by performing troubleshooting procedures.

  1. From the Home screen, tap Messaging app
  2. Tap More
  3. Tap Settings
  4. Tap More Settings
  5. Tap ‘Delete old messages’ option. Make sure to toggle it on to automatically delete the old SMS (1000) and MMS (100) when it reaches the limit.
  6. Then delete the oldest and not important messages in your Messaging.

Let your friends or anybody you know to try sending you an SMS or MMS if the error message “Insufficient message space” will appear. If none, then that would be the culprit. Deleting not important SMS or MMS not only making enough space but to avoid slowing down the messaging app as well.

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