Galaxy S7 edge SMS automatically converts to MMS, can’t send SMS, other issues

Here’s another #GalaxyS7 post for this week. We cover more texting problems in this article. More similar posts will be published in the coming weeks so keep watching out for them.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:

Problem 1: Galaxy S7 edge received text messages are converted to MMS

Hello. I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge from Verizon but with a T-Mobile SIM card. Everything seems to be working fine but when I receive picture messages from anyone it automatically gets turned into a group chat containing their name and mine. If I reply to the group i get a copy of the reply and the other person can’t tell. Everything is fine on their end. Sending pictures is no problem it’ll stay in the single chat. It’s only receiving the pictures that makes turns it into a group chat. — Giselle

Solution: Hi Giselle. Most carriers (and that may include yours and the sender’s) will convert group messages into MMS so the original sender of those MMS are most probably sending you a message in group context. If you are receiving a photo in the message, the sender must be sending you an MMS intentionally. Keep in mind that a message with an emoji is also converted automatically to MMS. So even if you think there’s no photo, the message may still arrive in your device in MMS form since the sender’s carrier converted the SMS into MMS in the first place.

If you think there’s a bug in your device, we suggest that you wipe the messaging app’s cache and data to see if it helps. Here’s how it’s done:

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”. This may be renamed to something like Applications or Application Manager in OEM skinned versions of Android 6 or 7.
3. Once in there, click on an application.
4. You’ll now see a list of stuff that gives you information about the app, including Storage, Permissions, Memory Use, and more.
5. These are all clickable items. You’ll want to click on Storage.
6. You should now clearly see the Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons for the application. Try to clear the cache first and see if that will fix the problem. If nothing works, do the clear data option.

Wiping an app’s cache and data only deals with a possible app bug. If the reason for the issue is outside the app you’re using though, nothing may change.

To check further if it’s an app problem, you can also try using a third party app that functions similarly to Samsung messaging app. A good example is Facebook Messenger, as it can also handle regular SMS and MMS. If the problem remains when using this app, contact your carrier. They may or may not help you fix the problem.

Problem 2: Galaxy S7 edge SMS automatically converts to MMS

Hi! I just wanted to ask why my Samsung S7 edge doesn’t have auto combination on text settings and after 160 characters it turns into MMS. 🙁 I’ve read all of your reviews about this and I tried everything but still it turns to MMS. I make texts messages longer and I always exceed at the minimum of 160. because of that I can’t send a single message at once. Can you please help me? Thank you in advance. — Angelo

Solution: Hi Angelo. We don’t know what you mean by “auto combination” on text settings at all. Assuming you’re talking about the default Samsung messaging app on the S7, auto combination does not exist at all. If you are using a third party messaging app, kindly contact the developer to see if they can help you with it.

Now, for your second issue about your SMS automatically converting to MMS, the solution is to set MMS restrictions to Free. Here’s how to do that (only applies to Samsung messaging app):

1. Launch the Messages app.
2. Tap More settings icon at the upper right hand side (three-dot icon).
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap More settings.
5. Tap Multimedia messages.
6. Tap Set Restrictions and select Free.

Problem 3: Galaxy S7 can’t receive SMS from sender using wifi calling

Since the latest update for the S7, I can get texts from everyone else whether mine or their internet is on or off. However with one number I have found that I can only get texts from them when they have their internet on and I have mine on. I know  it’s problem with their phone but what problem is it? We have checked blocked numbers and the SIM isn’t from an iPhone. Both phones are S7. — Jess

Solution: Hi jess. They may have a problem with wifi calling. This is a service that some carrier provide to their customers in order to allow voice calling and sending and receiving or SMS and MMS via wifi. This is a useful workaround if you are in an area with poor cellular connectivity but with good wifi network. Tell your contact to contact his or her carrier to identify where the problem lies.

Problem 4: Galaxy S7 can’t send SMS

I have Samsung Galaxy S7. I have a problem. I cannot send text messages but I can receive the text messages from others. I did send the text message from my phone to my number I able to send to my self and receive text but cannot send the messages to others. I called Fido and they say there is no network issue. I am using the same SIM card I used in my previous phone Blackberry Z10. Please advise. Thank you in advance. —  Srikanth1

Solution: Hi Srikanth1. Are you having an issue sending to ONE contact or ALL? If it’s only for one specific contact, the problem must be on that contact’s end since you can also send and receive SMS after doing a test message to yourself. If the issue affects ALL your contacts though, there may be a configuration issue with your device. If you are in a GSM network, turn off the phone and reseat the SIM card. Doing that should reprogram the network settings in your phone allowing it to send and receive normally again. If that doesn’t happen, do a factory reset. If you haven’t done it before, these are the steps:

1. Create a backup of your important files such as photos, videos, contacts etc. You can use Smart Switch for this task.
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.

If you have a CDMA device, contact your carrier and ask them to reprogram your phone.

Problem 5: Galaxy S7 edge messaging app not making notifications

My Samsung S7 Edge was working correctly and a few days ago I no longer get notifications when I get a text message. I get no sound and it does not notify as a drop down at the top of the screen. I have reset the phone, turned off and on. I have checked all of the notifications have been checked and are on. I have searched the internet for options and tried them but i can’t get my phone to make the notification sounds. Thanks for your help! — Maggie

Solution: Hi Maggie. If you’re positive that you’ve already set Allow notifications under Settings>Notifications for the messaging app you’re using, then the next logical step is to ensure that the phone has a good working system cache. Here’s how it’s done:

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.

If wiping the cache partition won’t work, make sure that you follow it up with a cache and data wipe. Refer to our suggestions for Giselle above.

 

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