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iOS Group Messaging with iMessage bug

Just updated to iOS 18.1 and it appears to have broken my group iMessaging.


In the text box for the group chat I only see ‘Text Message - SMS’.

Previously it was showing ‘iMessage’.


iMessage to individuals work fine.


When people message in the group chat it comes through as individual messages.


Have tried restarting and turning iMessage on/off but no luck.


Anyone else experience this? Is this an issue on my end or with the other group members? Any ideas on how to fix this?


Thanks.

iPhone 16 Pro

Posted on Oct 28, 2024 6:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 29, 2024 1:11 PM

I'm running into the same issue, at first my Mac was showing iMessage and my phone was showing SMS, now both are showing as SMS. However I have a smaller group (only 4 people including me) and it still shows as iMessage on both phone and Mac


**Edit for Clarity**

Have a large group with 17 people, and a smaller group with only 4 including me, Smaller group is okay, bigger group is the one with the issue.


Confirmed with someone in the groups who also updated that they see the same thing,

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 29, 2024 1:11 PM in response to christansbur

I'm running into the same issue, at first my Mac was showing iMessage and my phone was showing SMS, now both are showing as SMS. However I have a smaller group (only 4 people including me) and it still shows as iMessage on both phone and Mac


**Edit for Clarity**

Have a large group with 17 people, and a smaller group with only 4 including me, Smaller group is okay, bigger group is the one with the issue.


Confirmed with someone in the groups who also updated that they see the same thing,

Nov 23, 2024 4:57 AM in response to christansbur

I read that this issue can occur when there is an „too old“ Apple device logged into iMessage. Then the sms and iMessage fusion in one chat causes errors and you are stuck with sms. Even after I removed all older devices and logged out of iMessage on other devices, the error persists.

In my case a group of 8 does not work with iMessage, although I can send an iMessage to each one individually. Maximum annoyance. Especially because have the people receive a sms in our privat bilateral chat when I write into the group chat. However, all those with international number won’t receive anything because those messages would cost and I don’t have money loaded onto the account.

Please Apple, fix this mess.

iOS Group Messaging with iMessage bug

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