How do I fix missing photos in iMessage conversations after upgrading to iOS 18.7.1?

Question

How do I fix missing photos in iMessage conversations after upgrading to iOS 18.7.1?

Please help. I'm not as technologically advanced as I used to be. I updated my 14 Pro Max from iOS 17.7 to iOS 18.7.1 on Nov. 4th. Ever since then all the photos/images in iMessage that were in the conversation threads prior to Nov 4th are not being displayed. All there is is a HEIC/JPEG or PNG image file. It doesn't matter who the message comes from. It doesn't matter if they're HEIC/JPEG or PNG. If I click on the download icon next to it nothing happens. If I click on the file image they'll appear but as soon as I scroll to another message they revert back to the black image square with the white square it. The texts where I have sent a picture to someone prior to November. 4th is just a black space. However if I click the space the picture displays and I can see it until I move to the text part of the message then it goes black again. If I go to a contact, choose photos and select all it appears as if some of them are there in the photos tab. I've searched forums and Apple Support articles and it appears as if there's a known issue that's ongoing in iOS 17, 18 and 26. So far I've done what was suggested to try:

settings>apps>messages>search>show apps in search and also show content in search and toggled them them both off, waited a minute or so then toggled them both on. It appeared as if the messages were indexing but now that process has finished and I still have no images in the body of the message conversations. I've got messages saved forever. I purchased a new 17 Pro the other day but I'm afraid to try to transition to it because of the issue with the iMessage photos. I'm also assuming that I'm going to have to update my 14 Pro Max from iOS 18.7.1 to iOS 26.1 before I try to transfer to the new phone, which I'm dreading. I haven't tried to switch iMessages off in iCloud, power off the phone then power it back on and turn iMessage back on in iCloud because I have over 25K of messages. At this point I'm afraid to do anything because I don't want lose them. If y'all have had the problem and resolved it what did you do?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Photos in iMessage texts only have a file icon on all those that were posted before upgrade to iOS 18.7.1 A redundant question but I need a resolution.

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 10:15 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 16, 2025 6:08 AM in response to unicorn lover

By "iMessage" I'm guessing that you mean Apple's Messages app, is that right?

I don't have this problem, so I'm not sure at all. Have you tried a forced restart?

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

This is different from a simple Power Off. I had to continue holding the button down past the "slide to power off" message, and then I released the button only after the Apple Logo appeared indicating a re-start.

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Answer 2

Nov 16, 2025 3:22 PM in response to unicorn lover

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm sorry I should have been more clear. Yes, I was referring to the iMessage app. It's driving me crazy and I don't want to transfer everything to my new 17 Pro until it's resolved. I only powered off the phone using the slide to turn off. I'll do the hard reset and respond back with my findings.

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Answer 3

Nov 16, 2025 3:27 PM in response to unicorn lover

I can't do the hard reset because if I hold the buttons down to do so it will call emergency services and I don't know how to disable it. If I hit the X to cancel the call the results are the same on the repeated attempt to do a hard reset.

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Answer 4

Nov 17, 2025 6:55 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

SOS doesn't come up when you Force re-start. Here are the steps for Force re-start:

1: Press and quickly release the volume up button.

2: Press and quickly release the volume down button.

3: Press and hold the side button.

4: When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Here is how you invoke SOS

Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear and the countdown on Emergency SOS ends, then release the buttons.

There is no point in the Force re-start routine in which you must two buttons simultaneously.

Be sure you're doing the forced re-start correctly. Again, this is different from a simple Power Off. I had to continue holding the button down past the "slide to power off" message, and then I released the button only after the Apple Logo appeared indicating a re-start.

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Answer 5

Nov 17, 2025 8:44 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I was able to do the hard reset by quickly pressing volume up, volume down then pressing on the side button until the screen went completely black and then returned to the Apple icon. No change. Photos are still not being shown in the body of the messages. Some, not all, are in the photos tab for the individual contacts. Last night I repeated doing

settings>apps>messages>search>show apps in search and also show content in search and toggled them them both off, waited a minute or so then toggled them both on. Right now messages have not finished indexing since yesterday evening so I will continue to monitor and advise.

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Answer 6

Nov 16, 2025 3:41 PM in response to unicorn lover

I found how to disable the emergency SOS. I will reply after the hard reset.

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Answer 7

Nov 16, 2025 4:00 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

No change after hard reset. Tried to download the image and that does nothing.

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