Leaving iOS for Android, and the iMessage -> SMS/MMS black hole

[dsds2828]

I recently switched from an iPhone to Android. 1:1 messages are working fine, but group messages are being sent into a black hole. I'm hoping that someone here may know of a fix.

I deactivated iMessage using both the device settings and Apple's support site. I also (annoyingly) had to SMS everyone I know who has an iPhone, asking them to delete our existing conversation thread so that their phone would correctly start using SMS for our conversations.

Where I'm stuck is group messaging. It appears that anyone with an existing group conversation that I was part of is still "stuck" in iMessage -- i.e., it should have reverted to MMS for a group chat, since I'm no longer on iOS. But, the messages are still being sent as iMessage, and the senders have no idea that I'm not receiving them.

(I know that I'm not receiving them because my partner's iPhone receives these group iMessages, and I'm still listed as a recipient)

I've heard that the iMessage servers "time out" after 30-45 days and will fall back to SMS/MMS for a recipient if their iOS device hasn't revalidated iMessage in the background....Don't know if this is true. That would still be frustrating, but at least I'd know that I'll eventually start receiving messages again.


Do any other iOS --> Android switchers have any idea what I can do?

 

[theapplefanboyj]

Well you guys should make a new group chat, its what I can think of to be honest.

 

[dojoman]

delete

 

[dsds2828]

Well you guys should make a new group chat, its what I can think of to be honest.

I get that, but there are so many permutations of group chats that it's practically impossible to do -- I would have to message everyone that I have group chats with, and ask them to delete every thread that I'm included on.
If so, that is absolutely ridiculous....ugh.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I get that, but there are so many permutations of group chats that it's practically impossible to do -- I would have to message everyone that I have group chats with, and ask them to delete every thread that I'm included on.
If so, that is absolutely ridiculous....ugh.

Group chat in Android requires MMS support. Make sure the app you are using for Text messages has the option to use MMS for group chat turned on.

 

[dsds2828]

Group chat in Android requires MMS support. Make sure the app you are using for Text messages has the option to use MMS for group chat turned on.

Thanks for this suggestion, but the group chat problem is on the iOS side, not the Android side.

 

[TimelessOne]

Thanks for this suggestion, but the group chat problem is on the iOS side, not the Android side.

Pretty much contact Apple support and just hammer them until they fix it. This is a 100% apple issue. I believe they are currently lock in a law suit over this issue as well.

 

[nepalisherpa]

Thanks for this suggestion, but the group chat problem is on the iOS side, not the Android side.

Pretty much contact Apple support and just hammer them until they fix it. This is a 100% apple issue. I believe they are currently lock in a law suit over this issue as well.

It's a combination of both. I had to have Apple deregister my number from iMessage (after I had turned off iMessage and used their automated website) but I also had to set MMS for group messages.