4 Proven Ways to Fix "MMS Not Downloading" Problems in 2023 (2024)

Have you ever received an MMS file, but it wouldn’t play? Or were you able to download it but your device failed to save the media file? There are plenty of reasons why your MMS won’t download. Sometimes these files get corrupted with the slightest network interruption while downloading.

But what is MMS or Multimedia Messaging Service? It’s a feature that allows you to send multimedia files through your network. It’s a great way to send images or media through a quick text. However, things won’t always go smoothly. MMS problems can be pretty annoying, especially if you’re reliant on your phone’s signal for data.

There are various reasons why you encounter MMS download problems. Thankfully, there are also various fixes for these kinds of problems. To help you fix your MMS download problems, I put together a step-by-step process for you to follow.

If your MMS won’t download, following these steps will have your MMS working in just a few minutes, but it takes a little time, luck, and patience.

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Causes of “MMS Not Downloading” and How to fix it

If your Android phone doesn’t download multimedia messages, check out these easy fixes.

1. Check your phone’s network connection
2. Disable “Auto-retrieve” in your messenger’s settings
3. Clear older messages
4. Track down problematic apps

There are two major reasons why your MMS won’t download: one is a setting enabled by default on your default messenger, and the other is because of interfering apps on your phone.

So how will you know which problem you have? You need to test it. The only way to tell is to try fixing one thing first, and then if you don’t get the results you’re looking for, try the other.

Since fixing the enabled setting is much easier than tracking down a problematic app, we’ll go over that first. However, before you start, I recommend that you read our troubleshooting tips for Android problems.

1. Check Your Phone’s Network Connection

Sometimes, you need to check if your device has access to the Internet. Make sure you turn on your Wi-Fi or mobile data so you can download the MMS files. A big reason why your MMS won’t download is because you don’t have a reliable connection.

Note: Not all mobile carriers allow the usage of MMS over Wi-Fi.
Related: How to solve WiFi authentication error on Android

2. Disable “Auto-retrieve” in Your Messenger’s Settings

I’m using the default messaging app that came with my Samsung Android phone. First things first, open your messenger and go to the “Multimedia messages” settings section

In the default messenger, there’s an option labeled “Auto-retrieve“. In newer devices, it may be called “Download Automatically. If it’s currently enabled, disable it.

With “Auto-retrieve” disabled, MMS media won’t download automatically, and you’ll have to start the download manually instead.

When you initiate the download manually, it will have a higher chance of success since the problem is most likely due to a malfunctioning of your system processes or hardware.

Send yourself an MMS message, or get a friend to send one, and check to see if your MMS still won’t download.

3. Clear Older Messages

Go back to your default messenger’s settings and free up space by deleting old messages. A good reason why you can’t download MMS files is because you’ve reached your message limits.

Delete all the messages you don’t need and restart your phone.

4. Track Down Problematic Apps

Note: First things first, put your device in safe mode then test your MMS capabilities. If it works, an app is causing your phone to malfunction.

If the problem hasn’t been fixed by following the steps above, that means you have an app that interferes with your phone’s capability to download MMS files. The most common culprit for this problem is task killing apps or “phone optimizers.”

If you have any currently installed,remove them. These apps can interfere with your device’s system processes and is most probably the cause of why your MMS won’t download.

Also, cleaner apps and antivirus services can also have detrimental effects on your phone. While we recommend that you ditch the cleaner apps, getting rid of your virus protection is much riskier, especially if you browse the internet a lot.

So, if you have an antivirus app installed, only disable it long enough to see if it’s really the cause of your problem.

If none of these apps are the problem, then you’ll need to deduce it from your recently installed apps.

Redownload the MMS Message

There are only two reasons why you can’t access a downloaded MMS message. The media included is either corrupted, or you can’t open it with your current app. Thankfully, the easiest solution for the first problem is to redownload the MMS message. Although, if your MMS still won’t download even after trying out the steps above, there may be a problem with your device’s network capabilities.

Whether you can’t find the media files in your app of choice, or you just can’t open them, leave it to a file manager to track them down. If you’ve actually downloaded them, you’ll be able to find and then open them with a file manager.

Suggested reads:

The Ultimate Guide and Comparison of SMS vs. MMS

What is “com.android.mms” in Android phones?

How to Fix com.android.mms Stopped Working

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Communicate Your Way

If your MMS messages aren’t downloaded right away or refuse to complete, you can still fix it in under a few minutes. Sometimes the solution is as simple as restarting your Android device, and other times it’s another app causing you trouble.

Either way, there’s always a way to fix the problem. With the tips we mentioned in the article, you can fix your “MMS Not Downloading Android” problem without breaking a sweat.

If you need any more help with MMS or SMS, send us a text in the comments section down below!