Text messaging is a basic service any mobile phone can do without much of a problem. If basic phones can send text messages without any issues, then your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 should also be able to send them regardless whether those messages are only text or with pictures in them.
Picture messages are MMS and because they’re way bigger in size than the normal text message, they need to be transmitted to a more advanced network that also cater faster transmission of data. Such network is what we call the mobile data network which also allows users to connect to the Internet. But don’t make no mistake, regardless whether your phone can connect to the Internet or not, you should be able to transmit picture messages as long as mobile data is enabled.
In this post, I will share with you the solution I’ve been using in troubleshooting smartphones that can no longer send pictures through texts. This will be a quick troubleshooting guide since we only have to do a couple of very important things and if the problem continues after that, then you always have your service provider to help you. After all, network-related issues should be handled by them.
Before we move on, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, visit our Note 9 Help Guides for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this phone. We may have already published articles that provide solution to your problem.
Going back to our problem wherein your Galaxy Note 9 can no longer send picture messages, well, here’s what you should do about it:
- Reboot your phone – I encountered similar issues in the past wherein my phone suddenly not able to send MMS. The problem occurred without apparent cause so I simply rebooted my phone and it worked after that. Such problem happened a few more times and I had to use the same solution over and over. I suggest you do this before anything else as it could be just a result of a minor glitch.
- Toggle mobile data off and back on – after the reboot, you must compose a new text message with a picture and send it to your own number so that you would know if it goes through or not. If the message isn’t sent, then turn off the mobile data of your Note 9 and turn it back on to refresh its connection to the tower. As long as your account isn’t barred from using the service, this procedure is very effective.
- Clear cache and data of Messages app – assuming that you’re using the default texting app on your Note 9, you should clear its cache and data if the first two procedures failed to fix the problem. This will reset the app and if the problem is due to an issue with the app, then this procedure is more than enough to fix it.
- Backup important files and reset your phone – after the first three procedures and your Galaxy Note 9 is still not able to send pictures through text messages, then you must try to reset your device as some settings may have been changed without you knowing about it. But before the reset, make sure you backup your important files and data as they will be deleted.
- Call tech support – after the reset, try to compose and send an MMS to your number to know if the problem is fixed. If it doesn’t go through, then it’s possible at this point that the problem is with the network or related to your account. It’s the perfect time to call your service provider (not Samsung) so that a representative can check your account as well as your area for possible network issues. Your provider can easily fix problems like this as long as the issue is either with your account or the network. You may be advised to send the phone in if the problem couldn’t be fixed over the phone.
Since I included a reset process above, I will provide you the step-by-step instructions on how to perform the Master Reset correctly.
- Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Samsung account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Samsung credentials to finish the master reset.
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
- When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
- Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’.
- Press Power button to select.
- Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
- Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
- When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
- Press the Power key to restart the device.
I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you one way or another. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post to your friends especially if they, too, have some issues with their devices. Thanks for reading!
