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iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Users Complain of Missing SMS Text Messages and Message Notifications

I've been having text message issues since upgrading to the iPhone 12 Pro too, on both iOS 14.1 and 14.2. I'm on Google Fi on an eSIM.

Not sure if I'm receiving all my one-on-one messages, but it's obvious in group chats with all Android users (besides me) or with a combination of Android and iPhone users, that I'm only getting some because I can't follow the conversations at all. And I confirmed there were missing messages with some of the group participants. iMessage seems fine.

Google Fi reps took me through all the troubleshooting steps I already did like 5 times, and nada. I've even done things they didn't recommend and still nothing. Still get like half of the group chat SMS and MMS texts. Told the Fi reps I talked to all to investigate further but I'm not sure they would send that up the chain or to the devs. Submitted bug report with Apple too.

I had experienced issues with not getting MMS on other iPhones using Fi, but that was all fixed once they finally updated their help pages to put 23456789 for the MMS size allotment in settings, something people were doing before Fi even recommended it because Fi was too slow to admit their settings recommendations needed fixed.
 
Setting up as “new“ seems to be Apple’s go to solution for most things. Trouble is there is little valid data that shows setting up as new is worth the effort in the majority of situations. I just don’t believe that it is ever the answer.

Fix your stuff Apple.
 
Add me to the list with the same problem - trying to deal with care for elderly parents with my siblings... I'm on an AT&T iPhone 12 Pro running iOS 14.2; two on an AT&T iPhone X, one on a Verizon Android device in the same SMS thread and I'm missing things that others see. I've reset network settings. I've sent a note to Apple.
 
MacRumors said:


Since the release of the new iPhone 12 models, many new iPhone owners have been running into problems with the Messages app. There are complaints from users who aren't seeing SMS messages from friends, are missing text messages in group chats, and who aren't getting notifications when text messages are incoming.

iphone-12-vs-iphone-12-mini.jpg

It's not clear if this is a problem that's related specifically to the iPhone 12 models or if it's a wider issue with iOS 14.1 and iOS 14.2, but the majority of complaints appear to be from iPhone 12 owners.

Those who are experiencing missed SMS messages are simply not seeing some text messages that are sent from Android devices, as MacRumors reader FraXis describes:Most of the people who are missing SMS messages are not seeing them in group chats, but there are reports of some standalone messages not getting delivered. From MacRumors reader TheElmnt:There are also separate complaints of Messages being received, but no notification showing up. This is a problem that even pre-dates the iPhone 12 and iOS 14, as we've had earlier issues with it too. From MacRumors reader bmac4:
Some Verizon users have been able to solve their SMS messages by downloading the Verizon Message+ app, but it's not a complete fix for everyone and it doesn't work for all non-Verizon users. One reader also had success resetting network settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings), but that has not worked for others. Toggling off 5G also does not seem to be a solution.

This is likely a problem that carriers need to address with updated firmware or that Apple needs to fix in an upcoming software update. It appears to be a problem in both iOS 14.1 and iOS 14.2, and it's too soon yet to tell if iOS 14.3 is affected.

Are you having issues receiving some messages on iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Users Complain of Missing SMS Text Messages and Message Notifications
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LarrySW said:
tried that, didn't fix anything for me.
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Agreed, I also tried that.
 
Same problem with 12 mini on Optus in Australia. Very frustrating that I can't receive text messages from my partner or elderly Dad. Have logged the bug with Apple and gone back to my Pixel until this is sorted out.
 
^^BIGMac said:
Setting up as “new“ seems to be Apple’s go to solution for most things. Trouble is there is little valid data that shows setting up as new is worth the effort in the majority of situations. I just don’t believe that it is ever the answer.

Fix your stuff Apple.
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I set up as new and it didn't fix this.
 
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This doesn’t feel like a bug. This feels like it should be called a rodent. It’s worse than a bug. Not displaying text message notifications or badges for customers seems like it’s at the level of the product not working.
 
darkslide29 said:
I just upgraded to the iPhone 12 Pro. I used to have the iPhone 11 XS Max. I have Verizon and use wifi calling at home. For the past year of living in my current place, everything was fine. Phone calls and SMS messages came in with no issue.

I no longer get phone calls or text messages easily. If someone calls, they get sent straight to voicemail, and eventually I see the voicemail. SMS messages don't come in, or are very delayed. I had a work group message that went on for over ten minutes, but all of the messages came in at once with the same time stamp.

When a website has 2 factor authentication via text message, I don't get it messaged. My work around when I know a 2 factor authentication was sent is is to toggle cellular data (or airplane mode). As soon as it re-connects to the network, the message comes through.

Given that my phone calls are also affected, I wonder if this is a different issue for me. But my SMS messages for sure. It has made working from home where I need to use my personal number, a lot more difficult. Thinking about getting a dumb phone that'll just work for the phone and SMS part.
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I had the "calls straight to voicemail" happen when I upgraded to 14.1 on my 12Pro on Verizon. For me, removing the Verizon Call Filter app and a similar app called True Caller seems to have fixed it.
 
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Sappharad said:
When I first got the iPhone 12 Pro on launch day, I wasn't getting SMS messages or visual voicemail notifications and couldn't enable Wifi calling. I talked to support for my carrier (Cricket, an AT&T subsidiary) and they "reset" my SIM, which allowed a flood of missed SMS messages to come in. But they stopped coming in again 5 minutes later. I put in 2 support tickets with them. The Wifi calling one, they closed because "they could not get ahold of me" which came in the form of a voice mail that I never saw because Visual Voicemail wasn't working. For SMS they tried to have me troubleshoot for about 20 minutes and nothing they suggested worked, all random codes they gave me to try in the phone app returned errors.

Regarding the SMS situation, I had to drive about 5 hours to wedding the next day. Once I was an hour from home, I suddenly got a flood of all of the messages I missed. Everything continued to work fine while I was away, and when I got back home the next day it continued to work and has worked since. I have no idea if it was carrier issue that they fixed on their end, or if traveling far enough hopped me between enough cell towers that the phone or network figured out its own problem.

Wifi calling ended up getting fixed by the carrier 2 days after launch and I've had it enabled since then.


In summary I had the SMS problem mentioned in the OP at launch, it went away somehow when I was maybe 50 miles from home. Since getting the two problems above solved, I haven't had any problems and the phone has been great. Battery life is better than the 3 year old Qualcomm iPhone X I replaced, and even cell reception is better. On the X I always saw 1 bar sitting at my desk at home, it's almost always 2 bars on the iPhone 12 when I randomly check it now and I can get full signal standing by my window.
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How did you get your visual VM working. My wife and I are still having delayed notifications for vm. I ‘ve called ATT twice and they even reset my VM..Still having issues
 
robjulo said:
Why? Trying to coordinate all of my contacts and friends to get them to use one platform would be impossible and the benefits of doing so minimal. And you are making a huge assumption that others would even want to.
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Nobody I know uses SMS, assuming because of too many friends / family members living abroad, from different countries etc. Plus all the group chats where you can share photos, videos etc. SMS is such a 20 century solution. Guess it's still holding out in some countries.
 
7149041 said:
Nobody I know uses SMS, assuming because of too many friends / family members living abroad, from different countries etc. Plus all the group chats where you can share photos, videos etc. SMS is such a 20 century solution. Guess it's still holding out in some countries.
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I could care less what other countries are doing since I communicate with those in mine. Again, getting everyone to agree on one platform is impossible and that is why SMS is still a defacto. It's far, far, far easier to simply use that as a defacto than try and convince people in different circles of friends, to decide on one app.
 
Happens all the time with my XR. No rhyme or reason on who doesn't get a notification.
 
This has been happening on my iPhone X (AT&T) since I updated to iOS 14.2. I’ve been in contact with Apple and they have no idea what’s going on. Super annoying and thought I was going crazy at first. Glad to know others are experiencing it as well.
 
Yeah, I randomly don’t get iMessage notifications. Really ****ing me off and I’m on the cusp of sending the phone through a window.

12 Pro, O2 UK. Issue became apparent on iOS 14.2 and is still occurring on the 14.3 beta. As things stand, this is a fundamentally broken product.
 
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I just got my iPhone 12 pro max yesterday and I’ve have not had any of these issues. I am on AT&T and I never had the issues on my iPhone X either. I am on iOS 14.3 on my new iPhone but I was also running the same on iPhone X.
 
Upgrading to an iPhone 12 Pro Max, I had the lost SMS problem. I fixed it. On the new iPhone, go to Settings, Messages, "Send & Receive", and check all of the appropriate to and reply from accounts. Then set Start new conversations from ... to the correct setting. Go back. Choose "Text Message Forwarding" and set the appropriate devices.
 
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