If you rely on Verizon‘s group text functionality to stay connected with friends, family, or coworkers, it can be incredibly frustrating when it suddenly stops working. Whether you‘re unable to send group messages, can‘t receive replies, or keep getting error messages, group texting issues can quickly put a damper on your conversations and productivity.
But don‘t worry – there are a number of simple troubleshooting steps and fixes you can try to get your Verizon group texts up and running again. In this guide, we‘ll walk you through 15 of the most effective solutions, so you can find the one that works for you and get back to effortless group communication.
15 Fixes for Verizon Group Text Not Working
Before we dive into the fixes, it‘s important to note that there isn‘t necessarily a single reason why your Verizon group texts aren‘t working. The culprit could be anything from a poor network connection to outdated software to an account setting that needs adjusting. That‘s why we recommend systematically trying each of the following fixes until you hit on the one that resolves your issue.
1. Restart your phone
This may seem like obvious advice, but you‘d be surprised how many tech issues can be solved with a simple restart. Restarting your device clears out the RAM and ends all background processes, which can sometimes include ones that are interfering with your group text functionality.
To restart most phones, simply hold down the power button until the power menu appears, then tap "Restart." Wait for your phone to fully power back on before trying your group text again.
2. Check for service outages
Before trying any other fixes, it‘s worth confirming that the issue isn‘t on Verizon‘s end. While relatively rare, service outages do occasionally happen and could be the reason your group texts aren‘t going through.
You can check for Verizon outages by:
- Visiting the Verizon outage report website
- Checking the Verizon support forums or social media for outage reports from other users
- Contacting Verizon customer service to ask if there are any known issues in your area
If there is in fact a Verizon service interruption, the only solution is to wait it out. Fortunately, most outages are resolved within a few hours.
3. Toggle Airplane Mode
Toggling your phone‘s Airplane Mode on and off can sometimes resolve network connectivity glitches that may be hindering your group texts.
Here‘s how to quickly toggle Airplane Mode:
- Swipe down from the top of your screen to reveal the Quick Settings menu
- Tap the Airplane icon to turn Airplane Mode on
- Wait 10-15 seconds, then tap the Airplane Mode icon again to turn it off
After disabling Airplane Mode, wait a few moments for your cellular connection to reestablish, then try your group text again.
4. Disable WiFi calling
Believe it or not, using WiFi calling can occasionally cause issues with Verizon‘s text messaging. If you have WiFi calling enabled on your device, try disabling it and rely on your cellular network instead.
To turn off WiFi calling:
- Open your phone‘s Settings app
- Tap "Cellular" or "Mobile Network"
- Tap "WiFi Calling"
- Toggle the switch to the Off position
You may need to restart your device after changing this setting for it to take effect. Once you‘ve disabled WiFi calling, try to send a group text again.
5. Reset your network settings
Resetting your network settings can resolve a variety of cellular and WiFi connectivity issues that may be impacting your group texts. Keep in mind this will erase all saved WiFi passwords and VPN settings, so make sure you have that info handy before proceeding.
To reset network settings on most devices:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap "General Management" or "System"
- Tap "Reset options" or "Reset"
- Select "Reset network settings" and confirm
Your phone will restart and all network settings will be erased. When it powers back on, try your group text again.
6. Update your messaging app
If you‘re using an outdated version of your phone‘s native messaging app or a third-party SMS app, you might encounter group texting glitches or incompatibilities. Keeping your messaging app updated to the latest version ensures you have access to bug fixes, security patches, and new features.
To update your messaging app:
- Open the App Store or Google Play Store on your device
- Search for your messaging app
- If an update is available, tap "Update" and wait for the installation to complete
After updating, restart your device to ensure all changes take effect, then attempt your group text again.
7. Force stop the messaging app
Sometimes an app can experience problems or get stuck in an unresponsive state, which requires force closing and restarting it. If a misbehaving messaging app is the reason for your group text not working, you can force stop the app and relaunch it.
To force stop an app:
- Open your Settings
- Tap "Apps" or "Application Manager"
- Locate and select your messaging app
- Tap "Force Stop" then confirm
After force stopping the messaging app, relaunch it and retry sending your group message.
8. Clear the messaging app‘s cache and data
Over time, your messaging app may accumulate a lot of cached data that can occasionally cause performance issues or glitches. Clearing this cache and data will erase your messages, so make sure you back up any important conversations first.
To clear an app‘s cache and data:
- Open your Settings
- Go to "Apps" or "Application Manager"
- Find and tap on your messaging app
- Select "Storage" then "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data"
Once the cache is cleared, restart your phone and see if your group texts are now working.
9. Ensure you have a valid data connection
Group MMS messages require cellular data, so if your phone doesn‘t have a strong, stable data connection, your messages might not be sending or downloading.
First, make sure your cellular data is turned on:
- Open Settings
- Tap "Cellular" or "Mobile Networks"
- Toggle Mobile Data on
Next, check how many bars of signal you have. If your connection is weak, try moving to an area with better coverage. If the issue persists, contact Verizon to see if there‘s a network problem in your location.
10. Disable any VPN apps
Some users have found that VPN apps can occasionally interfere with Verizon‘s messaging services. If you use a VPN on your phone, try disabling it and then attempt to send a group text.
You can disable a VPN app by:
- Opening Settings
- Tapping "VPN"
- Selecting your VPN and toggling it off
If you temporarily disable your VPN and your group texts start working again, you‘ll know that was the source of the problem. Consider switching to a different VPN service or reaching out to your VPN provider‘s customer support for advice.
11. Check if your recipients‘ contact info is correct
An often-overlooked reason why group texts fail is because one or more recipient phone numbers are incorrect or out of date in your Contacts app. Double check that you have the right number for each person in your group message and that all the numbers are in the proper format.
You‘d be surprised how often a typo in a phone number or an incorrect country code can cause message delivery to fail, so it‘s always worth verifying each contact to be sure.
12. Try using a different messaging app
If you‘ve tried all the above steps and your group texts still aren‘t working, the issue might lie with the messaging app itself. Consider downloading a different SMS app from the App Store or Google Play to see if you have better luck.
Some popular alternative messaging apps that support group MMS include:
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Messages (Android only)
- Textra SMS (Android only)
You can always invite your group chat participants to switch over to the new app you‘re using. Many third-party messaging services offer additional features like read receipts, higher attachment size limits, and end-to-end encryption as well.
13. Ensure Verizon messaging features are enabled on your account
In rare cases, certain account-level messaging settings could be interfering with your group texts. Make sure MMS support is enabled on your Verizon account by contacting customer service or checking the Message+ feature settings online.
Account administrators can enable MMS by:
- Signing into the VZ Messages website
- Selecting "Settings"
- Enabling "Group messaging"
If group messaging was previously disabled on your account, toggle this setting on and see if it resolves the issue.
14. Factory reset your phone
If you‘re still having no luck with group texts, a factory reset is a last-resort option you can try. This will erase all data from your device, so it‘s crucial you back up your important files, photos, and videos first. But it can resolve stubborn software glitches or OS corruption that may be impacting your messaging.
To factory reset most phones:
- Open Settings
- Go to "System" then "Reset Options"
- Tap "Erase all data" and confirm
- Wait for the reset process to complete
When your phone restarts, you‘ll have to set it up again from scratch. Once you reinstall your messaging app and try a group text, you may find the issue has been resolved.
15. Contact Verizon customer support
If you‘ve exhausted all possible troubleshooting and your Verizon group texts still aren‘t working, it‘s time to contact Verizon support for further assistance. Visit their Contact Us page to get in touch via phone or live chat.
A support agent will likely walk you through many of the same steps outlined above, but they can also check your account provisioning, run additional diagnostic tests, and open a technical support case if needed.
Verizon Group Text FAQs
Still have questions about Verizon‘s group messaging functionality? Here are answers to a few common queries.
Is there a limit to how many people can be in a Verizon group text?
Yes, Verizon currently allows a maximum of 20 participants per group conversation. If you need to communicate with a larger group than this, you‘ll need to use a different platform or split your group into multiple threads.
Why are my Verizon group texts being sent as individual messages?
If your group messages are being broken up and delivered to each recipient individually, rather than as a single MMS, it usually means one of the people in your group chat is not capable of receiving MMS content.
This could be because they don‘t have cellular data enabled, they‘re using an older phone that doesn‘t support MMS, or their carrier doesn‘t allow MMS messaging. Whatever the reason, if Verizon detects a non-MMS-capable participant in your group, it will automatically revert the entire thread to standard SMS.
To resolve this, you‘ll need to remove the problematic participant from the group chat, or convince them to enable MMS messaging on their device or upgrade to a newer phone.
Can I name my Verizon group texts?
Absolutely! Assigning a unique name to a group conversation can help you keep track of different message threads and makes it easy to find the discussion you‘re looking for at a glance.
To name a group text in Verizon Message+:
- Open the group conversation
- Tap the group icon at the top of the screen
- Select "Edit" next to the default group name
- Enter your desired name and tap "Save"
All participants in the group chat will see the name you assign.
Get Your Group Texts Flowing Again
Dealing with group messaging problems is never fun, but hopefully this guide has given you the tools and knowledge you need to get your Verizon group texts working properly again. Whether it was a quick restart, a settings tweak, or an app update, one of these fixes should do the trick.
If you continue to experience issues with group messaging or any other Verizon service, don‘t hesitate to contact their customer support team for personalized troubleshooting and technical assistance. With a little persistence and know-how, you‘ll be back to group chatting in no time.
