Picture messages, video messages, and most group threads use MMS rather than regular SMS. If single text messages work but pictures or group messages don't, MMS is the thing to fix.
Quick Fix: iMessage Works but MMS to Android Fails
This is the most common shape — iMessage to other iPhones works fine, but picture messages or group threads with Android users fail. It almost always comes down to two things on the iPhone:
Mobile data must be on, even when you're connected to Wi-Fi. MMS sends over cellular, not Wi-Fi.
MMS Messaging must be enabled in Settings > Messages, and the Cellular Data Network > MMS values must match Parrot Mobile's APN settings:
APN: wholesale
MMSC:
http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
After adjusting either, restart the phone and re-send the failing message. If that doesn't fix it, work through the full checklist below — particularly the iPhone-specific steps.
Important: MMS Requires Mobile Data
Even though they look like text messages, MMS and group messages send over your mobile data connection (not over Wi-Fi, and not over the SMS channel). That has two practical consequences:
Your plan must include data. If you're on a talk-only plan (for example, a 100 Talk or 300 Talk plan), regular SMS will work but MMS and most group threads will not. To fix this, either change to a plan that includes data or buy a data top-up.
Mobile data must be turned on, even when you're on Wi-Fi. iOS and Android both route MMS over cellular, not Wi-Fi.
If your plan has data and mobile data is on, continue with the checklist below.
Quick Checklist
Run through these in order — they fix the vast majority of MMS issues.
Confirm your line's Text feature is on. Sign in at https://www.parrotmobile.com/app, open the line, go to Settings > Features, and make sure Text (and Data, since MMS uses data) are toggled on.
Make sure mobile data is on, even if you're on Wi-Fi. MMS sends over the cellular data connection, not Wi-Fi.
Check your APN settings. Make sure the MMSC value matches what's documented in APN Settings for Android and iPhone:
APN: wholesale
Restart your phone after making any of the changes above.
Re-send the message that was failing.
iPhone-Specific Steps
Open Settings > Messages.
Make sure MMS Messaging is toggled on.
If you're stuck in a "broken" group thread, also toggle iMessage off, restart your phone, then turn iMessage back on. This can clear out an iMessage/SMS state mismatch.
Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Network and verify the MMS section uses the values above.
If you recently switched from another carrier and your texts to iPhone users still go through iMessage on the old carrier, you may also need to deregister iMessage on the old line at https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage.
Android-Specific Steps
Open your messaging app's settings (in Google Messages: tap your profile picture > Messages settings > Advanced).
Make sure Auto-download MMS is on, including when roaming if applicable.
Open Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Access Point Names and confirm the active APN matches the values above.
If you have a separate APN entry for MMS, delete it and use a single Parrot Mobile APN with both internet and MMS in the APN type field (
default,mms).
Mixed iPhone / Android Group Threads
These threads always use MMS or RCS, never iMessage. Tips:
Everyone needs MMS Messaging turned on.
On iPhone, the group will appear green (SMS/MMS), not blue (iMessage). That's expected.
If one person in the group has issues, ask them to follow the steps above on their device — one phone with the wrong APN can break the thread for everyone.
Still Not Working?
If pictures and group messages still fail after the checklist, email us at support@parrotmobile.com with:
Your phone model and OS version
A screenshot of your APN screen
Whether SMS (regular text) works to the same recipient
We can confirm what we see on our side and walk you through anything specific to your device.
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