MMS lost when received while no data

[farfromrefug]

Checklist

• [x] I can reproduce the bug with the latest version given here.
• [x] I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• [x] I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• [x] I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• [x] I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• [x] This issue contains only one bug.
• [x] I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Affected app version

1.1.4

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

LOS 21

Affected device model

Hisense a9 / Samsung a3 2017

How did you install the app?

F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid

Steps to reproduce the bug

• disable data on the phone
• send mms to that phone
• you get a notif telling you to enable data to get MMS
• enable data
• You will not receive the mms

Expected behavior

The app shows an entry in the contact message channel. Click on the button with data enabled and it downloads the mms.

Actual behavior

mms lost

Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

Additional information

I already reported that bug on Quick which faces the same issue https://github.com/octoshrimpy/quik/issues/126

This is quite a show stopper for people like me who disable data as much as possible.

As mentioned in the quick issue LOS messaging handle that correctly so you got code to look at.

[naveensingh]

I can't test MMS myself but I can see this issue happening based on the code. If anyone else encounters this bug, please feel free to share any additional details that might be helpful.

Quick which faces the same issue

Probably because quik and fossify both use android-smsmms under the hood.

[ValP34]

Hello, I have this same bug of lost MMS with version 1.1.5 on Android 14 with a Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5. My Fossiphy app is installed and updated by F-droid. When a MMS is sent from another phone, i see a few second message : "Error : impossible to download the mms". If i activate the data, no more information, none mms arrives. Thank you for your help if you can fix that !

[STVGecko]

Hello, I'm adding another piece of information that I put here https://github.com/FossifyOrg/Messages/issues/328

On the Samsung message application, they have a solution to this problem: they send a "clickable bubble" allowing you to download the photo with "mobile data".

Would it be possible to add this functionality?

Why do you want this feature?

This will allow me to be notified of MMS reception even when "mobile data" is not activated.

My smartphone is a samsung s22

[Onjrew]

I'm also experiencing this issue. If I have mobile data turned off and someone sends me an MMS (picture, etc) I see the error message as described above. Enabling mobile data does not re-attempt to download the MMS message, and it is effectively lost.

App version: 1.1.5 Android version: 14 (kernel 5.10.209) Phone: Samsung S21

[niko4nicolas]

Same here but I don't even receive an error message, there is nothing at all. This is annoying as I disable mobile data during working hours.

App version: 1.1.5 Android version: 14 (kernel 5.15.148) Phone: Samsung A15

[STVGecko]

Hello, what's the status of adding this important function?

[don-dolarson]

Same problem here when mobile data is off. Switched to LineageOS 20 (A13) stock Messaging app yesterday as I suspected the Fossify Message has problem with receiving MMS and almost immediately got a "No sender" chat with tens of MMS to download.

[alberic89]

Same issue. Messages: 1.2.1 Android version: 15 (kernel 5.15.167) Phone model: Samsung Galaxy A15

Maybe a workaround, but old: https://github.com/klinker41/android-smsmms/issues/76

[lilgast8]

I can confirm this issue on my device as well.

Environment

• Device: Samsung Galaxy S25
• Android version: 15
• Fossify Messages version: 1.3.0
• Carrier: RED by SFR (France)

Behavior observed

• If mobile data is disabled, incoming MMS trigger only a short toast ("Unable to download MMS").
• No persistent notification is shown, and nothing remains in the conversation.
• This means I have no way to know that a new MMS is pending unless mobile data was enabled at the exact moment.

Why this matters

• Many privacy-conscious users (like me) keep mobile data disabled by default, using Wi-Fi most of the time.
• Without a persistent notification or a "pending MMS" entry, important messages can be missed entirely.
• Other apps (e.g., Textra, Chomp, Google Messages) handle this better by showing the MMS as "Pending download" and allowing a retry when data is available.

Suggestion

• Keep the MMS notification SMS visible in the conversation, marked as "Pending download".
• Show a persistent system notification reminding the user that an MMS is waiting.
• Provide a "Retry download" button once data is enabled.