Galaxy S9 not downloading some text messages

[daniel4ever]

Hi! I am using a Galaxy S9 phone, and I checked, and the OS is up to date, although it shows it has not been updated for a while - I guess Samsung is no longer updating older phones?

Anyway, within the past couple of days, when I get a text message from my daughter, who has an iPhone, the message says "no subject" and has an arrow that instructs me to download the message. When I press the download arrow, there is a little spinning wheel that spins, and spins, etc, until it gives up.

To be clear, the messages in question are purely text, not even any emojis. The size indicated on the message is 1 or 2 kb.

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this problem?

Thanks!

[meself]

The s9 hasn't recieved any monthly update in some years not sure apps get updates but app might still which message app are you using

[daniel4ever]

Hi! Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but I am using the blue bubble. Not sure which one that is. ☹️

[meself]

Sounds like samsung messages if has three dots in middle you could try Google messages and see if that helps

[daniel4ever]

Ok, yes, the three dots one. But, one thing is still bothering me/puzzling me though - some messages are coming through fine. Example, 2 family members have iPhones. This all started when one family member sent me a text that would not download. But, family member 2 - we text all the time, and all those messages have come through fine. A friend of mine sent me a slew of texts Friday - maybe 5 or 6, and the ones with pictures, well, the pictures came through fine, but the ones with just text, some came through, others did not come through and asked me to download, which failed. 

Does this sound like a typical failure mode, or a gradual failure mode, or could it be something else?

Thanks!

[meself]

Samsung messages doesn't always play nice with iphones its getting better between Google messages its a quirk with the os

[Mujibar]

If you're using Samsung Messages, try switching to Google Messages (make sure you enable RCS in settings).

The S9 is a pretty dated phone at this point. It hasn't received any security updates since March/April 2022. You may want to consider upgrading.

[daniel4ever]

Sorry, luddite here. How would I switch to google messages?

In a perfect world, I would upgrade, but this is not the best time to do it. 

[Mujibar]

Download it from Play Store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging


When you open the app, it will ask to be made default. Go ahead and allow it.

[daniel4ever]

Ok, thanks so much!

That said, I just typed a long response to user meself above - if you could, would you please look at it and see if any thoughts come to mind?

Thanks!