Why Can’t I See Pictures on iMessage? Easy Fixes!

Did someone send you photos, but the images are not loading in iMessage? While frustrating, iMessage photos not showing up in your text conversations are usually simple to resolve. For most people, the issue is with their messaging or iCloud settings. Here's how to check these key settings and ensure you still have iPhone storage available to receive new photos.

How to Fix iPhone Photos Not Loading in Messages

If you haven't already, restart your iPhone by turning it off and on and check for available iPhone software updates. Restarting your device and installing new updates are standard solutions that resolve a wide range of software issues. However, if your pictures are still not loading in iMessage, continue to the steps below to check your iPhone settings and network connection.

1. Check Your Network Connection

First, check your internet speed. The easiest way to do this is to open the Safari app and tap on a web page or video. If the content lags and takes a bit to load, this signals a slow internet speed and is likely why your images are not loading in iMessage. If this happens, move to a different location and connect to a Wi-Fi network.

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2. Check MMS Settings If Your iPhone Is Not Downloading Pictures

If the MMS setting is disabled on your iPhone, you won't be able to receive photos or videos with Android users or when iMessage is unavailable. This is one of the most common causes of images not loading in iMessage. To check this:

1. Open the Settings app. 
   
   
2. Tap Messages.
   
   
3. Enable the MMS Messaging toggle if it isn't already switched on. The toggle will be green and to the right when it is enabled. 
   
   

If you can see the photos in iMessage, you've resolved the issue! But if you still can't see the pictures in Messages, read on to learn how to check your iCloud settings.

3. Enable iMessage in iCloud

Here's how to check whether Messages is syncing to iCloud. Enabling this feature is another common solution for fixing image display issues. 

1. Open the Settings app and tap your Apple ID profile at the top. 
   
   
2. Tap iCloud.
   
   
3. Under Apps Using iCloud, tap Show All. 
   
   
4. Tap Messages in iCloud. 
   
   
5. Make sure the Use on this iPhone toggle is enabled. 
   
   

4. Sign Out of iMessage If Your iPhone Stops Downloading Pictures

If images are not downloading in Messages, your next step should be to sign out of iMessage and sign back in with your Apple ID. Reloading iMessage clears the cache and helps the pictures load in the Messages app.

1. Open the Settings app and tap Messages.
   
   
2. Tap Send & Receive. 
   
   
3. Tap your Apple ID.
   
   
4. Select Sign Out. 
   
   
5. Tap Sign In to log back into iMessage with your Apple ID. 

Hopefully, clearing the cache fixed the iMessage download issue. To learn more handy messaging tips, sign up for our free Tip of the Day Newsletter. 

5. Reset Your Network Settings

If the pictures are still not downloading in iMessage, you'll want to reset your network settings to fix any underlying problems with your network. You won't lose any data from resetting your network settings. However, you will need to sign back into your Wi-Fi networks to gain access (so save your Wi-Fi passwords before you reset). Here's a great resource covering how to reset network settings on your iPhone.

6. Check Your iPhone Storage If Images Are Not Loading in iMessage

If your iPhone storage is full, new images won't load and display in Messages. Let's check your available iPhone storage in Settings: 

1. Open the Settings app and tap your Apple ID profile at the top. 
   
   
2. Tap iCloud. 
   
   
3. At the top of the screen, you'll see your used storage displayed in bright colors, while available storage space is shown in gray. 
   
   

If you have available storage space, this isn't the issue causing your iPhone not to download pictures. However, if your storage is full, tap "Manage Account Storage" and follow the steps to upgrade your iCloud storage. 

7. Contact Apple Support

The troubleshooting steps above will resolve most issues with images not downloading. However, if you're still having trouble viewing images in iMessage, it's time to contact Apple Support. In these cases, you likely have an underlying issue with your device or Apple ID.