Can’t receive MMS, or activate Google message RCS chat on unihertz Jelly Star

Troubleshooting MMS and RCS Activation on the Unihertz Jelly Star: A Comprehensive Guide

The Unihertz Jelly Star is a compact and capable smartphone, but users may encounter challenges when trying to utilize features like MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and RCS (Rich Communication Services) with Google Messages. If you’re experiencing difficulty receiving MMS or activating RCS chat, you’re not alone. This post provides a detailed overview of common issues and effective troubleshooting steps to help you achieve seamless messaging on your device.

Understanding the Challenges
Many users have reported problems such as:
– Inability to receive MMS like photos and videos
– Videos appearing as static images instead of playable media
– Failure to activate or connect to RCS chat features in Google Messages

It’s important to note that these issues can stem from carrier restrictions, device settings, or improper configuration of messaging protocols, especially on devices like the Jelly Star that may have limited compatibility out of the box.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps
Here are several strategies that can help resolve MMS and RCS issues:

1. Reconfigure Google Messages
2. Uninstall Google Messages.
3. Clear app cache and data via Settings > Apps > Google Messages > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data.
4. Reinstall Google Messages from the Play Store.

5. Enable RCS chat features within Google Messages settings. Sometimes, toggling RCS off, restarting the app, then toggling it on again can resolve activation problems.

6. Manage RCS Compatibility with Existing Devices

7. On your previous device, disable RCS features: turn off RCS chat and clear any device associations.
8. Use Google Messages on your current device to “forget” the previous device or sign out.

9. Alternatively, on a Verizon-approved device, activate RCS services there first, then switch back to your Jelly Star. This process can sometimes initialize proper RCS registration.

10. Verify Network and APN Settings

11. Ensure that your APN (Access Point Name) settings are correctly configured for Verizon. Common settings typically include:
    • Name: Verizon
    • APN: internet.vzwentp
    • MMSC: http://mmsc.vzw.com
    • MMS Proxy: 192.168. establishing proxy (if applicable)
    • MMSC port: 80 or 80
12. Confirm that Mobile Data and Wi-Fi are enabled and functioning.
13. Turning Airplane Mode on and off can help reset network connections