Multiple text messages and deleting

I sporadically have issues with group text messages. Usually, the chats involve people that are using both Android and Apple devices.

  • My messages are enabled in iCloud.
  • RCS Messaging is turned on my iPhone
  • MMS Messaging is turned on my iPhone

a) Sometimes, group messages can randomly break apart and I’ll have two different threads. Some texts go to one and some go to the other. Right now, it’s happening on iOS 18.4.1 and Sequoia 15.3.2. But it also can be inconsistent between devices.

b) I’m thinking of deleting all group chats on both my iPhone and Mac (and iPad which I don’t use but it still gets messages) as I don’t care about the history. I want to be sure that simply deleting the threads does NOT remove me from the conversation. I’m assuming deletion does not remove me and that as soon as someone send a next message to the group I’ll get it.

c) Yesterday, on my Mac, I got a msg that someone renamed the thread. And then immediately it said I renamed it to the same name. I don’t know if that’s some sort of default alert but that I didn’t actually do anything.

My first guess is your carrier just isn’t handling MMS quite right. I used to have this issue with Xfinity Mobile.

I have AT&T. If that’s the case, I assume I have no recourse to get it fixed?

It looks like it’s been happening with all carriers.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255729599?sortBy=rank