LDS Tools Texting - Lists not working

[italyrm]

The app has an option that says “send message to group”

I click that option.

Nothing happens.

I'd image the app uses whatever is set as a default messaging app. Is one set and is functional?

Yes, iMessage is my configured messaging service

I can select a solitary member of the group of 8 people -> hit message

From there I can message them one by one

But if I select 'send text message to group' - nothing happens at all. The app acts as if I did nothing.

So today, I had to text 8 head of households separately, to tell them about cleaning the church building, after I had already created a group of all of them.

I have groups set up for every week this month - as it is our ward's turn to clean. I will have to message each of these 40 families separately. That's not great functionality

As a test - I have created a group with a single member in it. When I click "send text member to group" -> nothing happens either. So it seems that if you have a group of 1 or a group of 60 set, it will not work

[italyrm]

Will it be fixed?

@italyrm, although there may be a Forum member or two that is an actual Church employee with knowledge of these things, they only rarely weigh in on matters like this. The rest of us Forum participants are regular church members like yourself. Your best option to get this feedback (both the bug fix and the enhancement request) into the Church system is to use the "Feedback" option inside the Tools app (or use the Feedback button at the bottom of most Church webpages).

That said, posting here is good because it allows you to see if others see similar behavior. If so, then at least you know it's not "just you". If not, then Forum members can suggest ideas about what you might do to get it to work. But actual bug fix or enhancement requests, should be routed thru the Church Feedback system.

Thanks. I have routed it through the Church's system in Feb 2021, in Sept 2021, Jan 2022, Mar 2022, Aug 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, June 2023 and now again in Nov 2023- and NEVER receive even a 'thanks for your report' email.

[slaterb1]

I've run into the same thing myself. Been using Lists/Groups to text people for years.

As of last week I can no longer text a List from my iPhone. The messages app doesn't even open when clicking 'Send Text Message to Group' option.

[zaneclark]

Same here….I have reported this to Feedback…The Tools tech people have been good to respond…

[zaneclark]

I just downloaded the new beta version 4.10.2, and the texting is working. Seems they have fixed it.... Not sure when this version will be available in the App Store.

[zaneclark]

It looks like version 4.10.2 which fixed the group text problem was released earlier this week. Is anyone still having problems with group texting?

[deannefindlay]

Our newly called (December) RS presidency is made up of iPhone users. Through trial and error we have learned that iPhone users can’t text ALL RS sisters (simultaneously through Tools). In the previous presidency, the president had an android phone and was able to text ALL sisters.

With iPhones, the messages show as “sent”, but sisters don’t receive them… Any suggestions? Thanks

[russellhltn]

Our newly called (December) RS presidency is made up of iPhone users. Through trial and error we have learned that iPhone users can’t text ALL RS sisters (simultaneously through Tools). In the previous presidency, the president had an android phone and was able to text ALL sisters.

I'd look at what service provider they're using. Many providers limit the number of text messages that can be sent. I'm not sure what they do when the limit is reached, but it's not far fetched to think the app would be unaware of what happened.

If they're trying to send to ALL sisters, they might want to consider circles instead.

[lajackson]

Through trial and error we have learned that iPhone users can’t text ALL RS sisters (simultaneously through Tools). In the previous presidency, the president had an android phone and was able to text ALL sisters.

I have found that Apple plays by its own rules. I have never seen much success with MMS text messages (a text message with things besides just text). Apple also plays with the rules when a text message is sent from an iPhone to multiple recipients at the same time.

Those receiving the RS messages probably have iPhones. Those who are not receiving the messages probably have Android phones. Usually all of the iPhone people will get the message, and often the Android people will not.

The only workaround I know of is to resend messages individually to those who do not receive the multiple addressee message. Yes, it is a pain.

Messaging is not the only area where iPhones work differently. For a year while I was serving in a stake presidency the iPhone users could not access Member Tools at all, and the Android users provided all of the needed information as we met in presidency meetings.

[russellhltn]

From Apple Support page:

ypes of group text messages
The Messages app automatically chooses the type of message to send based on settings, network connection, and carrier plan. For example:

If all of the recipients are using Apple devices and iMessage is turned on, then the group message is sent as an iMessage.
If any of the receipients aren't using iMessage, then the message is sent as an MMS or SMS message.

SMS is the OG and universal - but limited. MMS is pretty common, but it's possible that some people have it turned off, either at the phone or at the account. iMessage is Apple only. I'm not sure how Tools is sending. It's quite possible it's handing it off to iMessage to make that determination.

I used to have MMS turned off as it was a vector for malware. The malware was taking advantage of a OS flaw at the time. But that was many years ago. But since then I've had to turn it on so family with iOS can reach me.

It's quite likely that the prior President's Android was sending SMS and the new RS President is trying to send MMS.