Learn why inbound SMS messages may fail to reach your Notifyre number. Understand how automatic MMS conversion affects delivery, and what to do if you're using a standard SMS only number in Australia.
If someone is trying to send you a text message and you're not receiving it, it might be because their phone or mobile provider automatically changed the message from a regular text (SMS) to a multimedia message (MMS). This can happen without the sender even knowing and it’s something that Notifyre (or any SMS service) can’t control.
What’s the difference between SMS and MMS?
- SMS is a standard text message, short, simple, and supported by all mobile networks.
- MMS is a message that includes pictures, emojis, long text, or special formatting. Not all phone numbers (including some Notifyre numbers) can receive MMS messages.
⚠️In the United States, all Notifyre numbers are SMS and MMS compatible.
In Australia, Notifyre numbers are SMS only by default. If you need to receive MMS messages, you’ll need to purchase an MMS capable number.Why are SMS converted to MMS?
Here are the most common reasons a message might be changed to MMS:
- Message is too long
- Some phones automatically switch to MMS if the message is longer than usual.
- Special characters or emojis
- Using symbols, emojis, or accented letters can trigger the switch to MMS.
- Phone settings
- Certain phones (especially Android devices like Samsung) are set to convert long or complex messages to MMS automatically.
Why does this cause delivery issues?
- Notifyre numbers are SMS capable by default, but not all support MMS.
- If a message is sent as MMS to a number that doesn’t support it, it may look like it was sent successfully on the device but it won’t be delivered.
How to prevent SMS to MMS conversion
If you're asking someone to send you a message, here are a few tips to share with them:
- Keep messages short and simple
- Avoid emojis, special symbols, or unusual formatting
- Split long messages into smaller ones
- Check the send icon, on many phones, it changes when the message becomes MMS
- Turn off “Auto-convert to MMS” in their messaging app settings (if available)