Where does my text message go If I leave iMessage and then return shortly after?

[Ledsteplin]

Re: I am amazed!

The forum had a person asking a simple question regarding the technical response of the iPhone.

The responses seemed very subjective - “why are you typing such a long text”, “you should type it first somewhere else and then paste it into text”

Just answer the question if you can. This person is asking for help, they are not asking for judgement and/or criticism.

Because we have no idea why that happens, and folks are offering ideas to get around it. The questions referring to long text messages are valid. If one types a long text message, they should be aware if they need to leave it before sending it, it might go away. Thus, creating the long message in Notes or somewhere safe. Then copy and paste the message in iMessage when ready to do so.

 

[Roystonea]

Re: I am amazed!

I had the same problem on my iPhone 6.
Here is the solution that I found.

Go back to the contact that you were going to send the message to.
Select "Send Message".
The unsent message reappears.

 

[Lucybell86]

To each their own indeed, I’ve had this happen to me a number of times when typing a text to a family member, or if I’m unable to talk but am able to text. Perhaps it’s just me but I don’t have my sisters, parents, aunts, uncles etc. email address, and some of my elderly family members do not have email accounts. Also a lot of times-PARTICULARLY with close family and friends- text is the best way to say exactly what you need to say. Also if you have small children sometimes it’s the ONLY way.

‘Nuf said........Still, to each his or her own.

 

[Sherry_B]

The forum had a person asking a simple question regarding the technical response of the iPhone.

The responses seemed very subjective - “why are you typing such a long text”, “you should type it first somewhere else and then paste it into text”

Just answer the question if you can. This person is asking for help, they are not asking for judgement and/or criticism.

Agreed.

For those having this problem;
This may be something intended by Apple, or it may not be. No one here at iMore really knows for absolute certain, so submit your replies directly to Apple and let them know how you feel about it. This way if it is a bug they can at least be aware of it.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html#mn_p

 

[Quis89]

Re: I am amazed!

The forum had a person asking a simple question regarding the technical response of the iPhone.

The responses seemed very subjective - “why are you typing such a long text”, “you should type it first somewhere else and then paste it into text”

Just answer the question if you can. This person is asking for help, they are not asking for judgement and/or criticism.

Simply saying, "I don't know" doesn't help much. Which is why I offered an option the avoid this problem. And if you're offended by people pointing out possible inefficiencies in a workflow, then I apologize. I'm in the business of offering solutions or alternatives...the first step in this is inquiring, "why".

 

[Quis89]

Re: Perplexed

I look through threads often and would love to see an intelligent answer without the hyper subjective commentary. It isn't like the length of text is an issue as to why they are disappearing. While I have just tried to recreate this problem on my iPhone x I have not been able to recreate the issue.

I originally thought it disappeared but if I put everyone on the group iMessage, the text reappeared. I hope that is the problem if using iMessage. I had to put all recipients in the same order and it showed up.

For people like this, not necessarily you but you seem to fit the category.

Quis89
Q&A Team
Ambassador

1. Business emails can be subpoenaed or monitored far easier than texts.
2 iMessage and similar messaging are popular for group texting. So you don't see any situation where you start a text and it runs long because of any various reasons?
3. People like to preface statements like, Honestly, i don't understand why you do that. Why say honestly? do you lie ever time you don't give us advance notice you are going to tell the truth now
4. There is also the to each his type comment, which clearly wasn't the point of the message.

Like I previously said, I would love to go to a Q & A and get an answer to question instead of everyone's opinion on why the person did something wrong and you are giving them advice for the future when they needs answers for something in the past. No doubt if you are going to compose something significant texting isn't the best way but I am not sure if any of you have kids but my daughter never launches her email app when she chats/group chats.

I couldn't recreate the problem but I tried a few different scenarios. I composed text and didn't send. I powered phone off. Text was still there.

I composed text and let phone run itself out of power. Again text was still there.

I composed text and just let go to lock screen. Again text was still there.

Since we are spending time not answering the question, why doesn't apple throw an unfinished text to drafts. I apologize for my ignorance but i thought droids does go to drafts (or am I wrong?) and I think they go to sent/deleted folder too.

Wonder why iPhone doesn't have similar features. Wonder if message will have bcc. Dangerous feature on exchange, why doesn't it say, "Hey dummy you just hit reply to all and you were bcc'd so the sending did anyone on recipient list to know you have it).

Back to original problems there is a bunch of freeware that said it would work as long as not over written. I will gave the classic stupid answer....IF you backed up phone in between composing test retrieve it from iTunes or icoud.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful and doing exactly what i complained about. Last annoying boring point, still to the point that people aren't considering why the text could be longer or exposed and why that could occur. From getting a call while texting like someone mentioned or you just get interrupted and have to continue later.

I know many office workers that will avoid using office mail for personal reasons. Especially if you include the legal situations, they would have to go to Apple who I am sure would fight going up that info as opposed to your company.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Eric

No offense but it really isn't this deep. I apologize if you were offended by my response.

 

[Drewgalloway]

Hi everyone...
I’ve found a workaround for this problem, which has worked ok for me so far.....
When you need to leave a partly-written iMessage, tap the ‘x’ in the top left corner of the screen to go back to the list of messages. Then press the home button.
So far... when I return to finish a message, it is still there.
Also, if you have time.. there’s always the ‘select all’ and ‘copy’ facility, whereby you can paste it back if it’s vanished on your return... providing of course that you haven’t subsequently used the copy facility for something else before returning to your message! If you have time... paste it into ‘notes’, and then copy and paste that back to messages if the original has vapourised on your return.
Not perfect solutions, but I hope they help.
All the best.. DG.

 

[RP2018]

Re: I am amazed!

I had the same problem on my iPhone 6.
Here is the solution that I found.

Go back to the contact that you were going to send the message to.
Select "Send Message".
The unsent message reappears.

-------

I did not find a "Send Message" option, and my message field appeared blank. I entered the field and selected paste. It brought back half of my message.

 

[Lajean]

I have had the same frustrating thing happen to me, infact just now and it took at least 15 minutes to put together. Ugh. Hope someone can shed light or a fix....

 

[ChristinaMarks]

Re: I am amazed!

I had the same problem on my iPhone 6.
Here is the solution that I found.

Go back to the contact that you were going to send the message to.
Select "Send Message".
The unsent message reappears.

 

[ChristinaMarks]

Roystonea, Thank you for the fix! Going to the Contacts and re-selecting the recipient, then selecting "send message" made my message [which was not lengthy by the way] reappear! Thank you!

 

[EmmaDE]

I have had experience the same issue for months and still looking for a solution!
It’s super frustrating and happens on super short messages and long ones too.

What I did noticed is it’s is when I write:
- a new message
- search the name of the person I want to write to within the message app, instead of scrolling down to that person.

THe solution of scrolling down isn’t a solution for me , I text a way to large amount of people constantly, to spend time scrolling down as a habit.

The other thing I think I noticed is it started to happen after I did an update? I’m using my phone the same way I always did for years, and every time I got back to my unfinished text, my text was there to finish.
Now it is there for half a second and disappears in a sliding motion toward the bottom of the screen and pouf, gone!
For some reasons sometimes it reappears days after when it is not needed anymore obviously. Ridiculous!

The Solution of starting each of my hundred text message a day on the note app isn’t an efficient solution either, as adding up it would just add steps and time “wasted” as much as restating a new message.

A real solution would be super appreciated!

))

 

[sassy1sally]

It just happened again now!!!i am so disgusted with my iPhone 6 plus’ inability to retain something as simple as a text message generated and in progress that gets interrupted by an incoming call. All the heirs in the will work jobs and are unable to receive calls during workday. This text was “again” very important to the probating if this Will! How inept a text messaging system!!! Ridiculous! Fix it!!! IPhone people you are killing your chances of me and a lot of other people from ever buying one if you’re phones in the future if you don’t address and fix this dibilitating problem!

 

[Annie_M]

It just happened again now!!!i am so disgusted with my iPhone 6 plus’ inability to retain something as simple as a text message generated and in progress that gets interrupted by an incoming call. All the heirs in the will work jobs and are unable to receive calls during workday. This text was “again” very important to the probating if this Will! How inept a text messaging system!!! Ridiculous! Fix it!!! IPhone people you are killing your chances of me and a lot of other people from ever buying one if you’re phones in the future if you don’t address and fix this dibilitating problem!

I'm so sorry you're having this issue! It would be frustrating. Please keep in mind that we are not Apple Support, but rather a group of Apple enthusiasts who share information and try and help each other out when possible. There have been some fixes posted back in this thread. If none of those work for you, you might want to consider contacting Apple Support, or making an appointment at the Genius Bar in a nearby Apple Store.

In the meantime, welcome to iMore!

 

[JeffBos]

This is unacceptable!

I just switched from an Android and this BS never happened. This is a massive oversight by Apple. I do write long texts because that’s how my job works. I shouldn’t have to copy/paste or write in Notes first just to prevent a text from disappearing.

If by chance someone from Apple is reading this, this is Very amature programming. Lets act like a Droid in this case.

 

[1goodguy]

I wasn’t arguing. I was simply suggesting why the general user might choose iMessages over eMail sometimes.

I agree in general that texting is a poor choice when the topic can be very sensitive, or is complicated, making it very long. That being said, there are many reasons to use texting instead of email...one being, the intended receiver rarely uses or even checks their email and they themselves use texting exclusively for communication.

And there is a reason some people take a long time (eg up to an hour) to get their text completed (and readable) at all:

The sender possibly might have a disability! (eg. Parkinson's disease slows dexterity in their hands and fingers (and other) and at times makes texting OR keyboarding VERY difficult. And this goes for any written form of communication for the person.

 

[5345345]

Some people here are rude, if they read this message I hope they take a chance to revaluate their contribution, and I hope they didn’t bury the actual answer too far down.

I had the same problem. If I left I message with an unsent text it would fall off the screen when I returned.

You aren’t properly signed into iMessage or you have 2 different accounts.

Go to settings > messages > send and receive & correct your information.

 

[Batmanfromoz]

Re: I am amazed!

I had the same problem on my iPhone 6.
Here is the solution that I found.

Go back to the contact that you were going to send the message to.
Select "Send Message".
The unsent message reappears.

AWESOME, THAT WORKS @Roystonea

A workaround, but works at the moment. I too lose all text once the lock screen comes on and then come back to messaging app, but your suggestion works for me. Not sure how you would have found that!

 

[Joseph Lawson]

Re: I am amazed!

I guess the information is short on this thread, just like the capacity of the iPhone. When someone asks for information, and is instead insulted, there is no valid information. The true answer is that Apple does not want people to have access to create drafts with their phone. Apple has been behind the pack for the last 5 or 6 generations of models. Since other phone manufacturers designed phones that can create text message drafts, it’s clear that Apple could easily incorporate that within their phones as well. The only thing to conclude is that Apple’s fault for the frustration that people have had to deal with. I would definitely suggest to everyone here that they should contact Apple about these outrageous flaws. Tell them to “buck up,” or you will leave this money hungry faction.

 

[Just_Me_D]

Re: I am amazed!

I guess the information is short on this thread, just like the capacity of the iPhone. When someone asks for information, and is instead insulted, there is no valid information. The true answer is that Apple does not want people to have access to create drafts with their phone. Apple has been behind the pack for the last 5 or 6 generations of models. Since other phone manufacturers designed phones that can create text message drafts, it’s clear that Apple could easily incorporate that within their phones as well. The only thing to conclude is that Apple’s fault for the frustration that people have had to deal with. I would definitely suggest to everyone here that they should contact Apple about these outrageous flaws. Tell them to “buck up,” or you will leave this money hungry faction.

I create drafts via my phone all the time and on numerous occasions, I’ve started an iMessage conversation then became distracted and then returned hours later and the draft was still present and waiting for me to finish. Therefore, your alleged true answer is false. Now if you’re dissatisfied with Apple products and services, so be it. Everybody here understands that they are not for everyone. With that being said, I’ve learned over the years that a good deal of the “frustration that people have had to deal with” is self-inflicted.

In the meantime, thank you for your response and I hope you become a productive member of the iMore Forums. Take care.