Why are my iPhone videos blurry when I send them via text (MMS)?
iPhone owners can now send multimedia messages between iOS devices using iMessage. This preserves the quality of recorded video in most cases, especially when sending an iMessage over a Wi-Fi network.
Sometimes when sending video to a non-iOS handset, or when iMessage is not available, messages are transferred using standard text messaging, or MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). Unlike iMessage, which goes through Apple servers, MMS has strict size limitations.
Depending on the version of MMS being used, size limitations can be 300 or 600 KB. This means the video being sent will be compressed before transfer, reducing its quality. Wireless carriers can also compress the file before transferring via MMS.
Depending on the capabilities of the device receiving the iPhone video, the transferred file can appear compressed, blocky and blurry after receipt. The best way to transfer video outside of iMessage is to use email, which will preserve video quality.
Comments
Cyndi replied on Permalink
Not true. I emailed my video to my daughter and it was the same. Blurry. It was only a 30 second video.iphone to Samsung blurry.
John R Willis replied on Permalink
Same here, My Daughter loves her iPhone and I love getting videos of my Grand Children , however, when she sends videos, they are so blurry my Grand Children are almost unrecognizable , its so dissapointing. One would think that since its the almighty iPhone , videos could be sent with no loss of quality.
Smore15 replied on Permalink
It's not the iPhone, its YOUR phone that translates bad video because she has iMessage n you only have mms which is limited in video size and compresses. I suggest using whatsapp ..
Brandon replied on Permalink
So I suppose the solution is everyone should buy an iPhone and we should eliminate choice from the world. Or Apple can use standards that everyone agrees on oh but wait that would mean that they couldn't point to other peoples products and say we're better got it.
EMolina replied on Permalink
My brother has iphone 6 and he's getting the videos I send him from my iphone 6s Plus blurry also.
Mark1973 replied on Permalink
Don't send videos as a group message and they will work. Send to one person at a time.
Juan Bryant replied on Permalink
I have the same blurry issue. No one from att nor apple can resolve,this issue. I have had my phone replaced 4 times within 6 months. Maybe this is apples way forcing you to buy another phone. BIG BROTHER IN CONTROL.
Charlotte replied on Permalink
The videos that I send are to my husband and mother in law both of which have iPhones and it's still blurry as is the ones they send to me. So annoying!!
Julie replied on Permalink
I have found that when my daughter sends her videos from her iPhone to my Android using Facebook Messenger the videos are Crystal clear. . I can then see my grandchildren.
Tlem replied on Permalink
I agree this is crap! My wife and I both have iPhones, send videos over wifi and still the same results. Utterly useless
MissD replied on Permalink
So true!! My son keeps trying to send my videos and whether its via text or email they all come out crappy. I have the Google phone [which I absolutely love] and I know those videos should be showing up better! it's a conspiracy...lol. Apple is trying to force us to buy their product :P
Italiaroxx replied on Permalink
Me and my daughter ( whom both have the newest iPhone) tested the iMessage theory. I don't like using iMessage and every video I received was small and blotchy. I turned on iMessage, she resent the video and it was crystal clear.. I in turn sent the video to my mother who doesn't own a iPhone and the video was also clear.. Where before they were like mine.. iMessage is the culprit, I like my privacy of not having my answer my "read" messages, so I'll be turning off this feature and settle for the shitty quality vids.. Guess Samsung will be getting my business come my next upgrade.. I see it this way.. If my phone is connecting to wi-fi and not using data, my video quality should not be compromised..
fakenameforsingleuse replied on Permalink
you can turn off the "read" feature
Miro replied on Permalink
Or you could turn off "send read receipts" in the messages settings and then no one would know if you read the message or not. I message is good as it doesn't use any of your data if you're on wifi
John replied on Permalink
The issue is the chat standard. No mms it's really bad, MMS turned on it's better. Use iMessage which bypasses the limitations of texting and MMS even better. Everyone places the game.
Sgdub replied on Permalink
That's inaccurate my husband and I both have iPhones (I have a 6 & he has a 6s). When I text him a video (even with iMessage on) the video shows up distorted. For the price one pays for these phones, this is utterly ridiculous.