How to Enable MMS on iPhone 2G

by Simon Ng on July 1, 2009

If you have read about the post “Which iPhone 3.0 features are for your iPhone?“, you should know that MMS is not available for iPhone 2G. I love Apple and iPhone but it’s ridiculous that a technologically advanced mobile phone does not come with this common feature that you can easily find on any mobiles from Nokia or Samsung.

Luckily, some iPhone enthusiasts have developed a hack to enable MMS on iPhone 3.0 for iPhone 2G. As always, this hack is only applicable to those with jailbroken iPhones.

Tip: If you haven’t jailbroken your iPhone 2G, you can follow this simple jailbreak guide (Windows / Mac) for the procedures.

So, how do you bring MMS ability to iPhone 2G?

Follow these Procedures to Enable MMS

Before you perform the below procedures, make sure you have already upgraded to iPhone 3.0 and jailbreak it. Let me emphasize again. This hack is only applicable to iPhone 3.0. If you’re using lower version, please don’t use this hack. Otherwise, it may harm your iPhone.

Note: Please ensure your carrier supports MMS. As far as I know, MMS will not be available for AT&T users until late summer. Also, you may be charged extra for sending MMS. Please further consult your carrier for information.

1. Launch Cydia

2. Search for ActiveMMS2G

cydia_activatemms2g

3. Click “Install” and then tap “Confirm” to confirm the installation.

4. Be patient. Wait until the installation completes. Then tap on “Reboot Device” to restart your iPhone.

installing_activatemms2g

5. After restarted, go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network. You should notice a new MMS setting appears. Fill in the values.

Note: For the MMS setting, please consult your carrier. Say, for T-mobile US user, you can check out the information here. You have to fill in values before you can enable MMS.

MMS Settings

6. Tap “Network” to go back and then click Home button to go back to home screen

7. Power off your iPhone and switch it on again

Power off iPhone

8. Once booted up, launch Messages application and you should see a new “camera” icon appeared. Now, you can tap on the icon, select the photo to embed in the message and send it out.

MMS with Camera icon MMS - Select Photo
Send MMS on iPhone 2G

Enjoy the MMS feature on your iPhone 2G! As always, feel free to leave me comment and share your experience on the feature.

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Tagged as: iPhone, iPhone Hack, MMS

{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }

1 JEDDDD July 1, 2009 at 12:29 am

You are a golden god sir.

2 JEDDDD July 1, 2009 at 5:38 am

Wait What values, where? Nothing matches with the info from tmobile. How do i know where to put what?

3 Simon Ng July 1, 2009 at 9:23 am: @JEDDDD, the values vary. You need to consult with the carrier/service provider for the MMS settings. The t-mobile one is just for reference only.

Reply

4 Dusty July 1, 2009 at 8:21 am

After checking out Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network There is no MMS option or an APN option???? Any ideas???

5 Simon Ng July 1, 2009 at 9:21 am

@Dusty, please ensure ActivateMMS2G is installed in cydia and reboot your iPhone again.

6 Dusty July 1, 2009 at 9:49 am: @Simon
Hey man!
I have been trying it since its been released and same problem after another. Well finally talking to 6 representatives over at Rogers, I finally got it working. The system didn’t have me in it or some crap lol Working on my iPhone 2G!
Cheers bud and keep up the great blog. I read it daily

Reply

7 السياحة في ماليزيا July 1, 2009 at 8:29 am

How to Enable MMS on iPhone 2G >>> Thanks

8 JEDDDD July 1, 2009 at 9:37 am

Thank you simon i got it working. Here is a pic that might give a few of you an idea of where to put the values(nonsense). http://img31.yfrog.com/i/2pzb.jpg/ The hack works, i am sending and receiving pictures over text on tmobile usa. Long live Simon and the DevTeam!!!

9 Dennis July 1, 2009 at 11:02 am

Hey Simon,

I installed the application, restart (and restart again) still I cannot find the “Cellular Data Network”.

Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network

I wonder why… Any idea?

Thanks for help!

–Dennis.

10 Dusty July 1, 2009 at 9:10 pm: Try this… Cyda, APN Editing and install. It may help?

Reply

11 elson July 1, 2009 at 8:51 pm

I always failed opening Cydia from iPhone. It said “Network Error — Unable to Load (timed out)” while the Safari was fine and the connection bar was full. You have any idea why, or is there any other way to install it?

By the way, great jailbreak and unlock firmware 3.0. Tx a lot.

12 leon July 1, 2009 at 11:13 pm

works man, thanks for the tip!

13 Rishi July 3, 2009 at 12:32 am

Hi Simon
This question is not actually in the MMS topic but please do help.
I want to SSH into my iPhone (2G) on OS3.0. I have WinSCP on my computer (I used to SSH on my old 1.1.4 firmware).

What app should I install on the iPhone for SSH (is it BossPrefs?) and what is the ‘Host’, ‘username’, and ‘password’..?
Thanks

14 Simon Ng July 3, 2009 at 9:33 am: @Rishi, you need to install OpenSSH in cydia or you can follow this guide for details.

Reply

15 Chandler July 3, 2009 at 12:09 pm

I have installed everything and I can see the camera icon in the text box. However, still get a “Red Exclamation” mark everytime. Can’t seem to be able to send a message out. Any reason why?

16 Rishi July 4, 2009 at 1:10 am

Yeah..
Same here Chandler..
It tries to send and after around 80% is done I get a red exclamation mark and it says ‘Message sending failure’..

17 muellerl July 4, 2009 at 10:48 pm

I had the same problem. if you R with t-mobile try these settings:

APN: wap.voicestream.com
Username: leave blank
Password: leave blank

MMS SETTINGS-
APN: wap.voicestream.com
Username: t-mobile
Password: mms
MMSC: 216.155.174.84/servlets/mms
MMS Proxy 216.155.165.50:8080
MMS Max Message Size: leave blank
MMS UA Prof URL: leave blank

18 Chandler July 7, 2009 at 1:45 pm: muellerl, thanks for the info. I’m not using T-Mobile, but after reviewing your settings, I noticed that the APN & MMS Setting’s APN needs to be the same. (Another website told me it should be different). anyhow, after I realigned both APN settings, I can now send and receive MMS like a charm.

Simon, always a wonderful job! 3.0 upgrade was super duper easy. Keep up the good work!!!!

Reply

19 michele evans July 6, 2009 at 3:52 am

Hi simon im from the UK & on o2 pay as u go anyway its coming up as idata.o2.co.uk now instead of payandgo.o3.co.uk

anyway my problems are i have are i have the camera icon & sometimes im able to send mms msgs with no problem then sometimes they get to about 90% then i get msg failed with an exclamation mark in a red circle & also when i get a mms sent to my iphone 2g,i get a msg from o2 saying i have to view the msg online with my phone number & a pin number???

please can you help me sort this out im really confused what to do about it,many thanx.michele-2g/o2/3.0 firmware

20 khaleel July 6, 2009 at 7:48 pm

Hi simon,
i could’t save APN in my phone..
any idea pls..
thanks

21 geneth July 7, 2009 at 1:37 am

Don’t know what happens….
I installed the application, the photo button appears on the sms screen but there is no “cellular data network” option to input any settings in so no MMS can be sent. Simon you have any ideas what to do?

Btw, great job with the 3.0 upgrade. As always it worked like a charm!

22 michele evans July 7, 2009 at 2:59 am

HI i have an iphone 2g/3,o FW /jailbroken.
ive managed to get it going but im confused as sometimes it works then sometimes it gets to about 90% & fails with a msg & a red circle with aaaaaan exclamation mark nxt to the pic.

Im on the o2 network/pay as you go which seems to have changed to idata.o2.co.uk ,which im using as my APN/VVOICEMAIL/&MMS BUT IM wondering why its not payandgo.o2.co.uk nomore?

IF YOU OR ANYONE CAN ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM ID BE TRULY GREATFUL, COZ EVEN WHEN IT DOES SEND I STILL HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 10 MINS FOR THE MMS TO SEND ,IM NOT A TEK HEAD SO NEED ANY EASY INSTUCTIONS THAT ARE EASY FOR ME TO UNDASTAND SO IF ANY1 CAN HELP. I WILL BE GREATFUL FOR ANY HELP

THANKYOU,

MICHELE

23 michele evans July 7, 2009 at 3:09 am

OH YEAS I FORGOT TO MENTIONTHAT WHEN MY FRIEND SENT ME A MMS FROM HIS NOKIA 6300 ON O2 PAY AND GO ,THAT WHEN I RECEIVED THE MMC ,IT WAS A MSG FROM O2 ASKING ME TO VIEW IT ONLINE???

ANY IDEAS HOW I CAN VIEW IT NORMALLY COZ I WAS ABLE TOO ,NOW IVE GOT ALL THIS CHANGES “7 I DONT KNOW WHY

THANKYOU

24 Tanja July 7, 2009 at 11:39 am

Thanks heaps for this now works a treat. I had to try to install it 5 times. when i looked for Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network i had no cellular data but found MMS when i scrolled down the General page, opened that did nothing then went to messages and there it was a little camera icon.

sent MMS it did hang at the 90% for about 90secs but it went through.

Ok second one just failed to send now trying again waiting….waiting…… waiting…… nooo failed again ok il try to reboot

yes success

Now waiting to see if i can receive MMS

25 Tanja July 8, 2009 at 10:22 am: yes i can receive MMS
forgot to say im on Vodafone Australia

Reply

26 josie July 9, 2009 at 11:32 am

does this work with iphone 3G?

27 Simon Ng July 9, 2009 at 9:41 pm: @josie, this fix is for 2G only.

Reply

28 stuart July 10, 2009 at 9:51 pm

wow it works first time to ace mate thanks very much all the way from sunny scotland (lol) well the phone works shame about the weather thanks mate

29 bonnie July 13, 2009 at 4:20 am

If you’re looking for the Cellular Data Network and don’t have it:

1. Open Cydia
2. Go to ‘Sources’ and install “iPhone-notes.de Repo” (it contains carrier bundles)
3. Once the packages refresh, go to ‘Carrier Bundles’ and look for your provider (ex. Rogers, T-Mobile)

And tada! You’ll find it in Settings > General > Network

BTW, if anyone knows the Rogers MMS configurations, please let me know.

30 Max August 15, 2009 at 2:29 am

I cannot find the “Cellular Data Network” under my Settings > General > Network.

I’ve installed all the suggested software and rebooted my iPhone. No dice. One thing I am not sure about is this instruction from Bonnie:
3. Once the packages refresh, go to ‘Carrier Bundles’ and look for your provider (ex. Rogers, T-Mobile)

Where do I find “Carrier Bundles”?

So close but yet so far. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks, Max

31 Max August 15, 2009 at 2:30 am

I meant to say that I am running on a 2G with 3.0.1 jailbroken with redsn0w 0.8

32 bonnie August 15, 2009 at 3:34 am

1. Open Cydia
2. Go to Sections > Repositories and install “iPhone-notes.de Repo”
3. After that installs, go back to Sections and you should see a `Carrier Bundles` category

33 Max August 15, 2009 at 4:16 am: beautiful. thanks. one step closer.

Reply

34 jose July 27, 2009 at 10:39 am

this site has a couple of mms configurations if u want it go check it here http://iphon3n3wz.blogspot.com

35 Clayton July 27, 2009 at 2:34 pm

hey simon! please help me!
i think i get all the setting right for the mms but when i try to send a picture to someone the progress bar gets about to 90% then it stops and then the exclamation mark shows up next to the pic. what do i do? please help!!

p.s. i am using an iphone 2g 3.0 unlocked using t-mobile. i have everything from cydia and all downloaded but i dont know if the setting are right?
thanks a bunch!!!

36 Jeff August 5, 2009 at 12:28 pm

I tried this with my 2G updated with 3.0 and now my iPhone will not turn back on.

I tried running through redsn0w again or to backup with iTunes, nothing. Any constructive help would be great!

37 Jeff August 5, 2009 at 12:31 pm

And to follow up with my last comment-

2G = 2nd generation, correct? I sure hope so.

38 bonnie August 15, 2009 at 3:39 am: 2G is the first generation. The “G” does not stand for generation at all (it’s actual related to the network connection). If your iPhone has a black backing then it is the 3G and ActivateMMS2G will not work with it (as the 3.0 software gives the 3G MMS capabilities through SMS)

Reply

39 Edder August 7, 2009 at 10:28 am

I install the Activatemms2g but in the sms next to the keyboard nothing happpen? what is going on i restart it like 5 times

40 Akhil August 30, 2009 at 12:09 am

I installed activatemms2G on my phone. I rebooted the phone a couple of times after that but i did not get the cellular data option and neither did i get the option in messages -> enable mms. any ideas on a fix? please help simon.

41 Craig September 4, 2009 at 5:52 am

So I can only find Activatemms2g not activemms2g – when I try download it I get a file size mismatch error?? Anyone run into this and know how to fix it?
Thanks

42 Tae September 26, 2009 at 7:04 am

I’ve sucessfully downloaded and installed the application via Cydia several times now. Each time however, I’m taken back to the Apple screen and the phone freezes for a few minutes, then it finally reboots–I thought this to be odd. So after this long wait and I get a chance to access Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network no options for MMS are present. I’ve read all of the previous comments and I am yet to find a solution… . I’m on T-Mobile USA and I really need multimedia messaging! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

43 Simon Ng September 28, 2009 at 12:19 am: @Tae, go to Settings -> Messages and make sure MMS Messaging is ON. If it’s not. flip to the switch to turn it on. And, restart your iPhone again.

Reply

44 jj September 28, 2009 at 11:37 pm

Hi
Dose anyone know what the Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network settings for at&t on iphone 2g now that they have enabled it.

I am running 3.01 on a 2g Phone and have installed ActiveMMS2G

45 Buddy September 29, 2009 at 4:22 am: Yea… Can someone please post the “Values” for AT&T? Thanks…

Reply

46 Joe P September 30, 2009 at 8:15 am

Alright so I have followed every step and still can’t get it to work! I have a 2G Iphone 3.0 jailbroken being used on ATT.

I have installed all the applications from cydia that were requested, and still mms is not working. I am able to have mms show up and have the pictures, but then it continues getting stuck at 95% and won’t send. Also none of my APN settings will show up under network. SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE!!! THANK YOU!!!

47 Karvm October 1, 2009 at 5:57 am