Where are MMS audio messages saved on Android?

What are MMS Messages?

MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. It is a communication feature that allows users to send multimedia content such as images, audio, video in addition to text messages (source).

Unlike standard SMS text messages which are limited to 160 characters, MMS messages can contain longer text plus multimedia like pictures, voice recordings and video clips. The primary advantage of MMS over SMS is the ability to include rich media content (source).

MMS requires a cellular data connection to send and receive the messages. Both the sender and receiver need to have MMS configured on their phones. The multimedia content is usually limited to smaller file sizes optimized for mobile phones.

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows you to send multimedia files like audio, images, and video to other phones via your cellular carrier’s messaging network. While SMS can only contain text up to 160 characters, MMS messages allow you to send much richer content.

To send an audio message on Android, you simply record a voice memo in the Messages app and send it. The audio clip will be sent as an MMS message to the recipient’s phone as an audio file attachment. When they receive the message, they can simply tap the play button to listen to your recorded message.

MMS audio works on Android by converting your voice recording into an audio format like AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate audio), encoding it, and attaching it to the MMS message. The maximum size of an MMS message, including attachments, is 1MB on most carriers. The audio quality depends on the phone – on smartphones it is comparable to streaming music quality.

So in summary, sending audio messages via MMS on Android packages your recording as an audio file that the recipient can easily play back. It provides a more personal and engaging way to communicate than regular text messaging.

Default Storage Location

By default, incoming MMS audio files are saved in the Pictures/Messaging folder on your Android device. The full default path is typically something like: Internal Storage/Pictures/Messaging.

This folder contains all MMS audio, image, and video files received through the Messages app. The audio clips are saved as .amr files by default.

For example, on a Samsung Galaxy device running Android 9.0 Pie, the path would be: Internal Storage/Pictures/Messaging.

According to this Android resource, the Pictures/Messaging folder is where Android stores all multimedia files from MMS messages by default.

So in summary, unless you have changed the location yourself, all incoming MMS audio files will be saved to the Pictures/Messaging folder on your device’s internal storage.

Checking the Folder

MMS audio messages are stored in a folder called “Messaging” on Android devices. To view this folder and access your MMS audio files:

1. Open the Files app on your device. This is usually available from the app drawer or home screen.

2. Navigate to the Internal Storage or SD card. The Messaging folder may be found under either location depending on your device settings.

3. Open the Messaging folder. You should see subfolders organized by contact or phone number.

4. Open the subfolder for the contact the MMS audio is from. The audio will be saved as an .mp3 or other audio file format.

5. Tap the audio file to play it directly from the Messaging folder. You can also tap and hold to access options like Share, Delete, Rename, etc.

If you do not see the Messaging folder, check that you have the Show Hidden Files option enabled in your Files app settings. Enabling this will reveal system folders like Messaging that are normally hidden from view.

Changing the Default Location

By default, MMS audio files are saved in the Messages/Stored Media folder on your Android device. However, you can change the default storage location and set a custom save location for your MMS audio files.

To do this:

Open the Messages app and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
Select Settings.
Tap Storage.

Tap Change storage location.
Select your desired storage location, such as an SD card or shared network folder.

Once you set a custom storage location, all incoming MMS audio files will be saved to that folder rather than the default Messages/Stored Media folder. This allows you to organize your MMS audio files however you prefer across different storage devices.

According to this guide, you may need to grant the Messages app permission to access the new storage location. Simply follow the device prompts after selecting a new folder.

Using a File Manager

One of the easiest ways to browse and manage MMS audio files on Android is by using a file manager app. File manager apps provide a simple graphical interface to access and organize files and folders on your device.

Some popular free file manager apps for Android include File Manager+, ES File Explorer, and Files by Google. These apps allow you to navigate to the folder where MMS audio files are stored.

Once in the MMS audio folder, you can play audio files directly, share files through other apps, rename files, move them to other folders, or delete them. Some file manager apps also allow you to zip and unzip archives and integrate cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Advanced users can even use the file manager to directly access the Android file system and system folders outside of the regular user storage. Overall, a file manager app provides a simple and handy way to work with MMS audio files on Android.

Sharing MMS Files

There are a few different ways to share stored MMS audio files on your Android device.

One option is to use a file manager or file explorer app to locate the MMS audio files, select them, and then share via your preferred method like email, messaging apps, cloud storage, social media, etc. Popular Android file manager apps that support file sharing include ES File Explorer, Astro File Manager, MiXplorer, and Solid Explorer.

You can also share an MMS audio file directly from the messaging app if it supports attaching stored media. For example, in the default Messages app on some Android phones, you can tap and hold an MMS audio message, select “Forward” and then share the attached audio file. Similarly, apps like Textra allow sharing stored MMS audio files from within the app interface.

Finally, if you have a Samsung Galaxy device, you can use the built-in Quick Share feature to easily share MMS audio files with nearby contacts. Just select the files in your My Files app and tap Quick Share.

Backing Up MMS Messages

There are a few different options for backing up your MMS audio files to prevent losing them if your phone is damaged, lost or wiped. Some of the top options include:

Using a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. You can upload your MMS audio files from your Android device to cloud storage for safe keeping. The files will be accessible from any device by logging into your cloud storage account.

Connecting your Android device to your computer and copying the MMS audio files over to store on your computer. The files are typically stored in the Internal Storage/Telegram folder.

Using a dedicated Android backup program like iMyFone D-Back that can back up your MMS messages and save them on your computer.

Backing up to a microSD card if your device has external storage. Just make sure to also back up the card contents elsewhere as the card could become corrupted.

Storing your MMS audio files in multiple backup locations is recommended to ensure you always have access to those important voice messages and memories.

MMS Audio Quality

MMS messages allow sending multimedia content like images, audio, and video. However, the audio quality of MMS audio messages is often quite poor compared to the original audio file. This is because MMS has limitations on file size and compresss audio to fit within the size constraints.

According to forums, MMS audio is encoded in AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) format, specifically the AMR-NB (Narrowband) codec ¹. This codec is optimized for compressing speech at low bitrates from 4.75 to 12.2 kbps. For comparison, CD quality audio is 1411 kbps.

The low bitrate of AMR-NB results in significant quality degradation of music and audio with wide frequency ranges. The codec applies heavy compression techniques like discarding high frequency content which reduces audio bandwidth. This makes MMS audio sound muffled and distorted compared to the original.

Unfortunately, there is no setting on Android to adjust the bitrate or codec used for MMS audio encoding. The only option is to send audio files through alternative messengers that don’t have strict size limits.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having issues with missing or unplayable MMS audio files on your Android device, here are some troubleshooting tips that may help:

First, check if you have enough storage space on your device. MMS audio files can quickly consume storage, so clearing out unused apps, photos, or files can help. You can check your available space in Settings > Storage.

Next, try restarting your device. A simple reboot can often fix temporary glitches that may be preventing MMS audio from being saved or played properly.

You’ll also want to check that Auto-download MMS in your messaging app is enabled. Open the Messaging app, go to Settings > Auto-download and make sure “Auto-download MMS” is checked. This allows MMS audio to save automatically.

If issues persist, try clearing the cache and data for the Messaging app. This erases old data that could be corrupted. Open Settings > Apps > Messaging > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. You won’t lose messages but may need to reconfigure messaging settings.

Additionally, check for any pending software updates for your device. Updates often include bug fixes for problems like MMS audio issues. You can check for system updates in Settings > System > System Update.

As a last resort, you can try switching to a different default messaging app like Google Messages. Look for an app that specifically supports MMS audio playback.

If problems continue even after troubleshooting, you may need to contact your mobile carrier. There could be an incompatibility with MMS audio and your network. Your carrier can check and possibly rectify issues on their end.

With some dedicated troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve most problems with missing or unplayable MMS audio files on your Android phone or tablet.