Are those the steps for Android 5/Lollipop? I don't see any of those menus in settings.

edit: Ah it's in the actual hangouts app that you have to go to settings. Also if those settings are greyed out then you might not have Hangouts handling your SMS messages, so run the Messaging app instead and go to its settings to disable auto open of MMS.

Any idea why the auto retrieve mms checkbox would be checked and disabled so I can't uncheck it?

Yeah that threw me for a loop too, I think it's because Hangouts isn't configured to handle SMS for you. Check the Messaging app and its settings. It has a similar disable auto retrieve MMS setting.

Messaging on my Moto G (Android 4.4.4) does not have this setting.

Edit: Messaging (default app) doesn't have this setting, but Messenger does. I tried Hangouts for awhile but didn't like it.

nobody does. but Google is trying hard to make you use it by deprecating the gvoice app.

now if you want to make calls from your gvoice number, you must use hangouts.

funny how they think forcing newer apps is the solution to the g+fiasco

Messaging on Moto G2 (Lollipop) does have this setting under MMS. Disabled it from there.

NPR said the Messaging app is safe... ?

Seems to me Google could just update the "Hangouts" app to handle this, assuming people download the update. Yes or no? I think news articles are saying you have to wait for your service provider to issue an update? Sounds like bad advice.

For clarification, this is the Settings option -inside- Hangouts, not Android settings.

Contrary to the NPR article, somebody further down this page said this hack may affect Messenger users too. So I'm sticking with Hangouts!

I tried this and it downloaded automatically the MMS anyway.